Multiple individuals have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a drug conspiracy in Laredo, Texas. U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani announced that the sentences range from 63 months to 171 months.
The individuals, including Hector Flores, Aaron Elezar Pachuca, Lauro Alberto Garcia, Matthew Aaron Arce, Javier Hernandez-Barajas, Vincent Castro, Jose Moises Cruz, and Ernesto Diaz-Velazquez, all pleaded guilty to their involvement in the conspiracy to distribute cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine.
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U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana handed down the sentences. Hector Flores received 171 months, Castro and Pachuca received 120 months each, Hernandez-Barajas received 135 months, Cruz received 130 months, Diaz-Velazquez received 63 months, and Garcia and Arce received 70 months each. Arce will also serve three years of supervised release, while the others will serve five years.
The investigation revealed that Flores and other leaders sourced drugs from Mexico, brought them to a stash house in Laredo owned by Flores, repackaged them, and distributed them to couriers for further distribution within the United States.
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Authorities seized over 14 kilograms of meth, 12 kilograms of heroin, 10 kilograms of cocaine, seven kilograms of fentanyl, and $8,000 in drug proceeds. The stash house used for drug trafficking has been ordered to be forfeited.
Arce and Garcia were allowed to remain free on bond and will surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility at a later date. The other six individuals are currently in custody. The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and IRS Criminal Investigation, with assistance from various other law enforcement agencies.
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