Former southwest Texas police officer sentenced to 7 years in federal prison for drug trafficking
Former police officer used his family business to sell and distribute narcotics
SAN ANTONIO — A former police officer from southwest Texas was sentenced Wednesday to seven years in federal prison for trafficking cocaine through his auto body shop.
This sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Richard Durbin, Western District of Texas. This investigation was led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Val Verde County (Texas) Sheriff's Office, Del Rio Police Department, and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Raymond Villarreal, 43, from Del Rio, was sentenced July 13 by U.S. District Judge Alia Moses who ordered Villarreal to serve 84 months in prison. In addition to the prison term, Judge Moses ordered that Villarreal pay $3,000 to include five years of supervised release after he completes his prison term.
"While some may mistakenly view smuggling and trafficking in narcotics as a path to a quick profit, the sentencing of Raymond Villarreal demonstrates that serious consequences await those who engage in this criminal activity," said Special Agent in Charge Shane Folden, HSI San Antonio. "HSI will continue to work closely with its law enforcement partners to bring narcotics traffickers to justice, even those in a position of public trust."
According to court documents, on May 21, 2015, Villarreal pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. By pleading guilty, Villarreal admitted that from January 2012 to December 2013, he distributed cocaine throughout the Del Rio area from his business, Raul's Body Shop.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Todd R. Keagle and Michael Galdo, Western District of Texas, prosecuted this case.
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