Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Https

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

  • Who We Are
    • About
    • Mission
    • History
    • Divisions
      • Atlanta
        • Atlanta Leadership
        • Atlanta Contacts
      • Caribbean
        • Caribbean Leadership
        • Caribbean Contacts
      • Chicago
        • Chicago Leadership
        • Chicago Contacts
      • Dallas
        • Dallas Leadership
        • Dallas Contacts
      • Detroit
        • Detroit Leadership
        • Detroit Contacts
      • El Paso
        • El Paso Leadership
        • El Paso Contacts
      • Headquarters
      • Houston
        • Houston Leadership
        • Houston Contacts
      • Los Angeles
        • Los Angeles Leadership
        • Los Angeles Contacts
      • Louisville
        • Louisville Leadership
        • Louisville Contacts
      • Miami
        • Miami Leadership
        • Miami Contacts
      • New England
        • New England Leadership
        • New England Contacts
      • New Jersey
        • New Jersey Contacts
      • New Orleans
        • New Orleans Leadership
        • New Orleans Contacts
      • New York
        • New York Leadership
        • New York Contacts
      • Omaha
        • Omaha Leadership
        • Omaha Contacts
      • Philadelphia
        • Philadelphia Leadership
        • Philadelphia Contacts
      • Phoenix
        • Phoenix Leadership
        • Phoenix Contacts
      • Rocky Mountain
        • Rocky Mountain Contacts
      • San Diego
        • San Diego Leadership
        • San Diego Contacts
      • San Francisco
        • San Francisco Contacts
      • Seattle
        • Seattle Contacts
      • St. Louis
        • St. Louis Leadership
        • St. Louis Contacts
      • Washington, DC
        • Washington Leadership
        • Washington Contacts
    • DEA Museum
    • Foreign Offices
      • Africa
      • Andean
      • Caribbean
      • Europe
      • Far East
      • Middle East
      • North and Central America
      • Southern Cone
    • Operational Divisions
      • Aviation Division
      • Diversion Control Division
    • Wall of Honor
    • Contact Us
      • Submit a Tip
      • Extortion Scam
      • Public Affairs
      • Social Media Directory
  • What We Do
    • Law Enforcement
      • DEA Office of Training
        • Office of Training Programs
      • El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC)
        • Leadership
        • Mission
        • Services
        • Contacts
      • Forensic Sciences
        • Computer Forensics Program
        • Environmental Management
        • Laboratories
      • Intelligence
      • Operations
        • Administrative Law Judges
        • DEA Asset Forfeiture
        • Domestic Cannabis Suppression / Eradication Program
        • HIDTA
        • OCDETF
        • State and Local Task Forces
    • Education and Prevention
      • DEA’s Family Summit
      • Operation Engage
      • Community Outreach
      • Red Ribbon
        • Kiki and the History of Red Ribbon Week
        • Red Ribbon Toolkit - Resources For Your Community
      • Just Think Twice
      • Campus Drug Prevention
      • Get Smart About Drugs
      • Operation Prevention
    • Drug Information
      • Drug Policy
      • Drug Scheduling
      • The Controlled Substances Act
    • News
      • Alerts
      • Press Releases
      • Most Wanted Fugitives
        • All Fugitives
      • Stories
      • Events
      • Speeches
      • Testimony
    • Campaigns
      • One Pill Can Kill
        • Partner Toolbox
        • Social Media Campaign
      • DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
  • Careers
    • Special Agent
      • Special Agent FAQs
      • Special Agent Job Announcements
    • Diversion Investigator
      • Diversion Investigator Job Announcement
    • Intelligence Research Specialist
      • Intelligence Research Specialist Job Announcements
      • Intelligence Research Specialists FAQs
      • Schedule A Hiring Authority: Intelligence Research Specialist
    • Forensic Sciences Careers
    • Professional & Administrative Careers
    • Student & Entry Level Careers
    • How to Apply
      • Employment Requirements
      • Equal Opportunity Employer
      • How To Claim Veterans' Preference
      • Priority Consideration
      • Benefits
      • Veterans and People With Disabilities
  • Resources
    • Recovery Resources
    • Data and Statistics
      • Domestic Arrests
      • Staffing and Budget
    • FOIA
      • About FOIA
      • Contact DEA FOIA
      • Make a Request
      • What Happens After Making a Request
      • Requester Categories
      • Fees Charged
      • Fee Waiver
      • FOIA FAQ
      • FOIA Logs and Reports
      • FOIA Library
      • Additional FOIA Links
      • FOIA Exemptions
      • What Are Exclusions?
      • Privacy Act
      • Privacy Act Exemptions
      • Privacy Impact Assessment and Management Information Systems
    • Publications
    • Media Galleries
    • Victim Witness Assistance Program
      • Victim Witness Assistance Program Resources

United States Drug Enforcement Administration

  • Search
  • Full Menu

Main Menu

  • Who We Are
  • What We Do
  • Careers
  • Resources
  • Submit A Tip
  • Get Updates
  • Scam Alert
  • English
  • ES

Drug Enforcement Administration

Daniel C. Comeaux Special Agent in Charge
Houston
@DEAHoustonDiv
October 28, 2021
Contact: Sally M. Sparks
Phone Number: (713) 693-3329
For Immediate Release

Twenty Seven Arrested in the Rio Grande Valley on Drug Charges

Poly-Drug Network Responsible for Distributing Counterfeit Pills

MCALLEN, TEXAS –Twenty seven defendants were arrested from the Rio Grande Valley region on state charges related to trafficking fake counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine in addition to various drug offenses.  The arrests were announced by Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Houston Division, Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux; Hidalgo County District Attorney Ricardo Rodriguez; Hidalgo County HIDTA Task Force Commander Juan Sifuentes; Hidalgo County Sheriff J.E. Eddie Rodriguez; La Villa Police Chief Felix Ramos; and Edinburg Police Chief Jaime Ayala.

The following defendants were arrested on state charges ranging from Possession with Intent to Distribute, Manufacturing, and Delivery of Controlled Substance(s):

Javier Medrano, age 30, of Edinburg, Texas;

Luis Andy Hernandez, age 38, of McAllen;

Yolanda Yevon Garza, age 38, of San Juan, Texas;

Maria Guadalupe Salas, age 43, of Pharr, Texas;

Bernabe Felix Serna, age 64, of La Villa, Texas;

Amador Moreno, age 49, of Alamo, Texas;

Renee Revilla, age 43, of McAllen;

Viridiana “Mable” Lopez, age 39, of Edinburg, Texas;

Luis Solis, age 33, of Edinburg, Texas;

Eric Daniel Sepulveda, age 47, of McAllen;

Jose Luis Garcia Jr., age 40, of Edinburg, Texas;

Isaiah Roel Salinas, age 23, of Edinburg, Texas;

Juan Diego Gonzalez, age 25, of Edinburg;

Jaime Galicia, age 46, of Alamo, Texas;

Jose Marie Huerta, age 30, of Mission, Texas;

Vernabe Felix Serna, age 64, of La Villa, Texas;

Eric Acosta-Valencia, age 32, of Mier, Mexico;

Leonel Amadeo Ramos-Resendez, age 35, of Roma, Texas;

Hector Ivan Garza-Garcia, age 38, of Falcon Heights, Texas;

Roberto Amadeo-Ramos-Resendez, age 35, of Mier, Mexico;

Juan Amado Garza, age 47, of Falcon Heights, Texas;

Roberto Muniz, age 39, of Rio Grande City, Texas;

Manuel Leonel Gonzalez-Cavazos, age 56, of Falcon Heights, Texas;

Javier Lozano, age 42, of Falcon Heights, Texas;

Antonio Juan Gutierrez, age 53, of McAllen;

Jorge Alberto Garcia-Soto, age 61, of Falcon Heights, Texas;

The state criminal complaints allege that from January 2021 until October 2021, this drug trafficking network was responsible for the importation and distribution of fake counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine in addition to the illicit sales of prescription opioids.  This investigation also revealed Yolanda Yevon Garza, an employee from the IDEA School District in Weslaco, Texas, was utilized to facilitate the sales of counterfeit pills for this criminal drug network. 

These arrests follow a recent DEA public safety alert, warning the public of the alarming increase in the lethality and availability of fake prescription pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine.  This was DEA’s first public safety alert in six years, which focused on raising awareness of the significant nationwide surge of counterfeit pills.  Those pills are being mass-produced by criminal drug networks in labs, deceptively marketed as legitimate prescription pills, and are killing unsuspecting Americans at an unprecedented rate. 

“These arrests send a strong and unified message that the illicit sales of potentially lethal fake counterfeit pills will not be tolerated in our communities and those who commit these offenses will be brought to justice,” said Daniel C. Comeaux, Special Agent in Charge Houston Division.  “Counterfeit pills have become a real and viable threat to the American people.  We caution every person to never consume any pill unless under the care of a licensed medical professional and sourced from a licensed pharmacy.  The DEA and our law enforcement partners will continue to commit significant resources to the identification and investigation of those who are manufacturing and distributing these counterfeit pills in our neighborhoods and communities.” 

"This is a great example of making our community safer through multi-agency collaboration.  Our office is proud to be a part of this effort,” said Ricardo Rodriguez, Hidalgo County District Attorney. 

During this investigation, authorities seized multi-kilogram quantities of illicit narcotics to include counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine along with other assets attributable to this organization. 

It is important to note that a criminal complaint is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt.  The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 

The DEA, Hidalgo County District Attorney’s Office, Hidalgo County Sherriff’s Office, La Villa Police Department and the Edinburg Police Department conducted this investigation. The Hidalgo County Constable Precincts 1, 3, and 4, and the Department of Public Safety also assisted during the course of this investigation.  

 

 

SAMHSA Behavioral Health Treatment Locator

  • Who We Are
    • About
    • Domestic Divisions
    • Foreign Offices
    • Contact Us
    • DEA Museum
  • What We Do
    • Drug Prevention
    • Law Enforcement
    • Diversion Control Division
    • News
  • Careers
    • Overview
    • Special Agent
    • Diversion Investigator
    • Intelligence Research Specialist
  • Resources
    • Drug Information
    • Employee Assistance Program
    • Equal Opportunity Employer
    • FOIA
    • Publications
    • Media Galleries
    • VWAP
  • Doing Business
    with the DEA
    • Overview
    • Current Vendors
    • Prospective Vendors
    • Security Clauses
    • Security Forms
    • Small Business Program
  • Policies
    • Accessibility, Plug-ins & Policy
    • Legal Policies & Disclaimers
    • No FEAR Act
    • Privacy Policy
    • U.S. Department of Justice EEO Policy
    • USA.gov
    • Whistleblower Protection
Home

United States Drug Enforcement Administration

DEA.gov is an official site of the U.S. Department of Justice
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram

DEA Contact Center

(202) 307-1000 info@dea.gov
Contact the Webmaster