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The BCSOs Gang Unit and Organized Crime Unit handled the investigation of the drug bust. And, San Diego Pride Kicks off today. They often used a network of limited liability companies that made it difficult for investigators to track the ownership of those assets. One of his Texas limited liability companies the one that shows up on deed records is controlled by a Dutch company, which is controlled by another Texas LLC, which is controlled by a trust. Rodger Hernandez aka Rocky, 43, of San Antonio SAN ANTONIO A 32-year-old San Antonio woman was sentenced to more than eight years in prison on Tuesday after she was found guilty of possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, according to the United States Attorneys Office for the Western District of Texas. On Wednesday, a joint task force including the DEA along with the sheriff's office arrested 41-year-old Francisco Ortiz. 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.. The bust comes after a similar incident involving the same suspects just weeks ago when deputies found several ounces of narcotics and cash in plain sight at the residence in the 100 block of Trudell Road, according to Sheriff Javier Salazar. The Bexar County District Attorneys Office also assisted in the investigation. Initially, they claimed in court documents that the money in the Texas banks and the funds used to buy the San Antonio properties came from fraudulent loans Villarreal took out on Coahuila's credit. ___ Collins reported from Columbia, South Carolina. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. 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. 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. Prosecutors have moved to seize tens of millions of dollars in San Antonio real estate including a home in The Dominion, commercial property on U.S. 281 and a pharmacy on Stone Oak Parkway and indicted six people under an investigation into a nexus of politics, private industry and one of Mexico's most notorious drug gangs. And that was the reason they offered it, Griffin said. With Villarreal on the run, the lawsuits languished. I would never under any circumstances hurt my wife Maggie and I would never under any circumstances hurt my son Paul-Paul, Murdaugh responded. His lawyer, Roy Barrera Jr., said Flores wasn't involved in public corruption or organized crime. 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. Guillermo has been with the Express-News for 20 years, and has covered federal court and its investigative agencies for most of that time. SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) $400,000 worth of drugs were found in an east side home today. Peter Karasev, 35, of San Jose, has been arrested in connection with a San Jose Police Department investigation into suspected explosives-related and illegal drug offenses, authorities said. Brian Victorino Chavarria, age 24 of San Antonio; The girl was shot when she drove her fathers car out of their house at San Joaquin and Motes streets. 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. The multiagency taskforce handling the case includes the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Texas attorney general's office and the Internal Revenue Service. If convicted of the latest conspiracy charges, Villarreal and the others each face 10 years to life in federal prison. Albelardo Oviedo, age 29 of San Antonio. 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. According to authorities, the team has two simultaneous narcotic search warrants on two residences located near the 200 block of Zaragoza Street. The head of south central Texas DEA shares new insight on the. Gonzlez Fernandez didn't respond to letters written to him in jail, and his new attorney, San Antonio white collar crime expert Cynthia Orr, wouldn't comment. SAN ANTONIO - Two people have been arrested following a big drug bust in a quiet neighborhood over on the East Side of the city. A 32-year-old San Antonio woman was sentenced to more than eight years in prison after she was found guilty of possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine . 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. "Some may not have any narcotic in it, others may have too much and thats when your going to overdose, and these are the stories you hear, someone goes to a party, and never done anything, said Sorianello. An indictment accused Ral Gonzlez Fernandez, a 42-year-old restaurateur who was born in Del Rio, of conspiring to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine and possessing more than 500 grams of the drug. San Luis Obispo detectives on Thursday arrested a man on drug charges and seized more than $1 million worth of narcotics from a single home, according to police. 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. Juan Antonio Estrada aka "Tony," 37, of Ro Grande City Nothing is more important than the safety and security of our citizens. Records show he was released in July 2019. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. Over five years, they purchased a dozen houses in San Antonio, selling off a handful and renting out others. He is the father of Ashley Villarreal, who at 14 was fatally shot by DEA agents conducting a stakeout in San Antonio in February 2003. Juan Carlos Robles, age 35 of San Antonio; Fernando Salazar, a recently elected senator from Coahuila who's in the opposing National Action Party, or PAN, said he thinks the problem goes well beyond the former treasurer and interim governor. DEA, San Antonio Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Division, U.S. Jury takes an hour to reach verdict over deal at Port S.A. 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. Timeline: An interactive look at Coahuila's debt and the ensuing investigation in San Antonio. "No tears. Salazar said the three suspects face charges of human smuggling, engaging in organized crime . Six people are in custody following a drug bust in east Bexar County earlier this week, according to the Bexar County Sheriffs Office. . guillermo.contreras@express-news.net | Twitter: @gmaninfedland. During this investigation, authorities seized approximately 24 kilograms of methamphetamine, six kilograms of heroin, three kilograms of cocaine, four firearms and approximately $100,000 along with other assets attributable to this organization. It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. Alvarez does not work for GEOs separate Karnes County Detention Center, where some federal inmates are held before trial, said her lawyer, Joey Contreras. The bust happened at a Best Western off Loop 410 near Callaghan Road. The former governor, critics said, was adept at bringing the news media to his side, leaning on advertisers or offering up party and government advertising as an enticement. The sheriffs office said most of the suspects that were arrested are documented gang members.. DRUG BUSTThe Castle Hills Police Department confiscated 6.5 grams of Fentanyl and over four grams of Heroin during a traffic stop overnight. His saga began in mid-2011, when news broke of Coahuila's massive debt. The indictment alleges that the defendants conspired since January 2020 to distribute cocaine. Now he's found a new voice in recovery. Frank Zepeda aka Pancho, 51, of San Antonio Prosecutors in Corpus Christi filed a lawsuit in late September accusing Torres, who owns a house near Houston, of using JP Morgan Chase Bank accounts to transfer millions of dollars from Mexico to Texas, then turning around and sending it offshore. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. But I am innocent. Copyright 2023 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Nowadays, its habitats, conservation and education. She previously worked for WICS/WRSP 20 in Springfield, Illinois. Also charged are Francisco Garza, 52; Frank Zepeda, 51; Jose Tabares, 53; Matthew Villa, 51; Michelle Zamarripa, 59; Rodger Rocky Hernandez, 43; Jay Haggard, 34; Oscar Heredia, 37; Jason Big Mac Gutierrez, 37; and Jacob Sanchez, 21. But Circuit Court Judge Clifton Newman wanted to know if he saw the mangled bodies of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh as he tried to sleep or thought about how he disgraced his family's three-generation reputation for justice through lying, stealing and eventually murder. San Antonio woman among 14 charged with conspiracy to distribute meth and cocaine, Privately run zoos in Texas adapt to new roles. "That's due to availability, the amount of fentanyl that's in the country right now. The DEA, U.S. You have to have a federal and state license for that. Camouflaged among those escaping the more recent problems in the state are drug traffickers, unscrupulous businessmen and high-ranking Coahuila officials who laundered more than $35 million in kickbacks for state contracts, U.S. authorities say. And there's a correlation between that and the approximately 93,000 overdose deaths in the country," said Dante Sorianello, DEA Special Agent. I was this close to him.. This operation is part of an OCDETF Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( Salazar said Moreira deserves more scrutiny because the state's debt and the allegations of theft happened on his watch. Aug. 2, 2014 Updated: Aug. 4, 2014 11 a.m. Facebook Twitter Email. 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. Here's What's Up in San Diego County for July 9, 2022. Haggard faces up to 10 years in federal prison upon conviction of being a felon in possession of a firearm. 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. Oswaldo Jesus Lopez, age 26 of Laredo; LOUIS - A man from Texas and a woman from St. Louis were indicted Wednesday on drug conspiracy charges after multiple kilograms of suspected fentanyl and methamphetamine were found during a traffic stop on Interstate 44 in St. Louis County. On an October morning last year, residents in . The former lawmaker didn't respond to phone calls seeking comment, but at the time lawyers said Bonilla became friends with Flores after selling his house to the businessman and was there to show support. DEA officials said the pills were smaller than a dime and that even a tiny dose of the drug could be fatal. Jason Buch, Guillermo Contreras, San Antonio Express-News. Copyright 2023 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Authorities call it the largest. Fernando Jose Moreno, age 45 of San Antonio; All he had was Cablevision, but they made him a multimillionaire with enormous power. 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. Frank Anthony Hernandez aka Pancho, 36, of San Antonio; Madilyn Marie Alvarado, age 26 of Del Rio San Antonio has strong historic ties to Saltillo, Coahuila's capital. Multiple agencies conducted an arrest operation Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021 which resulted in fifteen indictments being served and the arrest of seven suspects. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. Also on the list were Villarreal, the former treasurer; Torres, the former interim governor; and Flores, the businessman who pleaded guilty in Corpus Christi. 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. All rights reserved. His work for KSAT 12 and KSAT.com includes covering breaking news of the day, as well as producing Q&As and content for the "South Texas Pride" and "KSAT Money" series. That fact is evident from the number of firearms recovered in this investigation - not to mention the silencers, grenade and body armor. For decades, that meant that practically anyone who ended up in court whatever side of the law they found themselves on would have a Murdaugh either watching their back or staring them down. Prosecutor Creighton Waters noted that stare each day in court. 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. Online reports can only be completed for the following crimes where no weapon was used and no suspect information is available. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. (Robert McLeroy/Staff). Lock 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. Our position on behalf of Mr. Villarreal is to establish the facts and show that he is not guilty. Coordinated effort by law enforcement leads to major drug bust in Uvalde (SBG San Antonio) 0. Copyright 2023 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Pictured is (left to right): Jeanette Gloria, 38; Crystal Coronado, 34; Kenneth Peterson, 28; Josh Delgado, 38. 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. In February, Villarreal slipped across one of the international bridges in El Paso and turned himself in to federal agents. Matthew Villa, 51, of San Antonio Thanks to the excellent work of the DEA and our other law enforcement partners, our community is safer today, stated U.S. Attorney Sofer. 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. The arrestsin San Antonio conclude a comprehensive investigation by 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 Daniel C. Comeaux, special agent in charge of the DEA office in Houston. On Tuesday, federal, state and local authorities arrested all of the defendants with the exception of Lumbreras, Ojeda and Flores. It becomes very difficult to track for any investigator in law enforcement, but it's especially more difficult for financial industry investigators because they're limited, they don't have authority of the government, subpoena power.. As the investigation continued, several others were also arrested. 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. U.S. authorities were ramping up their investigation after Gonzalez's arrest on drug charges. According to court records, Haggard was convicted in 2006 and sentenced to four years imprisonment for aggravated robbery in Bexar County. Its disgraceful.. 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. Juror Craig Moyer told ABC News that when deliberations began, the jury immediately took a poll that came back with nine guilty votes. Guillermo has also worked in Central America, Mexico, New Mexico, Arizona and California and his work has appeared in various publications, including the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, New York Post, Newsday, Denver Post and the Albuquerque Journal. All are from San Antonio. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Nicolas Rodriguez, age 39 of San Antonio; Drug Bust November 25, 2022 8:35 am . Ashley. He's facing a federal charge of possession with an intent to distribute over 500 grams of a controlled substance, according to Salazar. Example video title will go here for this video. As Torren businessman Guillermo Flores Cordero stepped off a private jet in August at San Antonio International Airport, federal agents were waiting to take him to Corpus Christi to face charges that he illegally used shell companies to transfer millions of dollars from Mexico to the U.S. for others. An official website of the United States government. The voices of all three Murdaughs can be heard on the video, though Alex Murdaugh had insisted for 20 months that he hadn't been at the kennels that night. Moyer said he didn't buy them. Further back, in the 1800s, Coahuila y Tejas was one state under Mexican rule. Moreira, the former leader of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, is close to Mexican President Enrique Pea Nieto. 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. All the billboards that the PRI used in its campaigns they would rent from Roberto, and they'd easily get the permits from the city governments.. Prosecutors didnt have the weapons used to kill the Murdaughs or other direct evidence like confessions or blood spatter. Tracy Kinsinger came to the courthouse with a homemade sign reading Murderer that he made the night before. And it might not have been you. Joel Villarreal aka Gordo, 49, of San Antonio; Some of the money came from inflated contracts, said First Assistant District Attorney Cliff Herberg. Updated: 4:52 PM CST January 28, 2022. 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; Ojeda faces a mandatory five years in federal prison on the gun charge upon conviction. 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. The juror agreed with prosecutors that the key piece of evidence was a video locked on his sons cellphone for a year video shot minutes before the killings at the same kennels near where the bodies would be found. At sentencing, Murdaugh maintained his innocence, just as he did when he testified in his own defense during the six-week trial. 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. Marshals Service, Bexar County Sheriffs Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and Kendall County Sheriffs Office conducted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation called Operation Dirty Confidential. The lawsuit seeks $2.8 million in an account Torres has in Bermuda. Defense attorneys said they will appeal, based largely on the judge allowing the evidence of crimes that Murdaugh has not been convicted of, which they say smeared his reputation. 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. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. 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. Monday February 10, 2003. Officials said this is the third incident involving a drug bust this week alone, according to the BCSO; however, this incident is separate from the previous two. Drug dealing and violence go hand in hand. Murdaugh's family founded the areas most powerful law firm a century ago in neighboring Hampton County. They refused to identify themselves to reporters or discuss why they were meeting in a conference room with prosecutors, a DEA agent and an investigator with the Texas attorney general's office. 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. Roberto Casimiro Gonzlez Trevio's properties are nominally owned by a complex structure of companies. Today, it has large office buildings in Saltillo and hangars at the city airport. The specific mission of the Houston/South Texas OCDETF Strike Force is to disrupt and dismantle the drug trafficking organizations headed by designated Consolidated Priority Organization Targets (CPOTs), Regional Priority Organization Targets (RPOTs), and their affiliates that impact Houston and south Texas. SAN ANTONIO The Bexar County Sheriff's Office provided details about a drug bust in east Bexar County. Copyright 2023 by KSAT - All rights reserved. The indictment accuses the defendants of conspiring to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine in the Midwestern and Southern U.S. During a year-long investigation culminating in coordinated raids this week, law enforcement officers led by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration seized 23 kilos of cocaine, more than 30 pounds of hydroponic marijuana, 100 kilos of methamphetamine, along with firearms and $359,000 in cash. Tuesday, June 22nd 2021. Some sit empty today. DRUG BUST: The Crystal City Police Department Special Response Team recovered and seized numerous amounts of drugs Wednesday. But not good enough, Moyer said. Villarreal fraudulently acquired Mexican pesos totaling over $35 million in U.S. dollars and funneled the monies into United States bank accounts, federal prosecutors in Corpus Christi wrote in a court filing. Salazar said the street value of the seized drugs is over $1.2 million. Please dial 911 for emergencies or 210.207.7273 for non-emergencies. He quickly left Mexico for the U.S. and showed up in East Texas in February 2012 where he was again arrested. Interviews, court documents, property records and regulatory filings show that those under investigation built a sprawling business network in Texas, including commercial real estate developments, private residences and restaurants. I was shocked, Ibarra said of her boyfriend's arrest. By then, Villarreal disappeared. The government's investigation shouldn't stop with the drug gangs, the former governor told the Saltillo newspaper Vanguardia. 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.