South Texas man pleads guilty to trafficking more than $1.1M in cocaine following HSI Corpus Christi investigation

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A South Texas resident pleaded guilty Jan. 10 to drug trafficking-related charges after an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Corpus Christi and U.S. Customs and Border Protection revealed he attempted to smuggle more than $1.1 million in cocaine through a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint.

Ascencion Garza Jr., a 63-year-old resident of Hebbronville, pleaded guilty in the Southern District of Texas to possession with intent to distribute approximately 16 kilograms of cocaine.

On Sept. 7, 2022, Garza drove his truck into the primary inspection lane of a Border Patrol checkpoint near Falfurrias. During inspection, authorities searched his vehicle and discovered 15 bricks of cocaine in concealed compartments within its rear quarter panels. The drugs weighed approximately 16 kilograms and have an estimated street value of more than $1.1 million.

Garza is scheduled for sentencing April 11. He faces up to life in federal prison and a possible $10 million fine. He will remain in custody pending that hearing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler Foster is prosecuting the case.

For more news and information on HSI’s efforts to aggressively investigate drug smuggling and trafficking in Southeast Texas, follow us on Twitter @HSIHouston.