BROWNSVILLE, Texas - The remaining defendants charged in a 10-defendant marijuana conspiracy have all been ordered to federal prison, announced DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven Whipple, Houston Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez. The 10 were charged in a multi-state drug trafficking conspiracy that had been trafficking...

LAREDO, Texas - Three brothers and a nephew of the reputed leader of the Melendez drug trafficking organization from South Laredo have been sentenced for their roles in the conspiracy, announced DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven Whipple, Houston Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez. The brothers -...

LAREDO, Texas - Ivan Velasquez-Caballero, aka Talivan or 50, has been sentenced to federal prison for 30 years following his convictions of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, announced DEA Special Agent-in-Charge Joseph M. Arabit, Houston Division and Acting U.S. Attorney...

LAREDO, Texas - A 30-year old member of the Texas Mexican Mafia has been ordered to prison for his involvement in a major poly-drug conspiracy, announced DEA Special Agent-in-Charge Joseph M. Arabit, Houston Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez. Mario Alberto Rodriguez, of Laredo, pled guilty in June 2014...

McALLEN, Texas - A McAllen federal jury has convicted a lawful permanent resident who was residing in Mission, Texas for possessing with the intent to distribute approximately 50 kilograms of cocaine, announced Joseph M. Arabit the DEA Special Agent-in-Charge of the Houston Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez. The...

PHOENIX, Ariz. - The Drug Enforcement (DEA) and Homeland Security (HSI) executed multiple search and arrest warrants today, closing two valley pharmacies and arresting a pharmacist as part of an ongoing OCDETF-designated investigation. On June 28, 2017, agents obtained an indictment from a federal grand jury charging pharmacist Vilawoe Aku...

HOUSTON, Texas - Houston area federal, state and local law enforcement agencies came together today to announce a collaborative initiative to proactively fight violent crime across the Greater Houston area. The Houston Law Enforcement Violent Crime Initiative brings together personnel from 10 area law enforcement agencies to not only augment...

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - In San Antonio today, a federal judge sentenced 34-year-old Marciano Millan Vasquez, a high ranking member and a former sicario for the Los Zetas drug cartel, to seven consecutive life imprisonment sentences for committing and aiding and abetting the commission of numerous murders and other acts...

AUSTIN, Texas - In Austin today, a judge sentenced to federal prison eight members of a drug trafficking cell associated with the LaFamilia cartel operating primarily in Austin and San Antonio announced United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr., and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Arabit...

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - During sentencing hearings that occurred over the course of the last two days, several members of the Texas “Mexikan” (TMM) have been ordered to significant terms in prison for their roles in a Racketeer Influence Corrupt (RICO) conspiracy, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez. The hearings...