Erik Jason Pena, 41, of San Antonio; and Investigators are asking witnesses about Coahuila politicians including Moreira and his brother, the current governor comprising a virtual who's who of businessmen from the state and the Zetas, one court document shows. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. The sheriffs office said most of the suspects that were arrested are documented gang members.. SAN ANTONIO- Twelve San Antonio residents face federal drug trafficking charges, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux, Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff. Jesse Martinez, age 41 of San Antonio; She previously worked for WICS/WRSP 20 in Springfield, Illinois. Good Morning San Antonio. On Tuesday, federal, state and local authorities arrested all of the defendants with the exception of Lumbreras, Ojeda and Flores. It alleges that he laundered in San Antonio the proceeds of bribes, theft, embezzlement and drug distribution, another indication that the U.S. is investigating whether there's a connection between the alleged raiding of Coahuila's state coffers and the Zetas, a gang started by former Mexican special forces soldiers to be the Gulf Cartel's paramilitary arm. Ojeda faces between 10 years and life in federal prison and Pena faces between five and 40 years in federal prison on the drug possession charge. Villarreal's attorney said the majority owners in the Texas LLCs are not Villarreal's family members, but a Panamanian company, and that the San Antonio property was purchased with money from lenders in Mexico, not kickbacks. Just a few weeks ago, 180 miles from the border, in the quiet San Antonio suburban town of Boerne, Texas, a vehicle carrying nine people two stuffed in the trunk was stopped for a traffic. Today, federal, state and local authorities arrested 26 individuals, including "TMM General" Raul Ramos, and are looking for four others in connection with a heroin/cocaine trafficking operation in the San Antonio area announced United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr.; Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge (Robert McLeroy/Staff). A network of politicians and businessmen from the Mexican state of Coahuila relocated to San Antonio over the past seven years, and prosecutors say a corrupt group among them invested millions of dollars in illegal kickbacks here from drug traffickers and state contractors. They are either identified as being investors in some of these corporations, or persons with knowledge of some of the transactions, Herberg said. He has also covered immigration, minority affairs and legal affairs as part of the projects team here and for other print, TV and radio outlets. San Antonio woman among 14 charged with conspiracy to distribute meth "That's due to availability, the amount of fentanyl that's in the country right now. Gonzlez Trevio wouldn't comment and officials at the Mexican Consulate and in San Antonio's International Relations Office said they're not familiar with him. Bryan Anthony Brown, age 33 of San Antonio; HOUSTON - Twenty-two defendants from San Antonio, Del Rio and Laredo face federal drug trafficking charges, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux, Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff. Gonzlez Fernandez's girlfriend, Alejandra Ibarra, who lives at the Champions Ridge house with their 3-year-old daughter, said she doesn't believe he was involved in drug trafficking. Bexar County drug bust nets $400k worth of heroin, cocaine An official website of the United States government. Can't take statins? New pill cuts cholesterol, heart attacks Joel Villarreal aka Gordo, 49, of San Antonio; Deputies searched a home Tuesday in the. The government's investigation shouldn't stop with the drug gangs, the former governor told the Saltillo newspaper Vanguardia. BCSO says as deputies were approaching the residence, Mendez was getting in a vehicle to leave. USAA wants some remote employees in the office three days Texas Vista owner has threatened hospital shutdown before, VIA adding 8 new buses to its fleet and theyre all electric, BCSO: 3 arrested after 6 smuggled people, 3 stash houses found, Bexar County deputy reunites African tortoise with owners, Gunmen blast 75 rounds at Northwest Side apartment. Among those charged are Villarreal, who is in a San Antonio jail awaiting trial, and Coahuila's former interim governor, Jorge Juan Torres Lpez, a fugitive. Jacob Sanchez, 21, of San Antonio. Tony Canales, said Torres is innocent but won't come to the U.S. to fight the charges because he's afraid he won't get bond. First, the government filed a civil complaint and, when (Torres) contested this civil forfeiture by filing a motion to dismiss, then the government brought an indictment over the same subject matter all with the purpose of obstructing the ability to defend oneself against a groundless forfeiture.. DEA officials said the pills were smaller than a dime and that even a tiny dose of the drug could be fatal. WALTERBORO, S.C. One of the last pieces of a legal dynasty that doled out justice in rural South Carolina for decades crumbled Friday as lawyer Alex Murdaugh was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison for the murder of his wife and son at their sprawling estate. The head of south central Texas DEA shares new insight on the. Last June, federal authorities were conducting surveillance on Moshe using a GPS signal from his phone in connection with the LSD investigation when he unwittingly led them to an illegal. Jason Buch, Guillermo Contreras, San Antonio Express-News. Murdaugh faced the judge in the Colleton County courtroom on the circuit where his father, grandfather and great-grandfather tried cases as the elected prosecutor for more than 80 years. Monday February 10, 2003. Despite the tony digs, the raid looked like any other drug case. Domestic Cannabis Suppression / Eradication Program, Red Ribbon Toolkit - Resources For Your Community, DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Intelligence Research Specialist Job Announcements, Schedule A Hiring Authority: Intelligence Research Specialist, Privacy Impact Assessment and Management Information Systems, Victim Witness Assistance Program Resources. Torres remains a fugitive in Mexico. We will continue to work closely with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners in order to enhance the quality of life for the citizens in the San Antonio region.. SAN ANTONIO A man and a woman were arrested after deputies busted a drug distribution operation in West Bexar County on Friday, according to the Bexar County Sheriffs Office. Since that incident, Salazar said deputies were notified the drug operation was back up and running, which led to the BCSO setting up surveillance near the residence Thursday morning. It might have been the monster you become," Newman said. Ojeda faces a mandatory five years in federal prison on the gun charge upon conviction. He's the one that made all this mess.. Brian Victorino Chavarria, age 24 of San Antonio; "They take a pill which seems very simple, never done that in their life, and they simply dont wake up.". But not good enough, Moyer said. Deputies detained Ashley Mendez, 28, and Ruben Zambrano, 38, in a West Bexar County drug bust. San Diego Border Patrol seizes massive quantity of deadly, powerful Jonathan Linares Lumbreras aka Coahuila, 30, of San Antonio; Drug Cartels Aren't Just a Border Problem | National Review POSS W/I DEL CS PG1 4G - 200G Felony, 1st Degree Bond: $30,000.00, POSS W/I DEL CS PG1 OVER 400G Felony, 1st Degree Bond: $60,000.00, POSS CS PG 1 1 GRAM TO 4 GRAM Felony, 3rd Degree Bond: $50,000.00, POSS CS PG 1 4 GRAMS TO 200 G Felony, 2nd Degree Bond: $15,000.00, POSS CS PG 1 1 GRAM TO 4 GRAM Felony, 3rd Degree Bond: $10,000.00, POSS CS PG 1 4 GRAMS TO 200 GRAMS Felony, 2nd Degree Bond: $15,000.00, PAROLE VIOLATION Felony, 3rd Degree Bond: RWOB, POSS CS PG 3 LESS THAN 28 GRAM Misdemeanor, Class A Bond: 3500.00. In a month or so, he will move to a maximum security state prison like all new inmates serving life sentences. Roberto Casimiro Gonzlez Trevio also shows up on the list of people Bexar County prosecutors told a judge they want to ask witnesses about as part of their money laundering investigation, and he once owned the house in Champions Ridge that the feds are trying to seize from his nephew. Its disgraceful.. San Diego Border Patrol seizes massive quantity of deadly, powerful Cody King is a digital journalist for KSAT 12. According to Sorianello, fentanyl is a synthetic opioid, over 50 times greater or stronger than heroine. Last year, Raul Gonzlez Trevio bought a one-acre piece of commercial property on U.S. 281 near TPC Parkway. The indictment alleges that the defendants conspired since January 2020 to distribute cocaine. Zambrano and Mendez now face charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, a first degree felony, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver over 400 grams, another first degree felony, possession of a controlled substance a third degree felony and possession of marijuana, more than five pounds, also a third degree felony. Like a traditional mafia, the Zetas also are involved in public works fraud, creating fake companies or suborning legitimate businesses and bribing public officials in exchange for government contracts that are inflated or never completed. Then, starting in 2006, he and his brother, Roberto Casimiro Gonzlez Trevio, went on a spending spree. The DEA said her father may have used her as a decoy. If convicted of the latest conspiracy charges, Villarreal and the others each face 10 years to life in federal prison. Intellectuals and landholders from the state, which borders Texas, took refuge here during the Mexican Revolution in the early 1900s. BEXAR COUNTY (KTSA News) Six people were arrested in a drug bust at a southeast San Antonio home the Bexar County sheriff said has connections to a white supremacist group. The GEO Group built the facility and manages it under contract with Karnes County and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Six people are in custody following a drug bust in east Bexar County earlier this week, according to the Bexar County Sheriffs Office. He asked for an investigation of those persons, many of whom are part of society and are well-known and who have financial relations with (organized crime) and who have made their fortunes through them. Zoos in the past were judged by who had the most animals, San Antonio Zoo chief Tim Morrow says. Boy, 11, shoots self in head with gun he found in apartment, Photos show a massive alligator on an Atascosa County road, Look inside historic $2.3 million King William home. Guillermo has been with the Express-News for 20 years, and has covered federal court and its investigative agencies for most of that time. Now he's found a new voice in recovery. Lus Claudio Estrada aka Luz, 42, of La Joya; 25 people arrested after massive drug bust in San Antonio area - KSAT Homero Garcia, age 36 of San Antonio; Philadelphia drug bust: Feds seize over $1 billion worth of - CBS News The massive drug bust took place during a traffic stop in San Clemente, a wealthy enclave about 75 miles inland from the U.S.-Mexico border in San Diego, multiple Border Patrol sources told Fox News. Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( A federal grand jury indictment unsealed today charges the following defendants with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance: Matthew Noe Arteaga, age 35 of San Antonio; Jason Buch is a freelance journalist based in Texas. During todays arrests authorities seized approximately two kilograms of cocaine, over 30 pounds of hydroponic marijuana, methamphetamine, three handguns and approximately $235,000. Today, the Zetas are their own criminal organization engaged in a wide range of illegal activities including drug trafficking, prostitution, human trafficking and distribution of counterfeit goods. Again he was released on bond and within days Mexican federal prosecutors leveled a new round of charges against him tied to the alleged fraudulent loans, which they say approached $250 million. A major drug bust occurred in Eastland County. That's why Sorianello had a strong message to parents: pay attention to your kids. And there's a correlation between that and the approximately 93,000 overdose deaths in the country," said Dante Sorianello, DEA Special Agent. San Antonio woman among 14 charged with conspiracy to distribute meth and cocaine, Privately run zoos in Texas adapt to new roles. And, San Diego Pride Kicks off today. When he took the stand in his own defense, the first thing he did was admit he had lied to investigators about being at the kennels, saying he was paranoid of law enforcement because he was addicted to opioids and had pills in his pocket the night of the killings. The lawsuits sought millions of dollars in bank accounts in Texas and Bermuda as well as the commercial strip center on U.S. 281, the pharmacy on Stone Oak Parkway, a storage center on Loop 1604, a condo on South Padre Island and most of a commercial block in Brownsville that prosecutors said was purchased with money stolen from Coahuila's treasury. At sentencing, Murdaugh maintained his innocence, just as he did when he testified in his own defense during the six-week trial. Border Patrol agents based in the San Diego Sector seized 232 pounds of fentanyl with a street value of about $3 million from a single vehicle, officials announced on Monday.. Guillermo Moyado, 38, and Joaquin Cardenas, 39, were arrested during the traffic stop after deputies seized five kilos of black tar heroin and five kilos of methamphetamine from their vehicle, according to the BCSO. Another $8,500 in cash was found at the home as well, according to officials. They whisked him to San Antonio, where prosecutors unsealed an indictment charging him with another count of money laundering. The indictment alleges that the defendants conspired in 2020 to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine. These family members assisted Villarreal by, among other things, opening bank accounts at U.S. banks, establishing business entities and purchasing real estate in the names of these business entities.. Javier Armando Casas, 40, of Pharr; A federal grand jury in Corpus Christi in November charged Villarreal and Torres with money laundering and fraud. Frank Anthony Hernandez aka Pancho, 36, of San Antonio; When there's two or three or four or five layers of individuals, that's called layering of ownership, he said. Zoos in the past were judged by who had the most animals, San Antonio Zoo chief Tim Morrow says. The Schertz Police Department stated in a social . Both arrests were in connection with the drug bust, the sheriffs office said. ROBERT MCLEROY, STAFF / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, S.A.-area rancher catches the hearts of American Idol judges, USAA wants some remote employees in the office three days a week, Take a look inside this $3.5 million 'mystery' mansion, New food truck park opens at The CO-OP SA, 10 things to do this weekend in San Antonio. Jesus Rodriguez aka Don Chuy, 62, of Rio Grande City; Thanks to the excellent work of the DEA and our other law enforcement partners, our community is safer today, stated U.S. Attorney Sofer. Domestic Cannabis Suppression / Eradication Program, Red Ribbon Toolkit - Resources For Your Community, DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Intelligence Research Specialist Job Announcements, Schedule A Hiring Authority: Intelligence Research Specialist, Privacy Impact Assessment and Management Information Systems, Victim Witness Assistance Program Resources. Meanwhile, the U.S. investigation sprawled. The BCSOs Gang Unit and Organized Crime Unit handled the investigation of the drug bust. By the time federal prosecutors charged Torres and Villarreal, Bexar County prosecutors finally had started moving their civil lawsuit forward. When Humberto came into power, RCG was tiny, said Jorge Rosales Saade, an official with the opposition PAN party in Coahuila. Phone Number: (713) 693-3329 For Immediate Release Twelve Indicted for Drug Trafficking in San Antonio Area SAN ANTONIO - Twelve San Antonio residents face federal drug trafficking charges, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux, Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff. MEDINA COUNTY, Texas More than 20 arrests have been made as part of a multi-agency investigation into drug distribution in south-central Texas after a . All rights reserved. Of the 14 people indicted Wednesday, at least 10 have been taken into custody, including Jacqueline Alvarez, 57, of San Antonio, who works for the GEO Group at the Karnes County Family. Coahuila prosecutors in October 2011 charged Villarreal with falsifying documents to take out millions of dollars in loans on the state's credit. Hernandez, Haggard and Heredia were already in custody. In another court filing, the feds wrote that Flores' case is somehow tied to their investigation of money allegedly stolen from the Coahuila government and laundered in Texas. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Coahuila corruption and drug ties spread influence to San Antonio SAN ANTONIO - Twenty five men and women are in custody after authorities busted a drug distribution operation in the San Antonio area Thursday, according to officials. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. SAN ANTONIO A massive drug bust took place at a northwest side hotel where 75,000 fentanyl pills were seized, the Bexar County Sherriff's Office said. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. With Villarreal on the run, the lawsuits languished. Jury takes an hour to reach verdict over deal at Port S.A. Murdaugh's brother and surviving son sat behind him in the courtroom every day. A good liar. Salazar said the three suspects face charges of human smuggling, engaging in organized crime . Joe Angel Villarreal aka Compadre, 55, of San Antonio On one occasion, he said, a state contract went to a mineral extraction company controlled by the Zetas drug gang, former en- forcers for another cartel who spun off into their own criminal organization. It is my understanding that the Gonzalez family has contributed greatly to the economy of San Antonio, his lawyer Carlos Quezada said. On Wednesday, a joint task force including the DEA along with the sheriff's office arrested 41-year-old Francisco Ortiz. Thursday, March 18, 2021 Twelve Indicted for Drug Trafficking in San Antonio Area Twelve San Antonio residents face federal drug trafficking charges, announced U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux, Houston Division. All other crimes require an officer to make the scene. He wouldn't say more in an interview, but in court Canales called the indictment a sham and accused prosecutors of using it to retaliate against Torres for fighting the civil suit. James Patric Bartlett, age 42 of San Antonio; and, When one defendant was brought to court in San Antonio, a former U.S. congressman showed up to support him. Officials seized. On an October morning last year, residents in the gated Champions Ridge subdivision watched as federal agents arrested a neighbor with ties to the Coahuila government. Online reports can only be completed for the following crimes where no weapon was used and no suspect information is available. Some sit empty today. Lastiri worked as a driver for a Drug Trafficking Organization and put her childrens lives at risk by bringing them on this job, said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas. The female driver was identified as Shauna Madrid, 36, from Roswell, New Mexico. Among the businessmen was a scowling Coronado, Villarreal's brother-in-law who was detained in East Texas, and Francisco Xavier Flores Valdez, a nephew of the Moreira brothers. Lock The Bexar County District Attorneys Office also assisted in the investigation. Roberto Casimiro Gonzlez Trevio signed the deed of sale for the property and he's listed as the trust's sole managing member, but his name does not appear on public records filed by the LLCs. Later in the year, attention focused on Coahuila's former interim governor. The arrests made yesterday in San Antonio conclude a comprehensive investigation by the DEA along with our law enforcement partners into the criminal activities of a drug trafficking organization, who were responsible for transporting and distributing methamphetamine and cocaine into our communities, said DEA Special Agent in Charge Comeaux. S.A.-area rancher catches the hearts of American Idol judges, USAA wants some remote employees in the office three days a week, Take a look inside this $3.5 million 'mystery' mansion, New food truck park opens at The CO-OP SA, 10 things to do this weekend in San Antonio. Boy, 11, shoots self in head with gun he found in apartment, Photos show a massive alligator on an Atascosa County road, Look inside historic $2.3 million King William home. Oscar Jesus Lopez, age 23 of Laredo; And that was the reason they offered it, Griffin said. In October 2012, Jos Eduardo Moreira, Humberto's son, was found murdered outside the border city of Acua, and several police officials were arrested in connection with the slaying. This ex-lawmaker's Texas drug bust was national news. Now he's found a His saga began in mid-2011, when news broke of Coahuila's massive debt. 2 at the DA's office, prosecutors believe at least some of the $6.5 million in a JP Morgan Chase and Co. bank account that his office is suing to forfeit came from kickbacks. The KSAT 12 News Team provides a look at local, regional, statewide and national news events and the latest information on local traffic and weather issues. Press Releases | DEA.gov Ricardo Gonzalez, age 24 of San Antonio; Example video title will go here for this video. On July 20, 2021, members of the BCSO and DEA TAG Unit executed a search warrant in the After additional surveillance of the area, investigators arrested Servando Yzaguirre after he was found to be in possession of 323.7 grams of meth, according to the sheriffs office. Jesus Manuel DeLuna aka "Chuy," 48, of San Antonio; Erik Jason Pena, 41, of San Antonio; and Omar Cuellar, 47, of San Antonio. Rosalinda Flores, 54, of San Antonio; Moreira, the former leader of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, is close to Mexican President Enrique Pea Nieto. Ed Rodriguez, a former IRS agent who is not involved in the case, said there could be perfectly legitimate reasons for businessmen to distance themselves from properties they own, including protection from lawsuits. The company also owns billboards around the state. Roberto Casimiro Gonzlez Trevio's company, RCG Radio y Televisin, has come a long way since the family business started 30 years ago, when it launched as Cablevision, the first cable company in Mexico. They asked a judge to give them three San Antonio houses, all appraised at more than $500,000; the Champions Ridge home owned by Gonzlez Fernandez, a house in the Vistas at Sonterra owned by his brother; and a house in Oakwell Farms, an exclusive inside-the-loop gated community, owned by their father, Ral Gonzlez Trevio. Cody King is a digital journalist for KSAT 12. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 6 arrested in drug bust on San Antonio's North Side What's known is this: the Gonzlezes control a media empire in Mexico and in recent years extended their influence across the border. Upon conviction of the drug conspiracy charge, Ojeda, Juan Estrada, Lus Estrada, Rodriguez, Hernandez, Acevedo, Villarreal and Flores face between 10 years and life in federal prison; Lumbreras, Casas, DeLuna and Pena face between five and 40 years in federal prison; and Cuellar faces up to 20 years in federal prison. 37 San Antonio-Based Texas Mexican Mafia Members and Associates Also among the defendants is Joe Angel Villarreal, 55. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. That fact is evident from the number of firearms recovered in this investigation - not to mention the silencers, grenade and body armor. During the stop, a search of the vehicle was conducted. And I could see the real Alex Murdaugh when he looked at me, Waters said. Shes a recreation specialist for GEO, supervising children at play, he said. I was shocked, Ibarra said of her boyfriend's arrest. The street value for the drugs is estimated at $145,890. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. The gang, he said, was responsible for a wave of violence that killed tens of thousand in Mexico, many in Coahuila. Copyright 2021 by KSAT - All rights reserved. Instructions. Gonzlez Trevio, the father, bought his first house in San Antonio in the early 1990s. Omar Cuellar, 47, of San Antonio. I was this close to him.. A federal grand jury indictment unsealed today charges the following defendants with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance: Francisco Garza aka Pancho, 52, of San Antonio It also alleges that from June 2019 until April 7, 2021, Oscar Oviedo, Vasquez, Justin Guerrero, Moreno and Palafos conspired to distribute cocaine, and that Chavarria, Homero Garcia, Oswaldo Lopez and Oscar Lopez conspired to distribute heroin.