South Texas law enforcement officers among 15 charged in large-scale cocaine-trafficking conspiracy

HOUSTON — A grand jury sitting in Houston returned an 11-count indictment Thursday against several individuals, including current and former law enforcement officers, in a cocaine-trafficking conspiracy.

This indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas. This investigation is being conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) with the assistance of Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) Criminal Investigations Unit.

According to court documents, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Border Patrol (BP) Agent Daniel Polanco, 34, and Edinburg (Texas) Police Officer Hector Beltran, 40, both of Edinburg, surrendered to federal authorities Friday. Former Houston Police Officer Marcos Esteban Carrion, 38, of Sugar Land, Texas, was already in custody on unrelated charges and is expected to make an initial appearance in the near future. A summons has also been issued for former Precinct 7 Deputy Constable Juan Ignacio Leal, 36, of Houston, who is expected to appear in Houston federal court May 31.

The following individuals are also charged in the indictment: Noe Arnoldo Moczygemba, 42, and Carlos Aaron Oyervides, 41, both of Houston; Angel Alberto Lopez-Rodriguez, 42, a Mexican national residing in Mission, Texas; Dimas DeLeon-Rios, 41, a Mexican national of Edinburg; Carmen Meyer, 60, and Maritssa Salinas, 38, both of Mission; Mario Alejandro Solis, 37, a Mexican national residing in San Juan, Texas; Martin Peña, 59, a citizen of the Dominican Republic residing in Houston; Ruben Angel Nava-Perez, 29, a Mexican national residing in Katy, Texas; and Francisco Arizmendiz-Lugo, 51, and Jesus Alejandro Martinez-Lopez, 37, both of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico.

On May 31, the following defendants currently in custody are scheduled to go before U.S. Magistrate Judge Deana Palermo in Houston: Lopez-Rodriguez, DeLeon-Rios, Oyervides, Meyer, Solis, Peña and Nava-Perez. Moczygemba and Salinas are also expected to be in custody in the near future.

Arizmendiz-Lugo and Martinez-Lopez are considered fugitives and warrants remain outstanding for their arrests. Anyone with information about their whereabouts are encouraged to contact the DEA at (713) 693-3000.

On May 18, the superseding indictment charged all 15 with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine. Each defendant also faces varying numbers of charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Lopez-Rodriguez is charged with one count of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Each defendant faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison as well as a possible $10 million fine on each count if convicted.

Assistant U.S. Attorney, Anibal J. Alaniz, 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 and until convicted through due process of law.