10 arrested in Texas for their roles in large-scale drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Nine south Texas men and one from Houston were arrested this week after their indictment for marijuana trafficking and money laundering, and following an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation dubbed “Operation Black Mask.”
These arrests were announced by U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas.
This investigation was conducted through OCDETF by the following agencies: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) offices in Corpus Christi, McAllen, Falcon Dam and Houston; Drug Enforcement Administration; Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Border Patrol; Alice (Texas) Police Department; Texas sheriff’s offices in Jim Wells and Harris counties; Starr County (Texas) High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force; Texas Department of Public Safety; and U.S. Marshals Service.
Josue Estrada, 37, of Rio Grande City, Texas, was arrested April 29 and is expected to make his initial appearance in McAllen Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Ormsby.
Gustavo Garza-Avalos, aka Tavo, 36, of Houston, made his initial appearance Wednesday in Houston. The following additional eight Rio Grande City residents were arrested April 28:
- Roel Rodriguez, 18;
- Elijio Perez, 24;
- Juan Antonio Perez, aka Nune, 24;
- Luis De La Cruz, 47;
- Edgar Marroquin-Benavides, 35;
- Ricardo Gonzalez, 40;
- Jairo Gonzalez-Hernandez, aka Toluca, 27; and
- Manuel Everardo Lopez, aka Aldo, 33.
The Rio Grande City residents appeared before Judge Ormsby in McAllen. All were ordered into custody pending their respective detention hearings.
All were charged in a sealed indictment returned March 11, which was unsealed upon each arrest. The indictment remains sealed regarding those charged but not yet in custody.
Those indicted are charged with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) of marijuana between June 1, 2012 and the date of the indictment. Rodriguez and Elijio Perez are also charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering on Dec. 2, 2013. A third count also charges Elijio Perez with being felon in possession of a firearm on that date.
Also included in the indictment is a notice that the government is seeking a personal money judgment from the defendants in the amount of $250,000.
“We called this investigation ‘Operation Black Mask,’ but as a result of great police work by a dedicated inter-agency team, this organization has now been unmasked and is ready to face justice,” said Brian M. Moskowitz, special agent in charge of HSI Houston. “This case and others like it help drive home the point that there are severe consequences for those who exploit our borders for criminal purposes.”
If convicted of the marijuana conspiracy, each faces not less than 10 and up to life in federal prison as well as a possible $10 million fine. If convicted of the money laundering charge, Rodriguez and Elijio Perez face up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $500,000 fine (or twice the value of the monetary instrument or funds involved in the transactions or both). Elijio Perez further faces another 10 years in prison on the firearm charge, upon conviction.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie K. Hampton, Southern District of Texas, is prosecuting this case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
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