Michigan Man Sentenced for TX Cocaine Deal

McALLEN, Texas – The grimy details of a cross-country narcotics deal have led to a severe federal prison sentence for Walter Lee Houze. The 61-year-old Michigan resident has been ordered to serve 120 months for possession with the intent to distribute 14 kilograms of cocaine, according to U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Houze, who pleaded guilty on March 31, faced a severe penalty from U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton, who also sentenced him to five years of supervised release after his prison term. The court emphasized the gravity of Houze’s possession of a firearm during the narcotics offense.

The bust occurred on May 9, 2023, when Houze drove his Volkswagen Tiguan to a Border Patrol checkpoint in Sarita with Jose Taurus Burks, 52, from Harrison Township, Michigan. During secondary inspection, a K-9 unit alerted to the rear cargo area of the vehicle. Authorities discovered 14.26 kilograms of cocaine hidden in a black suitcase among Houze’s belongings.

According to Burks, he was to be compensated for traveling from Michigan to assist Houze in purchasing and transporting the drugs from Hidalgo County. Both men were taken into custody, with Houze being released on bond until his sentencing.

Houze is now awaiting transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility. Burks, who also pleaded guilty on March 31, remains in custody pending his September 9 sentencing.

The investigation was conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations with the assistance of Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexa D. Parcell prosecuted the case.

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