News Releases and Statements

Carlos Alberto Castro-Ruiz, 26, of Phoenix, is scheduled to be sentenced on July 18.

Felipe Abad Medina-Rubio, 22, of Tamaulipas, Mexico, pleaded guilty before a federal judge for attempting to smuggle approximately 4 kilograms of cocaine into the United States through the Hidalgo Port of Entry.

A jury convicted Robert Nicholas Hansen, 43, of Hospers, of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; two counts of distribution of methamphetamine; and one count of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm (one gun) on Nov. 3, 2022, following a joint HSI investigation. On May 18, 2022, a jury convicted Hansen of two counts of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm (17 guns).

Law enforcement conducted more seizures than any previous operation, including 117 firearms, 850 kilograms of drugs that include 64 kilograms of fentanyl or fentanyl-laced narcotics, and $53.4 million in cash and virtual currencies.

The investigation revolved around subjects attempting to smuggle narcotics aboard a vessel traveling from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico. Marine interdiction agents with U.S. Customs and Border Protection stopped the vessel off the coast of Loiza, Puerto Rico, and arrested the subjects, two of whom jumped off the vessel.

San Diego resident Roberto Salazar II, 26, who until his arrest was an active-duty U.S. Marine stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California, was sentenced in federal court April 21, to 144 months in prison for his role in a years-long drug importation and distribution conspiracy that involved dozens of smuggling events.

Argelio Chavero, 50, of Alton, admitted to aiding and abetting another man to bring meth into the country before a federal judge.

Nelly Guerra, 39, from Edinburg, pleaded guilty before a federal judge for importing 24 kilograms of crystal meth. According to court documents, Guerra attempted to enter the United States through the Donna Port of Entry.

A federal judge sentenced Taylor Melton Addington, 33, of Phoenix, April 13 to six years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for his involvement in trafficking methamphetamine following an investigation by HSI.

Sean Graham pleaded guilty April 24 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas to possession with intent to distribute more than 180 grams of methamphetamines.

Acting Special Agent in Charge for HSI Kansas City Taekuk Cho and U.S. Attorney Steven Russell announced that Bartolo Roman-Tapia, 23, of Mexico, was sentenced on April 19, 2023, in federal court in Omaha for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine following an HSI probe.

On April 13, a federal judge sentenced Nestor Alan Garcia, 28, of Monterrey, Mexico, to serve 144 months in prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release.

Dubbed the matriarch of her narcotics trafficking and distribution empire, Erlinda Ramos-Bobadilla, 62, received the lengthy prison sentence March 28 for her role in the network, which included procuring, planning and arranging acts of violence, including murders, in furtherance of the conspiracy.

Over the weekend of April 1, Jorge Ivan Gastelum Avila, 42, of Mexico, aka Cholo Ivan, was extradited to the United States and made his initial appearance in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia yesterday to face international drug trafficking and firearms charges.

Kendra R. Baker, 37, of Grand Island, was sentenced to 54 months in prison for distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine mixture and 5 grams or more of methamphetamine actual following an HSI and law enforcement partner investigation. 

Authorities arrested Ricardo Julyan Kross Rios, a 21-year-old Corpus Christi resident, March 23 at his residence in Corpus Christi for delivery of fentanyl resulting in death and possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute.

Special agents seized 10,617 doses of counterfeit pharmaceuticals and prescription drugs, all controlled substances in the United States, used to treat conditions from cough and cold symptoms to cancer.

Since its launch on March 13, 2023, Operation Blue Lotus has led to 18 seizures, 16 federal arrests and two state arrests. Those seizures prevented over 900 pounds of fentanyl, over 700 pounds of methamphetamines and over 100 pounds of cocaine from entering the United States through March 19.

Elias Herrera, 31; Liz Jomayra Diaz-Colon, 23; and Jonathan Guemez, 30, previously pleaded guilty and admitted they had conspired together to import the drugs into the United States. All three people are from Nashville, Tennessee.

A federal judge sentenced Moises Moreno, 38, of Moreno Valley, to 200 months in prison March 20 for importing more than 36 kilograms of fentanyl from Mexico into the United States.

Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Kansas City Taekuk Cho and U.S. Attorney Steven Russell announced that a federal judge found Servando V. Urias, 48, of Mexico, guilty of conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine.

A court convicted Dustin Coates, 36, of Cherokee, of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, following a joint HSI investigation.

Following an investigation by HSI Nashville, former MLB player Luther Hackman, 48, pled guilty to money laundering and conspiring to distribute cocaine March 9. In the same case, a federal judge convicted Paul Seib, age 46 and a Canadian citizen, of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms of cocaine following a four-day federal jury trial.

According to information presented in court, HSI Nashville special agents began investigating the drug trafficking activities of Julio Garcia, 42, and Juan Garcia, 38, in 2019.

Adolph Scott, 37, of Baltimore, received the lengthy prison sentence Feb. 15 for transporting an individual to engage in prostitution and for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.