AUSTIN, Texas Federal authorities arrested 21 people believed to be involved in drug trafficking on Thursday, according to the Department of Justice. 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. She previously worked for WICS/WRSP 20 in Springfield, Illinois. Oscar Oviedo, age 26 of San Antonio; Coronado and Flores Valdez, the Moreiras' nephew, were in San Antonio responding to a request by Bexar County to depose representatives of the LLCs that Villarreal's family members manage. 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. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. 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. The GEO Group built the facility and manages it under contract with Karnes County and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He's facing a federal charge of possession with an intent to distribute over 500 grams of a controlled substance, according to Salazar. 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. A locked padlock 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. An official website of the United States government. Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. 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. They are steadfastly in his camp, defense attorney Jim Griffin said after the hearing. Homero Garcia, age 36 of San Antonio; Authorities call it the largest. He said fentanyl pills are often made in backyard labs, and often pushed to young people disguised as other drugs. Further back, in the 1800s, Coahuila y Tejas was one state under Mexican rule. All of them were indicted on federal drug. 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. Jonathan Linares Lumbreras aka Coahuila, 30, of San Antonio; Joel Villarreal aka Gordo, 49, of San Antonio; Coordinated effort by law enforcement leads to major drug bust in Uvalde (SBG San Antonio) 0. Those five defendants were already in custody. Yesterday, federal, state and local authorities arrested nine defendants. (Robert McLeroy/Staff). 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. 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.. 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. The elder Villarreal was arrested in a DEA operation in which his daughter was shot and critically wounded by federal agents. 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. 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 . Zambrano was arrested in the kitchen without incident. Lawyers for both men maintain they're innocent. San Diego Border Patrol seizes massive quantity of deadly, powerful In total, officials found seven kilos of heroin and 1.5 kilos of meth, according to the BCSO. 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 might have been the monster you become," Newman said. 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. Flores has since pleaded guilty to a money laundering conspiracy charge and agreed to give up millions of dollars in Texas bank accounts, a Learjet and his home in The Dominion. Copyright 2023 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Drug dealing and violence go hand in hand. The indictment alleges that the defendants conspired since January 2020 to distribute cocaine. Humberto Moreira. Map: See the San Antonio ties of Coahuilan politicians and businessmen, some of whom prosecutors say laundered millions of dollars in South Texas. 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. Copyright 2023 by KSAT - All rights reserved. 35 indicted in two separate Central Texas drug trafficking busts SAN ANTONIO - Six people are in custody, two of which are being held in a federal facility, following a drug bust on the North Side, according to the Bexar County Sheriff's Office. Rosalinda Flores, 54, of San Antonio; Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. At sentencing, Murdaugh maintained his innocence, just as he did when he testified in his own defense during the six-week trial. Nevrez hit a . She traveled from Houston to San Antonio with two children in her vehicle. In interviews after his son's killing, Moreira placed blame on narcoempresarios, businessmen with ties to the cartels who allowed the gangs to act with impunity. 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. The multiagency taskforce handling the case includes the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Texas attorney general's office and the Internal Revenue Service. The Zetas in particular had spread their control to Coahuila's mining sector, Moreira said. A simple drug bust. Properties that the feds moved to seize in the case suggested they were looking at something more than a simple dope smuggling investigation. 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. Monday February 10, 2003. Twenty-Two Indicted for Drug Trafficking in San Antonio Area Drug Enforcement Administration Daniel C. Comeaux Special Agent in Charge Houston @DEAHoustonDiv April 15, 2021 Contact: Sally M. Sparks Phone Number: (713) 693-3329 For Immediate Release Twenty-Two Indicted for Drug Trafficking in San Antonio Area Bexar County Deputies arrest 3 people in a drug bust on San Antonio's Alex Murdaugh gets life in prison in murder of wife, son 25 people arrested after massive drug bust in San Antonio area - KSAT Online reports can only be completed for the following crimes where no weapon was used and no suspect information is available. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering operations, and those primarily responsible for the nations illegal drug supply. 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. Jason Gutierrez aka Big Mac, 37, of San Antonio SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) A big drug bust on San Antonio's North side. It was found that there is no evidence to link Mr. Moreira Valdes to any wrongdoing in relation to the debt contracted in the state of Coahuila during his term as governor, the attorney wrote. Before he was charged with murder, Murdaugh was in jail awaiting trial on about 100 other charges ranging from insurance fraud to tax evasion. If he gets extradited we will (fight the criminal case), but right now he has not been extradited, so he's still in Mexico, Canales said. Former Texas State Rep. Poncho Nevrez at AudioRec Productions, a recording studio in Piedras Negras, Mexico, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. In court records, prosecutors wrote Zamora is ostensibly working as a self-employed plumber, but somehow came up with $500,000 to purchase drugs in the Bay Area, and lives in a $3 million home in . Coordinated effort by law enforcement leads to major drug bust in 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 . A good liar. Jose Artemio Acevedo Jr. aka Chapparo, 49, of Rio Grande City; Torres and Villarreal were the closest persons to Moreira, Salazar said. Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( Jacqueline Alvarez, 57, of San Antonio 6 arrested in drug bust on San Antonio's North Side Over half a million dollars worth of cocaine seized in Texas drug bust Example video title will go here for this video. 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. DEA, San Antonio Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Division, U.S. 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. During this investigation, authorities have seized approximately 25 kilograms of cocaine, 35 firearms, two silencers, a grenade, body armor and approximately $265,000 in U.S. Currency along with other assets attributable to this organization.