Two Traffickers Sentenced To Prison
McAllen, Texas - Two men have been ordered to federal prison following their convictions for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, marijuana and conspiring to launder drug proceeds, announced Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Arabit, Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Francisco Javier Gonzalez, 39, of San Juan, and Osmar Alexander Gonzalez, 35, of Houston, entered guilty pleas Jan. 31, 2013, and March 27, 2013, respectively.
Today, U.S. District Judge Randy Crane ordered Francisco Gonzalez to serve 120 months in federal prison, while Osmar Gonzalez received a 144-month term. The prison terms will be immediately followed by a five-year-term of supervised release.
The investigation revealed that during 2010 and 2011, Francisco Gonzalez and others conspired to transport large amounts of marijuana from the Rio Grande Valley to various destinations via tractor-trailers. During the investigation, law enforcement was able to seize several loads of marijuana, including 1,512 kilograms, 980 kilograms and 890 kilograms on May 10, 2010, Oct. 9, 2010, and Jan. 27, 2011, respectively.
The defendants and others also conspired to distribute multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine from the Rio Grande Valley to Houston and elsewhere. Agents seized more than $96,000 on Aug. 25, 2011 - the proceeds of the narcotics distribution.
Both will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The investigation leading to the charges was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Sturgis prosecuted the case.
