United States Drug Enforcement Administration

HOUSTON - A 52-year-old Mexican citizen who illegally resided in Houston was ordered to federal prison for 30 years for his conviction of trafficking a kilogram of methamphetamine, announced Drug Enforcement (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Will Glaspy, Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Arturo Hernandez-Villegas pleaded guilty Aug. 15, 2016.

Today, Senior U.S. District Judge David Hittner sentenced Hernandez-Villegas to serve 360 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face deportation proceedings following his sentence.

At the time of his plea, Hernandez-Villegas admitted to playing a key role in attempting to deliver methamphetamine in the Houston area, including a delivery of approximately one kilogram of methamphetamine on June 12, 2014.

This delivery was part of an investigation that began in early 2014 which identified Hernandez-Villegas and his brother Lorenzo Hernandez-Villegas as leaders of a drug trafficking organization that primarily trafficked large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine.

On June 6, 2014, a confidential (CS) called Arturo Hernandez-Villegas, during which time Arturo Hernandez-Villegas agreed to sell a kilogram of methamphetamine for $10,500. Approximately a week later, they met at a restaurant to complete the transaction. Shortly after their arrival, Arturo Hernandez-Villegas called his brother who arrived with the methamphetamine. The CS provided the money to Lorenzo Hernandez-Villegas, who, in turn provided the methamphetamine.

Authorities took control of the drugs and sent it for further chemical analysis, which demonstrated it had a net weight of 943 grams and a purity of 98.4%. The drugs had been imported from Mexico. The evidence in the case also revealed Arturo Hernandez-Villegas was involved in other drug trafficking transactions totaling approximately nine kilograms of methamphetamine and 10 kilograms of cocaine for which he was held accountable at the hearing today. 

He will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Houston Police Department and Harris County Sheriff’s Office conducted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Arthur R. Jones is prosecuting the case.