A network of politicians and businessmen from the Mexican state of Coahuila relocated to San Antonio over the past seven years, and prosecutors say a corrupt group among them invested millions of dollars in illegal kickbacks here from drug traffickers and state contractors. The former lawmaker didn't respond to phone calls seeking comment, but at the time lawyers said Bonilla became friends with Flores after selling his house to the businessman and was there to show support. Copyright 2023 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. All the remaining defendants face between 10 years to life in federal prison upon conviction. "They take a pill which seems very simple, never done that in their life, and they simply dont wake up.". Updated: 4:52 PM CST January 28, 2022. Roberto Casimiro Gonzlez Trevio also shows up on the list of people Bexar County prosecutors told a judge they want to ask witnesses about as part of their money laundering investigation, and he once owned the house in Champions Ridge that the feds are trying to seize from his nephew. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. SAN ANTONIO - Six people are in custody following a drug bust in east Bexar County earlier this week, according to the Bexar County Sheriff's Office. The most high-profile arrest of the money laundering investigation has been that of Villarreal, the former state treasurer. Upon further inspection, Marijuana, Methamphetamines, Heroin and Fentanyl along . SAN ANTONIO - Two people have been arrested following a big drug bust in a quiet neighborhood over on the East Side of the city. It didn't take long to convince the other three. He said fentanyl pills are often made in backyard labs, and often pushed to young people disguised as other drugs. Timeline: An interactive look at Coahuila's debt and the ensuing investigation in San Antonio. But not good enough, Moyer said. Over the past century, your family including you have been prosecuting people here in this courtroom, and many have received the death penalty, probably for lesser conduct, the judge said. Deputies searched a home Tuesday in the 1200 block of Delmar when they arrested Edward Medrano, 35, for being in possession of 373.3 grams of methamphetamine, according to officials. But then they got word it had started again. An employee of a residential facility for immigrant families and the father of a girl shot dead by federal agents in San Antonio 18 years ago are among 14 alleged members of a drug ring charged in a new federal indictment. We look forward to taking a good hard look at the governments evidence.. Boy, 11, shoots self in head with gun he found in apartment, Photos show a massive alligator on an Atascosa County road, Look inside historic $2.3 million King William home. Our ongoing effort to reduce violence and drug trafficking in our communities sends a clear message that members of these violent criminal enterprises will be held accountable for their crimes.. On an October morning last year, residents in the gated Champions Ridge subdivision watched as federal agents arrested a neighbor with ties to the Coahuila government. Jose Artemio Acevedo Jr. aka Chapparo, 49, of Rio Grande City; SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) $400,000 worth of drugs were found in an east side home today. The situation is politically fraught. The Bexar County District Attorneys Office also assisted in the investigation. Sheriff's deputies there said they stopped Villarreal, his wife and brother-in-law Oswaldo Coronado traveling with $67,000. The government's investigation shouldn't stop with the drug gangs, the former governor told the Saltillo newspaper Vanguardia. The specific mission of the Houston/South Texas OCDETF Strike Force is to disrupt and dismantle the drug trafficking organizations headed by designated Consolidated Priority Organization Targets (CPOTs), Regional Priority Organization Targets (RPOTs), and their affiliates that impact Houston and south Texas. The girl was shot when she drove her fathers car out of their house at San Joaquin and Motes streets. Albelardo Oviedo, age 29 of San Antonio. He pleaded guilty to operating a money transmitting business without a license, Barrera said. You have to have a federal and state license for that. It is my understanding that the Gonzalez family has contributed greatly to the economy of San Antonio, his lawyer Carlos Quezada said. He has also covered immigration, minority affairs and legal affairs as part of the projects team here and for other print, TV and radio outlets. Today, the Zetas are their own criminal organization engaged in a wide range of illegal activities including drug trafficking, prostitution, human trafficking and distribution of counterfeit goods. The prosecutors' deposition request included a list of people and entities they would be asking about, including the Moreira brothers, their nephew, a number of Villarreal's family members, Chaires, Humberto Moreira's former secretary, and Roberto Casimiro Gonzalez Trevio, the Coahuila cable magnate whose nephew was arrested in San Antonio and whose brother served as the state's spokesman here. Each has a prior serious felony drug conviction which enhances their minimum mandatory sentence. And I could see the real Alex Murdaugh when he looked at me, Waters said. Nicolas Rodriguez, age 39 of San Antonio; Moreira has not been charged, but his political career came to an abrupt end in 2011 when it was revealed that under his governorship Coahuila had racked up nearly $3 billion in debt. Prosecutors decided not to seek the death penalty in this case, and Newman handed down the harshest possible sentence he could consecutive life sentences without parole. The bust happened at 523 Porter St. early Friday. His work for KSAT 12 and KSAT.com includes covering breaking news of the day, as well as producing Q&As and content for the "South Texas Pride" and "KSAT Money" series. Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar says a drug operation at the home in the 100 block of Trudell was first broken up a few weeks ago when Deputies were delivering a warrant. Lawyers for both men maintain they're innocent. guillermo.contreras@express-news.net | Twitter: @gmaninfedland. Alvarez does not work for GEOs separate Karnes County Detention Center, where some federal inmates are held before trial, said her lawyer, Joey Contreras. SAN ANTONIO - Twenty five men and women are in custody after authorities busted a drug distribution operation in the San Antonio area Thursday, according to officials. Fernando Salazar, a recently elected senator from Coahuila who's in the opposing National Action Party, or PAN, said he thinks the problem goes well beyond the former treasurer and interim governor. I was this close to him.. Through more than 75 witnesses and nearly 800 pieces of evidence, jurors heard about betrayed friends and clients, Murdaughs failed attempt to stage his own death in an insurance fraud scheme, a fatal boat crash in which his son was implicated, the housekeeper who died in a fall in the Murdaugh home and the grisly scene of the killings. Oscar Jesus Lopez, age 23 of Laredo; Torres remains a fugitive in Mexico. The voices of all three Murdaughs can be heard on the video, though Alex Murdaugh had insisted for 20 months that he hadn't been at the kennels that night. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering operations, and those primarily responsible for the nations illegal drug supply. Last year, Raul Gonzlez Trevio bought a one-acre piece of commercial property on U.S. 281 near TPC Parkway. He's not been charged with a crime, and neither have the Gonzlez Trevio brothers. Marshals Service, Bexar County Sheriffs Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and Kendall County Sheriffs Office conducted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation called Operation Dirty Confidential. Agents arrested Lumbreras on Monday night. Joel Villarreal aka Gordo, 49, of San Antonio; During this investigation, authorities seized approximately 24 kilograms of methamphetamine, six kilograms of heroin, three kilograms of cocaine, four firearms and approximately $100,000 along with other assets attributable to this organization. Zambrano and Mendez now face charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, a first degree felony, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver over 400 grams, another first degree felony, possession of a controlled substance a third degree felony and possession of marijuana, more than five pounds, also a third degree felony. Murdaugh's family founded the areas most powerful law firm a century ago in neighboring Hampton County. In 2011, a pair of Mexican senators called for an investigation into Chaires and his investment in real estate and in Coahuila radio and television stations. Defense attorneys said they will appeal, based largely on the judge allowing the evidence of crimes that Murdaugh has not been convicted of, which they say smeared his reputation. Gonzlez Fernandez didn't respond to letters written to him in jail, and his new attorney, San Antonio white collar crime expert Cynthia Orr, wouldn't comment. Gutierrez faces between five and 40 years upon conviction. In the following months, details of the U.S. investigation began trickling out through a series of lawsuits filed by federal and state prosecutors to seize bank accounts and property owned by limited liability companies that had been set up by Villarreal, Coronado, another brother-in-law, Villarreal's wife and his alleged mistress. What's known is this: the Gonzlezes control a media empire in Mexico and in recent years extended their influence across the border. MEDINA COUNTY, Texas More than 20 arrests have been made as part of a multi-agency investigation into drug distribution in south-central Texas after a . Former Texas State Rep. Poncho Nevrez at AudioRec Productions, a recording studio in Piedras Negras, Mexico, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. Deputies searched a home Tuesday in the. Copyright 2023 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Prior to today, authorities seized approximately 21 kilograms of cocaine, 100 kilograms of methamphetamine, a firearm and approximately $124,000 along with other assets attributable to this organization. Then, starting in 2006, he and his brother, Roberto Casimiro Gonzlez Trevio, went on a spending spree. Jason Buch, Guillermo Contreras, San Antonio Express-News. Javier Garcia Lopez, age 29 of San Antonio; Homero Garcia, age 36 of San Antonio; The GEO Group built the facility and manages it under contract with Karnes County and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Salazar said Moreira deserves more scrutiny because the state's debt and the allegations of theft happened on his watch. In a month or so, he will move to a maximum security state prison like all new inmates serving life sentences. Juror Craig Moyer told ABC News that when deliberations began, the jury immediately took a poll that came back with nine guilty votes. Salazar said the three suspects face charges of human smuggling, engaging in organized crime . Jesse Martinez, age 41 of San Antonio; Guillermo has been with the Express-News for 20 years, and has covered federal court and its investigative agencies for most of that time. (Robert McLeroy/Staff). Rosalinda Flores, 54, of San Antonio; It was during this search that deputies said they arrested Jose Ovalle, 66, who had an active warrant for a charge of possession of a controlled substance, and Francisco Menchaca, 45, who had 2 kilograms of meth and 138 grams of cocaine, according to the sheriffs office. Francisco Manuel Mata-Martinez, 41, of El Paso, was indicted. Good Morning San Antonio. All of the defendants except Albelardo Oviedo are also charged in substantive counts in the indictment related to specific instances of drug trafficking that occurred throughout the course of the conspiracy. Further back, in the 1800s, Coahuila y Tejas was one state under Mexican rule. Also among the defendants is Joe Angel Villarreal, 55. Coahuila prosecutors in October 2011 charged Villarreal with falsifying documents to take out millions of dollars in loans on the state's credit. That's why Sorianello had a strong message to parents: pay attention to your kids. The Bexar County Sheriff's Office conducted the drug bust in the 500 block of Porter Street. SAN ANTONIO A massive drug bust took place at a northwest side hotel where 75,000 fentanyl pills were seized, the Bexar County Sherriff's Office said. Joseph Richard Guerrero, age 28 of San Antonio; DEA officials said the pills were smaller than a dime and that even a tiny dose of the drug could be fatal. If he gets extradited we will (fight the criminal case), but right now he has not been extradited, so he's still in Mexico, Canales said. Drug dealing and violence go hand in hand. These family members assisted Villarreal by, among other things, opening bank accounts at U.S. banks, establishing business entities and purchasing real estate in the names of these business entities.. Guillermo has also worked in Central America, Mexico, New Mexico, Arizona and California and his work has appeared in various publications, including the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, New York Post, Newsday, Denver Post and the Albuquerque Journal. The KSAT 12 News Team provides a look at local, regional, statewide and national news events and the latest information on local traffic and weather issues. On Wednesday, a joint task force including the DEA along with the sheriff's office arrested 41-year-old Francisco Ortiz. Multiple agencies conducted an arrest operation Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021 which resulted in fifteen indictments being served and the arrest of seven suspects. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. Tracy Kinsinger came to the courthouse with a homemade sign reading Murderer that he made the night before. During this investigation, authorities have seized approximately 25 kilograms of cocaine, 35 firearms, two silencers, a grenade, body armor and approximately $265,000 in U.S. Currency along with other assets attributable to this organization. Jury takes an hour to reach verdict over deal at Port S.A. Javier Armando Casas, 40, of Pharr; An indictment accused Ral Gonzlez Fernandez, a 42-year-old restaurateur who was born in Del Rio, of conspiring to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine and possessing more than 500 grams of the drug. When he took the stand in his own defense, the first thing he did was admit he had lied to investigators about being at the kennels, saying he was paranoid of law enforcement because he was addicted to opioids and had pills in his pocket the night of the killings. The arrests made yesterday in San Antonio conclude a comprehensive investigation by the DEA along with our law enforcement partners into the criminal activities of a drug trafficking organization, who were responsible for transporting and distributing methamphetamine and cocaine into our communities, said DEA Special Agent in Charge Comeaux. Another $8,500 in cash was found at the home as well, according to officials. They worked for him. SAN ANTONIO A 32-year-old San Antonio woman was sentenced to more than eight years in prison on Tuesday after she was found guilty of possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, according to the United States Attorneys Office for the Western District of Texas. Humberto Moreira. Waters said none of the victims of the crime members of Murdaughs family and the parents and relatives of his wife wished to speak on behalf of the prosecution before sentencing. All other crimes require an officer to make the scene. The DEA will continue to relentlessly pursue any individual or organization that threatens the well-being and stability of our communities.. Murdaugh faced the judge in the Colleton County courtroom on the circuit where his father, grandfather and great-grandfather tried cases as the elected prosecutor for more than 80 years. Deputies detained her and found 5 THC vape pens on the front seat, authorities said. Domestic Cannabis Suppression / Eradication Program, Red Ribbon Toolkit - Resources For Your Community, DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Intelligence Research Specialist Job Announcements, Schedule A Hiring Authority: Intelligence Research Specialist, Privacy Impact Assessment and Management Information Systems, Victim Witness Assistance Program Resources. When Humberto came into power, RCG was tiny, said Jorge Rosales Saade, an official with the opposition PAN party in Coahuila. According to the Bexar County Sheriffs Office, deputies on Friday executed a search warrant at a home in the 6900 block of Martinique Drive, not far from Highway 90 and Military Drive. Jacob Sanchez, 21, of San Antonio. I was shocked, Ibarra said of her boyfriend's arrest. Cash found at drug bust in West Bexar County. Villarreal was involved in facilitating the purchase of the properties, Houston attorney Michael J. Wynne said. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. James Patric Bartlett, age 42 of San Antonio; and, Shes a recreation specialist for GEO, supervising children at play, he said. But they had a mountain of circumstantial evidence, including the video putting Murdaugh at the scene of the killings five minutes before his wife and son stopped using their cellphones forever. It makes the ownership of properties more difficult for investigators and regulators to trace, however, and also could be used to disguise the source of money in the original purpose. Matthew Villa, 51, of San Antonio Online reports can only be completed for the following crimes where no weapon was used and no suspect information is available. All rights reserved. They had cast Alex as a despicable human being. Villarreal fraudulently acquired Mexican pesos totaling over $35 million in U.S. dollars and funneled the monies into United States bank accounts, federal prosecutors in Corpus Christi wrote in a court filing. Rubn Moreira, the current governor, told Mexican reporters that Gonzlez Trevio's position was unofficial and unpaid. And that was the reason they offered it, Griffin said. Plus, Rooftop Cinema extends screenings until September. In court records, prosecutors wrote Zamora is ostensibly working as a self-employed plumber, but somehow came up with $500,000 to purchase drugs in the Bay Area, and lives in a $3 million home in . SAN ANTONIO Six people are in custody, two of which are being held in a federal facility, following a drug bust on the North Side, according to the Bexar County Sheriffs Office. One victim reportedly paid more than $12,000 to get to the San Antonio area, according to the sheriff. Zoos in the past were judged by who had the most animals, San Antonio Zoo chief Tim Morrow says. Its radio and television stations have a reputation for supporting the Institutional Revolutionary Party, known by its Spanish acronym PRI, in general and the Moreiras in particular. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. The lawsuits sought millions of dollars in bank accounts in Texas and Bermuda as well as the commercial strip center on U.S. 281, the pharmacy on Stone Oak Parkway, a storage center on Loop 1604, a condo on South Padre Island and most of a commercial block in Brownsville that prosecutors said was purchased with money stolen from Coahuila's treasury. This arrest operation also resulted in firearms, currency, and a large amount of methamphetamine being seized from these individuals. Among those charged in South Texas are the interim governor who served after Moreira, several business owners with homes on San Antonio's North Side, and a former state treasurer who's wanted in Mexico on allegations of taking out fraudulent loans on the state's credit. The indictment alleges that defendants Arteaga, Rodriguez, Brown, Chavarria, Oscar Oviedo, Joseph Guerrero, Vasquez, Martinez, Justin Guerrero, Gonzalez, Robles, Moreno, Palafos, Barron, Lopez, Jose Garcia, Alvarado, Bartlett, and Albelardo Oviedo conspired from June 2019 until April 7, 2021, to distribute methamphetamine. When one defendant was brought to court in San Antonio, a former U.S. congressman showed up to support him. I saw his eyes. Intellectuals and landholders from the state, which borders Texas, took refuge here during the Mexican Revolution in the early 1900s. That fact is evident from the number of firearms recovered in this investigation - not to mention the silencers, grenade and body armor. Map: See the San Antonio ties of Coahuilan politicians and businessmen, some of whom prosecutors say laundered millions of dollars in South Texas. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering operations primarily responsible for the nations illegal drug supply. The sheriffs office said most of the suspects that were arrested are documented gang members.. Interviews, court documents, property records and regulatory filings show that those under investigation built a sprawling business network in Texas, including commercial real estate developments, private residences and restaurants. Today, it has large office buildings in Saltillo and hangars at the city airport. He quickly left Mexico for the U.S. and showed up in East Texas in February 2012 where he was again arrested. Jason Buch is a freelance journalist based in Texas. It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The massive drug bust took place during a traffic stop in San Clemente, a wealthy enclave about 75 miles inland from the U.S.-Mexico border in San Diego, multiple Border Patrol sources told Fox News. Jesus Manuel DeLuna aka Chuy, 48, of San Antonio; They are either identified as being investors in some of these corporations, or persons with knowledge of some of the transactions, Herberg said. With Villarreal on the run, the lawsuits languished. Copyright 2023 by KSAT - All rights reserved. Just a few weeks ago, 180 miles from the border, in the quiet San Antonio suburban town of Boerne, Texas, a vehicle carrying nine people two stuffed in the trunk was stopped for a traffic. Along with the San Antonio properties, prosecutors have filed lawsuits to take control of real estate in the Rio Grande Valley and millions of dollars in bank accounts in Texas and Bermuda. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Nowinski is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. Copyright 2023 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. A good liar. The lawyer he initially hired to defend him said the family isn't involved in any crimes. Drug Bust November 25, 2022 8:35 am . Murdaugh didnt look at the sign as he was hustled into the courthouse with his head down. All the defendants, excepting Gutierrez, face between 10 years and life in federal prison upon conviction of conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute. BCSO says as deputies were approaching the residence, Mendez was getting in a vehicle to leave. USAA wants some remote employees in the office three days Texas Vista owner has threatened hospital shutdown before, VIA adding 8 new buses to its fleet and theyre all electric, BCSO: 3 arrested after 6 smuggled people, 3 stash houses found, Bexar County deputy reunites African tortoise with owners, Gunmen blast 75 rounds at Northwest Side apartment. Jay Haggard, 34, of San Antonio In addition to Moyado and Cardenas, the following suspects were arrested: Crystal Coronado, 34, is facing the following charges: Jeanette Gloria, 38, is facing the following charges: Jose Delgado, 38, is facing the following charges: Kenneth Peterson, 28, is facing the following charges: The street value of the drugs that were found in the residence is well over $700,000, according to Salazar. Bryan Anthony Brown, age 33 of San Antonio; In December, six Coahuila businessmen gathered at the Hotel Contessa in downtown San Antonio. Upon conviction of the drug conspiracy charge, Ojeda, Juan Estrada, Lus Estrada, Rodriguez, Hernandez, Acevedo, Villarreal and Flores face between 10 years and life in federal prison; Lumbreras, Casas, DeLuna and Pena face between five and 40 years in federal prison; and Cuellar faces up to 20 years in federal prison. It happened Friday in Atascosa County where the. Peter Karasev, 35, of San Jose, has been arrested in connection with a San Jose Police Department investigation into suspected explosives-related and illegal drug offenses, authorities said. BEXAR COUNTY (KTSA News) Six people were arrested in a drug bust at a southeast San Antonio home the Bexar County sheriff said has connections to a white supremacist group. San Antonio has strong historic ties to Saltillo, Coahuila's capital. WALTERBORO, S.C. One of the last pieces of a legal dynasty that doled out justice in rural South Carolina for decades crumbled Friday as lawyer Alex Murdaugh was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison for the murder of his wife and son at their sprawling estate. At sentencing, Murdaugh maintained his innocence, just as he did when he testified in his own defense during the six-week trial. They often used a network of limited liability companies that made it difficult for investigators to track the ownership of those assets. His high-powered attorney, J.A. Flores had made powerful friends in the U.S., among them lobbyist and former Congressman Henry Bonilla, who showed up at his initial court appearance in San Antonio. Jonathan Linares Lumbreras aka Coahuila, 30, of San Antonio;