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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. 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. Ben Spicer is a digital journalist who works the early morning shift for KSAT. This comes as state officials said they've seen a surge in fentanyl seizures with DPS reporting a 950% increase from 2020. Copyright 2023 by KSAT - All rights reserved. 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. ___ Collins reported from Columbia, South Carolina. Ojeda was already in custody, and Flores has yet to be arrested. Jason Gutierrez aka Big Mac, 37, of San Antonio On an October morning last year, residents in . (San . A good liar. 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. And, San Diego Pride Kicks off today. Example video title will go here for this video. 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. Fridays hearing again took place in a packed courtroom. 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. Copyright 2023 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. She traveled from Houston to San Antonio with two children in her vehicle. Despite the tony digs, the raid looked like any other drug case. Jury takes an hour to reach verdict over deal at Port S.A. The former governor, critics said, was adept at bringing the news media to his side, leaning on advertisers or offering up party and government advertising as an enticement. 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. The GEO Group built the facility and manages it under contract with Karnes County and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Frank Zepeda aka Pancho, 51, of San Antonio Sorianello said he couldn't divulge how they were able to track down the suspected drug dealer or if additional arrests are pending. 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. He is the father of Ashley Villarreal, who at 14 was fatally shot by DEA agents conducting a stakeout in San Antonio in February 2003. Gonzlez Fernandez's girlfriend, Alejandra Ibarra, who lives at the Champions Ridge house with their 3-year-old daughter, said she doesn't believe he was involved in drug trafficking. 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. His saga began in mid-2011, when news broke of Coahuila's massive debt. Authorities call it the largest. The bust happened at 523 Porter St. early Friday. According to Salazar, deputies found a couple hundred grams of methamphetamine and black tar heroin and $9,000. In another court filing, the feds wrote that Flores' case is somehow tied to their investigation of money allegedly stolen from the Coahuila government and laundered in Texas. Roberto Casimiro Gonzlez Trevio's properties are nominally owned by a complex structure of companies. Torres and Villarreal were the closest persons to Moreira, Salazar said. Oscar Heredia, 37, of San Antonio SAN ANTONIO Six people are in custody following a drug bust in east Bexar County earlier this week, according to the Bexar County Sheriffs Office. 2 at the DA's office, prosecutors believe at least some of the $6.5 million in a JP Morgan Chase and Co. bank account that his office is suing to forfeit came from kickbacks. Joshua Hamilton, 30, was arrested on a charge of felon in possession of a firearm. Timeline: An interactive look at Coahuila's debt and the ensuing investigation in San Antonio. More than $1 billion worth of cocaine has been seized at the Philadelphia Port on Tuesday, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.They say the drug bust netted approximately 16.5 tons of the . The most high-profile arrest of the money laundering investigation has been that of Villarreal, the former state treasurer. The indictment also charges Ojeda with two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Humberto Moreira. All other crimes require an officer to make the scene. The suspects were arrested for drug possession. Moreira, the former leader of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, is close to Mexican President Enrique Pea Nieto. We will continue to work closely with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners in order to enhance the quality of life for the citizens in the San Antonio region.. S.A.-area rancher catches the hearts of American Idol judges, USAA wants some remote employees in the office three days a week, Take a look inside this $3.5 million 'mystery' mansion, New food truck park opens at The CO-OP SA, 10 things to do this weekend in San Antonio. Agents arrested Lumbreras on Monday night. A federal grand jury indictment unsealed today charges the following defendants with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance: Matthew Noe Arteaga, age 35 of San Antonio; By then, Villarreal disappeared. POSS W/I DEL CS PG1 4G - 200G Felony, 1st Degree Bond: $30,000.00, POSS W/I DEL CS PG1 OVER 400G Felony, 1st Degree Bond: $60,000.00, POSS CS PG 1 1 GRAM TO 4 GRAM Felony, 3rd Degree Bond: $50,000.00, POSS CS PG 1 4 GRAMS TO 200 G Felony, 2nd Degree Bond: $15,000.00, POSS CS PG 1 1 GRAM TO 4 GRAM Felony, 3rd Degree Bond: $10,000.00, POSS CS PG 1 4 GRAMS TO 200 GRAMS Felony, 2nd Degree Bond: $15,000.00, PAROLE VIOLATION Felony, 3rd Degree Bond: RWOB, POSS CS PG 3 LESS THAN 28 GRAM Misdemeanor, Class A Bond: 3500.00. Initially, they claimed in court documents that the money in the Texas banks and the funds used to buy the San Antonio properties came from fraudulent loans Villarreal took out on Coahuila's credit. If convicted of the latest conspiracy charges, Villarreal and the others each face 10 years to life in federal prison. I was this close to him.. Madilyn Marie Alvarado, age 26 of Del Rio Marshals Service and the Bexar County Sheriffs Office assisted with arrests. Rosalinda Flores, 54, of San Antonio; Jesus Gerardo Vasquez, age 19 of San Antonio; Jesus Manuel DeLuna aka "Chuy," 48, of San Antonio; Erik Jason Pena, 41, of San Antonio; and Omar Cuellar, 47, of San Antonio. Both arrests were in connection with the drug bust, the sheriffs office said. Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( The U.S. 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. According to Eastland County Today, Tuesday at 1:30 am - Eastland County Deputy Sheriff Colby Jackson made a traffic stop on a speeding vehicle on Interstate 20. Camouflaged among those escaping the more recent problems in the state are drug traffickers, unscrupulous businessmen and high-ranking Coahuila officials who laundered more than $35 million in kickbacks for state contracts, U.S. authorities say. Also among the defendants is Joe Angel Villarreal, 55. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. At about 11 a.m., SLO Police. Updated: 11:05 PM CST November 13, 2020 SAN ANTONIO Nearly $30 million worth of drugs are seized from a Bexar County home. The Schertz Police Department stated in a social . DRUG BUST: The Crystal City Police Department Special Response Team recovered and seized numerous amounts of drugs Wednesday. Moreira's attorneys wouldn't comment for this report, but after Forbes magazine included him on a list of Mexican politicians accused of corruption, Mexico City lawyer Christian F. Zinser Cieslik wrote to the publication, saying the former governor had been exonerated in an investigation by the Mexican attorney general's office. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. A simple drug bust. 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. The bust happened at a Best Western off Loop 410 near Callaghan Road. The DEA said her father may have used her as a decoy. Man charged with murder cut off ankle monitor, captured after being spotted in San Antonio, 'Especially lush': Wildflower Center predicts above-average bluebonnet season, Spring-like weekend in store for San Antonio | FORECAST, 2 separate $10,000 rewards offered by law enforcement for the suspect involved in shooting two Corpus Christi officers, Police search for suspects who may be involved in robbery, Video shows possible suspect vehicle connected to Army soldier's murder on New Year's Day. The arrestsin San Antonio conclude a comprehensive investigation by 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 Daniel C. Comeaux, special agent in charge of the DEA office in Houston. Further back, in the 1800s, Coahuila y Tejas was one state under Mexican rule. Marshals Service, IRS Criminal Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Texas Department of Public Safety, Bexar County Sheriffs Office, Terrell Hills Police Department, Seguin Police Department and San Antonio Police Department conducted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation called Operation Alamo Fade. The indictment also charges Haggard with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, namely a Taurus semi-automatic pistol on August 28, 2020. Gonzlez Trevio wouldn't comment and officials at the Mexican Consulate and in San Antonio's International Relations Office said they're not familiar with him. 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. 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. Wynne, Villarreal's attorney who was at the hotel meeting, said he's trying to show the Texas properties were purchased with legitimate funds. It might have been the monster you become," Newman said. "Some may not have any narcotic in it, others may have too much and thats when your going to overdose, and these are the stories you hear, someone goes to a party, and never done anything, said Sorianello. Fernando Jose Moreno, age 45 of San Antonio; I think he's not guilty, so I was shocked.. Shes a recreation specialist for GEO, supervising children at play, he said. In February, Villarreal slipped across one of the international bridges in El Paso and turned himself in to federal agents. UPDATE: Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar says they found $29 million worth of methamphetamine, in addition to $400,000 worth of black tar heroin in a conversion lab in the Northeast Side. ROBERT MCLEROY, STAFF / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, S.A.-area rancher catches the hearts of American Idol judges, USAA wants some remote employees in the office three days a week, Take a look inside this $3.5 million 'mystery' mansion, New food truck park opens at The CO-OP SA, 10 things to do this weekend in San Antonio. Last year, Raul Gonzlez Trevio bought a one-acre piece of commercial property on U.S. 281 near TPC Parkway. Officials said this is the third incident involving a drug bust this week alone, according to the BCSO; however, this incident is separate from the previous two. SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) A big drug bust on San Antonio's North side. Zambrano was arrested in the kitchen without incident. It is my understanding that the Gonzalez family has contributed greatly to the economy of San Antonio, his lawyer Carlos Quezada said. Monday February 10, 2003. Later in the year, attention focused on Coahuila's former interim governor. And there's a correlation between that and the approximately 93,000 overdose deaths in the country," said Dante Sorianello, DEA Special Agent. 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. As I tell you again, I respect this court. One of his Texas limited liability companies the one that shows up on deed records is controlled by a Dutch company, which is controlled by another Texas LLC, which is controlled by a trust. Gonzlez Trevio, the father, bought his first house in San Antonio in the early 1990s. 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. As Torren businessman Guillermo Flores Cordero stepped off a private jet in August at San Antonio International Airport, federal agents were waiting to take him to Corpus Christi to face charges that he illegally used shell companies to transfer millions of dollars from Mexico to the U.S. for others. The truth is he brought shame upon himself, his family, the community, his profession, Kinsinger said. He's facing a federal charge of possession with an intent to distribute over 500 grams of a controlled substance, according to Salazar. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. A locked padlock . Among the businessmen was a scowling Coronado, Villarreal's brother-in-law who was detained in East Texas, and Francisco Xavier Flores Valdez, a nephew of the Moreira brothers. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. When one defendant was brought to court in San Antonio, a former U.S. congressman showed up to support him. All are from San Antonio. When there's two or three or four or five layers of individuals, that's called layering of ownership, he said. 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. It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. According to police, during a traffic stop, officers found a loaded syringe containing heroin inside of a vehicle. The gang, he said, was responsible for a wave of violence that killed tens of thousand in Mexico, many in Coahuila. Deputies detained her and found 5 THC vape pens on the front seat, authorities said. Lawyers for both men maintain they're innocent. Copyright 2023 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Find more AP coverage of the case: https://apnews.com/hub/alex-murdaugh. They didn't do any mining.. "While we are certainly celebrating this case for obvious reasons, we're also quite alarmed by the fact that this drug is present in these quantities in this area, not something that that surprises us, but it's still troubling nonetheless," said Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar. Nothing is more important than the safety and security of our citizens. She previously worked for WICS/WRSP 20 in Springfield, Illinois. I looked in his eyes. Juan Carlos Robles, age 35 of San Antonio; With Villarreal on the run, the lawsuits languished. A firearm was also found inside of the residence, according to officials. Justin Paul Guerrero, age 26 of San Antonio; On one occasion, he said, a state contract went to a mineral extraction company controlled by the Zetas drug gang, former en- forcers for another cartel who spun off into their own criminal organization. Prosecutor Creighton Waters noted that stare each day in court. 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. He's not been charged with a crime, and neither have the Gonzlez Trevio brothers. San Antonio has strong historic ties to Saltillo, Coahuila's capital. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. In 2008, Humberto Moreira named Gonzlez Trevio the state of Coahuila's spokesman in San Antonio, but it's unclear what duties he performed. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 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 Sheriff's Office. 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. SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) $400,000 worth of drugs were found in an east side home today. "No tears. Oscar Oviedo, age 26 of San Antonio; Lus Claudio Estrada aka Luz, 42, of La Joya; 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. Jury takes an hour to reach verdict over deal at Port S.A. Its disgraceful.. Copyright 2022 by KSAT - All rights reserved. DEA, San Antonio Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Division, U.S. 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. After six weeks of trial, they came away more convinced he did not do this. Our position on behalf of Mr. Villarreal is to establish the facts and show that he is not guilty. 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. It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. Meanwhile, the U.S. investigation sprawled. 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. These arrests send a strong and unified message that these crimes will not be tolerated in our communities and those who commit these offenses will be brought to justice, said DEA Special Agent in Charge Comeaux. Mark Anthony Ojeda, 33, of San Antonio; It is our position that it's just a front for money laundering, Herberg said. Frank Anthony Hernandez aka Pancho, 36, of San Antonio; She works in the immigration portion of GEO. 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. It didn't take long to convince the other three. Gutierrez faces between five and 40 years upon conviction. Joe Angel Villarreal aka Compadre, 55, of San Antonio It alleges that he laundered in San Antonio the proceeds of bribes, theft, embezzlement and drug distribution, another indication that the U.S. is investigating whether there's a connection between the alleged raiding of Coahuila's state coffers and the Zetas, a gang started by former Mexican special forces soldiers to be the Gulf Cartel's paramilitary arm. It's a very complicated matter that's taking a lot of time, but there are bank records and property records and it's taking a while to sift through all the facts to show he did not do what they claim he did.. The nighttime stakeout targeted her father. 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. The juror agreed with prosecutors that the key piece of evidence was a video locked on his sons cellphone for a year video shot minutes before the killings at the same kennels near where the bodies would be found. The indictment also charges Ojeda with two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. A major drug bust occurred in Eastland County. The family has plenty of money from recent sales of Mexican media holdings, Ibarra said, and her boyfriend had income from running restaurants in Torren, Coahuila, and San Antonio. Jonathan Linares Lumbreras aka Coahuila, 30, of San Antonio; 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. A locked padlock The Zetas in particular had spread their control to Coahuila's mining sector, Moreira said. At sentencing, Murdaugh maintained his innocence, just as he did when he testified in his own defense during the six-week trial. Jacqueline Alvarez, 57, of San Antonio Moyer said he didn't buy them. The lawyer he initially hired to defend him said the family isn't involved in any crimes. Alvarez does not work for GEOs separate Karnes County Detention Center, where some federal inmates are held before trial, said her lawyer, Joey Contreras. Oscar Jesus Lopez, age 23 of Laredo; 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. They often used a network of limited liability companies that made it difficult for investigators to track the ownership of those assets. There were no guns, no drugs.. According to Sorianello, fentanyl is a synthetic opioid, over 50 times greater or stronger than heroine. This operation is part of an OCDETF Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. Now he's found a new voice in recovery. Jesus Manuel DeLuna aka Chuy, 48, of San Antonio; Like a traditional mafia, the Zetas also are involved in public works fraud, creating fake companies or suborning legitimate businesses and bribing public officials in exchange for government contracts that are inflated or never completed. 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. 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. Border Patrol agents based in the San Diego Sector seized 232 pounds of fentanyl with a street value of about $3 million from a single vehicle, officials announced on Monday.. Haggard faces up to 10 years in federal prison upon conviction of being a felon in possession of a firearm. 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. 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. Ivan Herrera has worked as a journalist in San Antonio since 2016. Aug. 2, 2014 Updated: Aug. 4, 2014 11 a.m. Facebook Twitter Email. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. 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. Rene Palafos, age 37 of San Antonio; Some of the money came from inflated contracts, said First Assistant District Attorney Cliff Herberg. 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. It becomes very difficult to track for any investigator in law enforcement, but it's especially more difficult for financial industry investigators because they're limited, they don't have authority of the government, subpoena power.. Today, federal, state and local authorities arrested 26 individuals, including "TMM General" Raul Ramos, and are looking for four others in connection with a heroin/cocaine trafficking operation in the San Antonio area announced United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr.; Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Salazar said Moreira deserves more scrutiny because the state's debt and the allegations of theft happened on his watch. Again he was released on bond and within days Mexican federal prosecutors leveled a new round of charges against him tied to the alleged fraudulent loans, which they say approached $250 million. James Patric Bartlett, age 42 of San Antonio; and, Gonzlez Fernandez, the son, has pleaded not guilty to the drug charges. A 32-year-old San Antonio woman was sentenced to more than eight years in prison after she was found guilty of possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine . Records show he was released in July 2019. She previously worked for WICS/WRSP 20 in Springfield, Illinois. On July 20, 2021, members of the BCSO and DEA TAG Unit executed a search warrant in the After additional surveillance of the area, investigators arrested Servando Yzaguirre after he was found to be in possession of 323.7 grams of meth, according to the sheriffs office. Lock 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. The Bexar County District Attorneys Office also assisted in the investigation. Nowadays, its habitats, conservation and education. Copyright 2021 by KSAT - All rights reserved. They had cast Alex as a despicable human being. Ed Rodriguez, a former IRS agent who is not involved in the case, said there could be perfectly legitimate reasons for businessmen to distance themselves from properties they own, including protection from lawsuits. 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.