Vaca Brothers Sentenced for Meth Trafficking in Texas

TYLER, Texas – The grim saga of the Vaca brothers unfolded in a federal courtroom as Jose Ruben Vaca-Saucedo, 26, and his brother Juan Carlos Vaca, 28, were meted out severe justice for their involvement in methamphetamine trafficking. Today, U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced that both men have been sentenced to federal prison.

Jose Ruben Vaca-Saucedo, a resident of Tyler, Texas, pleaded guilty on March 4, 2013, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The court handed down an 80-month sentence and ordered the defendant to forfeit $10,000.

His brother, Juan Carlos Vaca, also from Tyler, followed suit by pleading guilty to distribution of methamphetamine on the same date. His punishment was equally severe—a 57-month federal prison term—and a $2,600 forfeiture.

The evidence against the brothers revealed a conspiracy that spanned from May 2010 to January 2011. They were accused of possessing more than 182 grams of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it in the Tyler area. A federal grand jury indicted them on February 1, 2012, charging them with drug trafficking violations.

This harrowing tale was brought to light by an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) joint investigation. The OCDETF program is designed to dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations and their key figures, ensuring a safer America for all.

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen Hurst handling the prosecution. Today’s sentences are a stark reminder of the consequences faced by those who deal in illegal drugs.

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