United States Drug Enforcement Administration

DALLAS - A Dallas man who pleaded guilty to felony offenses stemming from his role as a major participant in a marijuana distribution conspiracy operating in north Texas was sentenced this morning in federal court in Dallas, announced U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.

Andres Hernandez, Jr., a/k/a “Gordo,” 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay to serve a total of 300 months in federal prison.  Hernandez pleaded guilty in September 2013 to one count of conspiracy to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana and one count of money laundering.  Judge Lindsay sentenced him to 25 years on the drug conspiracy conviction and 10 years on the money laundering conviction, to run concurrently.

Hernandez and others were arrested on November 1, 2012, following a law enforcement operation led by the Drug Enforcement (DEA) and the North Texas High Intensity Drug Trafficking (HIDTA) task force, during which federal search warrants were executed at various locations, including Hernandez’s residence on W. Colorado Blvd. in Dallas.  At his residence, law enforcement located approximately 20 pounds of marijuana, digital scales and a loaded firearm.  Hernandez has remained in custody since his arrest.
According to documents filed in the case, Hernandez admitted that on multiple occasions between January 2011 and the date of his arrest, he received multi-pound quantities of marijuana from several supply sources, including co-defendants Serviano Contreras, a/k/a “Seven” and “Junior,” 27, and Virgilio Espinosa Delacruz, a/k/a “Chaparro,” 41.  Hernandez admitted that he stored this marijuana both at his residence and at the residence of co-defendant Benicio Pena, Jr., a/k/a “Nene,” 63, on Lourdes Street in Dallas.  Contreras, Delacruz and Pena pleaded guilty to their respective roles in the conspiracy and are serving federal prison sentences of 48 months, 44 months, and 42 months, respectively.

Hernandez admitted that he routinely distributed multi-pound quantities of marijuana to co-defendants Jarvis Holmes, 43; Claudia Castillo, 21; Jerry Cardenas, 32; Lamont Morgan, 35; Roberto Lopez Delacruz, 27; and Paul Santoy, 28.  They each pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy.  Holmes was sentenced to 51 months; Cardenas, 48 months; Morgan, 46 months; Roberto Delacruz, 16 months; and Santoy, 15 months.  Claudio Castillo is scheduled to be sentenced on November 17, 2014.

Hernandez further admitted that in March 2012, an individual purchased a parcel of land located in Barry, Texas, using $28,854 in cash provided by Andres Hernandez’s wife, Griselda Hernandez, 34. That same day, that individual deeded the property to Andres and Griselda Hernandez.  Andres Hernandez admitted that the cash used to purchase the property included drug proceeds.  Griselda Hernandez also pleaded guilty to her role in the conspiracy and was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Phelesa Guy was in charge of the prosecution.