drug bust san antonio today

It is my understanding that the Gonzalez family has contributed greatly to the economy of San Antonio, his lawyer Carlos Quezada said. A locked padlock Guillermo has been with the Express-News for 20 years, and has covered federal court and its investigative agencies for most of that time. 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. She previously worked for WICS/WRSP 20 in Springfield, Illinois. Martinez, Robles, and Jose Garcia face between 15 years and life upon conviction of conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute. 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. His lawyer, Roy Barrera Jr., said Flores wasn't involved in public corruption or organized crime. Ricardo Gonzalez, age 24 of San Antonio; Ashley Mendez, 28, and Ruben Zambrano, 38, were taken into custody. Gutierrez faces between five and 40 years upon conviction. Javier Garcia Lopez, age 29 of San Antonio; Copyright 2023 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. SAN ANTONIO - Two people have been arrested following a big drug bust in a quiet neighborhood over on the East Side of the city. 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. 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. 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. Another $8,500 in cash was found at the home as well, according to officials. Over the past century, your family including you have been prosecuting people here in this courtroom, and many have received the death penalty, probably for lesser conduct, the judge said. During the stop, a search of the vehicle was conducted. 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; Fridays hearing again took place in a packed courtroom. On an October morning last year, residents in . An official website of the United States government. Moyer said he didn't buy them. DRUG BUST: The Crystal City Police Department Special Response Team recovered and seized numerous amounts of drugs Wednesday. I looked in his eyes. He liked to stare me down as he would walk by me during this trial. Rosalinda Flores, 54, of San Antonio; When there's two or three or four or five layers of individuals, that's called layering of ownership, he said. SAN ANTONIO - Six people are in custody following a drug bust in east Bexar County earlier this week, according to the Bexar County Sheriff's Office. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Nicolas Rodriguez, age 39 of San Antonio; Salazar said the street value of the seized drugs is over $1.2 million. The now-disbarred attorney admitted stealing millions of dollars from the family firm and clients, saying he needed the money to fund his drug habit. Deputies detained Ashley Mendez, 28, and Ruben Zambrano, 38, in a West Bexar County drug bust. 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. Zoos in the past were judged by who had the most animals, San Antonio Zoo chief Tim Morrow says. . 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. 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. Thirteen individuals are charged with trafficking cocaine in the San Antonio area, announced U.S. Attorney Gregg N. Sofer and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Steven S. Whipple, Houston Division. The Schertz Police Department stated in a social . 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. 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. UPDATE: Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar says they found $29 million worth of methamphetamine, in addition to $400,000 worth of black tar heroin in a conversion lab in the Northeast Side. It was during this search that deputies said they arrested Jose Ovalle, 66, who had an active warrant for a charge of possession of a controlled substance, and Francisco Menchaca, 45, who had 2 kilograms of meth and 138 grams of cocaine, according to the sheriffs office. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. He surrendered to state police on Oct. 29, 2011, and was released on bond within hours. guillermo.contreras@express-news.net | Twitter: @gmaninfedland. Shes a recreation specialist for GEO, supervising children at play, he said. The jury deliberated for less than three hours Thursday before finding Murdaugh guilty of killing his 22-year-old son with two shotgun blasts and his 52-year-old wife with four or five rifle shots. A locked padlock Multiple agencies conducted an arrest operation Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021 which resulted in fifteen indictments being served and the arrest of seven suspects. Nevrez hit a . The girl was shot when she drove her fathers car out of their house at San Joaquin and Motes streets. Gonzlez Trevio, the father, bought his first house in San Antonio in the early 1990s. 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. He quickly left Mexico for the U.S. and showed up in East Texas in February 2012 where he was again arrested. Karen Lastiri was arrested after Bexar County Sheriffs deputies found 52.28 kilograms of meth in her vehicle during a traffic stop, according to court documents. Lus Claudio Estrada aka Luz, 42, of La Joya; Alvarez does not work for GEOs separate Karnes County Detention Center, where some federal inmates are held before trial, said her lawyer, Joey Contreras. 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. She works in the immigration portion of GEO. Zambrano was arrested in the kitchen without incident. All he had was Cablevision, but they made him a multimillionaire with enormous power. Drug Bust November 25, 2022 8:35 am . With Villarreal on the run, the lawsuits languished. Drug dealing and violence go hand in hand. Through more than 75 witnesses and nearly 800 pieces of evidence, jurors heard about betrayed friends and clients, Murdaughs failed attempt to stage his own death in an insurance fraud scheme, a fatal boat crash in which his son was implicated, the housekeeper who died in a fall in the Murdaugh home and the grisly scene of the killings. At sentencing, Murdaugh maintained his innocence, just as he did when he testified in his own defense during the six-week trial. Moreira has not been charged, but his political career came to an abrupt end in 2011 when it was revealed that under his governorship Coahuila had racked up nearly $3 billion in debt. "They take a pill which seems very simple, never done that in their life, and they simply dont wake up.". After sentencing, Murdaugh returned to the Colleton County jail to gather his possessions and will be taken to an evaluation center in Columbia for medical, mental health and education testing. Our ongoing effort to reduce violence and drug trafficking in our communities sends a clear message that members of these violent criminal enterprises will be held accountable for their crimes.. All are from San Antonio. Frank Anthony Hernandez aka Pancho, 36, of San Antonio; "That's due to availability, the amount of fentanyl that's in the country right now. Tuesday, June 22nd 2021. Haggard faces up to 10 years in federal prison upon conviction of being a felon in possession of a firearm. I saw his eyes. Homero Garcia, age 36 of San Antonio; This indictment and arrests are the result of a joint investigation with our local, state and federal partners to neutralize a dangerous criminal organization in Texas, said DEA Special Agent in Charge Whipple. And it might not have been you. The Bexar County District Attorneys Office also assisted in the investigation. 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. 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. Copyright 2023 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. That fact is evident from the number of firearms recovered in this investigation - not to mention the silencers, grenade and body armor. But they had a mountain of circumstantial evidence, including the video putting Murdaugh at the scene of the killings five minutes before his wife and son stopped using their cellphones forever. 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 Sheriff's Office. Rene Palafos, age 37 of San Antonio; The indictment also charges Ojeda with two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Online reports can only be completed for the following crimes where no weapon was used and no suspect information is available. A firearm was also found inside of the residence, according to officials. The house in Champions Ridge is owned by Raul Gonzlez Fernandez, but over the years it's been owned by his father, brother, uncle and by Vicente Chaires Yaez, Moreira's personal secretary while he was governor. During todays arrests authorities seized approximately two kilograms of cocaine, over 30 pounds of hydroponic marijuana, methamphetamine, three handguns and approximately $235,000. Erik Jason Pena, 41, of San Antonio; and Among those charged in South Texas are the interim governor who served after Moreira, several business owners with homes on San Antonio's North Side, and a former state treasurer who's wanted in Mexico on allegations of taking out fraudulent loans on the state's credit. Bryan Anthony Brown, age 33 of San Antonio; Deputies searched a home Tuesday in the 1200 block of Delmar when they arrested Edward Medrano, 35, for being in possession of 373.3 grams of methamphetamine, according to officials. Lastiri was sentenced to a total of 100 months in federal prison. 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. 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. Ojeda faces a mandatory five years in federal prison on the gun charge upon conviction. Copyright 2023 by KSAT - All rights reserved. You have to have a federal and state license for that. The GEO Group built the facility and manages it under contract with Karnes County and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Humberto Moreira. Cody King is a digital journalist for KSAT 12. But not good enough, Moyer said. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. I would never under any circumstances hurt my wife Maggie and I would never under any circumstances hurt my son Paul-Paul, Murdaugh responded. The family has plenty of money from recent sales of Mexican media holdings, Ibarra said, and her boyfriend had income from running restaurants in Torren, Coahuila, and San Antonio. Coordinated effort by law enforcement leads to major drug bust in Uvalde (SBG San Antonio) 0. Our position on behalf of Mr. Villarreal is to establish the facts and show that he is not guilty. 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. Along with the San Antonio properties, prosecutors have filed lawsuits to take control of real estate in the Rio Grande Valley and millions of dollars in bank accounts in Texas and Bermuda. Jury takes an hour to reach verdict over deal at Port S.A. 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. Joe Angel Villarreal later was sentenced to 19 years in federal prison for leading a large cocaine-trafficking group. 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. BCSO AND DEA TAG UNIT DRUG BUST Jay Haggard, 34, of San Antonio 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. Now he's found a new voice in recovery. 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. Rodger Hernandez aka Rocky, 43, of San Antonio 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. Deputies seized four kilograms of heroin and two kilograms of cocaine in the home in addition to multiple firearms, thousands of dollars of cash and expensive clothing. Instructions. The prosecutors' deposition request included a list of people and entities they would be asking about, including the Moreira brothers, their nephew, a number of Villarreal's family members, Chaires, Humberto Moreira's former secretary, and Roberto Casimiro Gonzalez Trevio, the Coahuila cable magnate whose nephew was arrested in San Antonio and whose brother served as the state's spokesman here. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. They worked for him. Authorities call it the largest. The indictment also charges Haggard with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, namely a Taurus semi-automatic pistol on August 28, 2020. 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. Jason Gutierrez aka Big Mac, 37, of San Antonio Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, METRO -- The father of Ashley Villarreal is led out of the Judge John H. Wood Federal Courthouse. Juan Antonio Estrada aka "Tony," 37, of Ro Grande City It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. 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. Cody King is a digital journalist for KSAT 12. 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 DEA, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Texas Department of Public Safety, San Antonio Police Department, New Braunfels Police Department, University of Texas San Antonio Police Department, Gonzales Police Department, Comal County Sheriffs Office and the Guadalupe County Sheriffs Office conducted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation called Operation Brujas Blunder. A federal grand jury in Corpus Christi in November charged Villarreal and Torres with money laundering and fraud. The suspects were arrested for drug possession. 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. And, San Diego Pride Kicks off today. The U.S. The elder Villarreal was arrested in a DEA operation in which his daughter was shot and critically wounded by federal agents. 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. Jesse Martinez, age 41 of San Antonio; Salazar said the three suspects face charges of human smuggling, engaging in organized crime . We look forward to taking a good hard look at the governments evidence.. Former Texas State Rep. Poncho Nevrez at AudioRec Productions, a recording studio in Piedras Negras, Mexico, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. 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. This arrest operation also resulted in firearms, currency, and a large amount of methamphetamine being seized from these individuals. The government is abusing its power, Canales wrote in one filing. Torres and Villarreal were the closest persons to Moreira, Salazar said. Jose Tabares, 53, of 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. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. He's the one that made all this mess.. 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. 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. 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. All of the defendants except Albelardo Oviedo are also charged in substantive counts in the indictment related to specific instances of drug trafficking that occurred throughout the course of the conspiracy. Joel Villarreal aka Gordo, 49, of San Antonio; On Wednesday, a joint task force including the DEA along with the sheriff's office arrested 41-year-old Francisco Ortiz. Murdaugh's brother and surviving son sat behind him in the courtroom every day. 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. The Zetas in particular had spread their control to Coahuila's mining sector, Moreira said. They whisked him to San Antonio, where prosecutors unsealed an indictment charging him with another count of money laundering. I was shocked, Ibarra said of her boyfriend's arrest. Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( Also among the defendants is Joe Angel Villarreal, 55. In a major study released Saturday, March 4, 2023, Nexletol reduced the risk of heart attacks and other health problems in people who can't take drugs called statins, the main cholesterol-lowering . 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 Residential Center. Prosecutors didnt have the weapons used to kill the Murdaughs or other direct evidence like confessions or blood spatter. Photo: KTSA/Dennis Foley. "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. 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. BCSO says as deputies were approaching the residence, Mendez was getting in a vehicle to leave. The sheriffs office said most of the suspects that were arrested are documented gang members.. 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. And that is why we want to ask questions as far as their involvement or knowledge.. 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. The head of south central Texas DEA shares new insight on the. I think he's not guilty, so I was shocked.. Jose De Jesus Garcia, age 35 of San Antonio; His saga began in mid-2011, when news broke of Coahuila's massive debt. Prosecutors have said in court that they believe Flores helped a former governor of Tamaulipas, another state that borders Texas, launder bribe money from the Zetas. This comes as state officials said they've seen a surge in fentanyl seizures with DPS reporting a 950% increase from 2020. Lawyers for both men maintain they're innocent. Before he was charged with murder, Murdaugh was in jail awaiting trial on about 100 other charges ranging from insurance fraud to tax evasion. 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. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. All rights reserved. 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. And I could see the real Alex Murdaugh when he looked at me, Waters said. Coahuila prosecutors in October 2011 charged Villarreal with falsifying documents to take out millions of dollars in loans on the state's credit. The DEA, U.S. 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. And that was the reason they offered it, Griffin 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. Deputies saw the suspects vehicle leaving the home and thats when they conducted a traffic stop near Loop 410 and Ingram Road. It's a very complicated matter that's taking a lot of time, but there are bank records and property records and it's taking a while to sift through all the facts to show he did not do what they claim he did.. According to Eastland County Today, Tuesday at 1:30 am - Eastland County Deputy Sheriff Colby Jackson made a traffic stop on a speeding vehicle on Interstate 20. Nowadays, its habitats, conservation and education. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 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.. Last year, Raul Gonzlez Trevio bought a one-acre piece of commercial property on U.S. 281 near TPC Parkway. By the time federal prosecutors charged Torres and Villarreal, Bexar County prosecutors finally had started moving their civil lawsuit forward. Meanwhile, the U.S. investigation sprawled. The Bexar County Sheriff's Office conducted the drug bust in the 500 block of Porter Street. DRUG BUSTThe Castle Hills Police Department confiscated 6.5 grams of Fentanyl and over four grams of Heroin during a traffic stop overnight.