Federal jury convicts south Texas man of drug trafficking
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A federal jury on Thursday convicted a south Texas man on one count of conspiracy to commit drug trafficking, and two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine.
This conviction was announced by U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas. This long-term investigation was jointly conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Ten government witnesses provided testimony regarding the trafficking in heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine by Rodolfo Casares, 38, of Brownsville, Texas. This criminal organization was headquartered in Mathis, Texas, and led by Ricardo Guerrero. On March 18, 2014, Guerrero was convicted by a federal jury in Corpus Christi for leading this conspiracy. He was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment June 5. The jury deliberated for two hours and returned Guerrero’s guilty verdict following a two-day trial.
Casares was involved in drug trafficking from 2009 through most of 2012. He used his connections in Mexico to obtain and smuggle illegal narcotics into the United States at Brownsville, McAllen or Laredo, Texas. Once there, the illegal narcotics were transported to Guerrero and stored in numerous properties he owned in Mathis and neighboring communities.
Guerrero arranged to sell the heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine throughout south Texas and San Antonio. On Aug. 20, 2011, three conspirators hired by Casares were arrested at the U.S. Border Patrol Checkpoint at Hebbronville while attempting to transport methamphetamine and cocaine to Guerrero.
“Drug traffickers who think that they can exploit our border without paying a price for their crimes should take note of this case,” said Brian M. Moskowitz, special agent in charge of HSI Houston. “HSI and our law enforcement partners have brought this criminal organization to justice. These drug traffickers will pay a high price for many years for their crimes.”
Trial testimony also provided that Guerrero’s criminal organization was moving kilogram amounts of methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine at least once or twice a month during the conspiracy.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos set sentencing for Casares for May 15. At that time he faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison, as well as a possible $10 million maximum fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Chad W. Cowan, Southern District of Texas, is prosecuting this case.
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