Roma Man Convicted of Marijuana Conspiracy Using Boats to Navigate Intra-Coastal Waterway
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – In a shocking turn of events, Alberto Lopez-Reyna, 39, of Roma, has been convicted of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute in excess of 100 kilograms of marijuana, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today.
Lopez-Reyna, also known as Alberto Lopez, entered into a written plea agreement before Senior U.S. District Judge Janis Graham Jack in Corpus Christi. The plea agreement came just a short time ago.
From November 2010 until his arrest in December 2012, Lopez-Reyna facilitated the transportation of large amounts of marijuana concealed in the hulls of altered shallow-bottom fishing boats from Port Mansfield to Corpus Christi via the intra-coastal waterway in an effort to circumvent the United States Border Patrol checkpoints in Falfurrias and Sarita.
Lopez-Reyna admitted his role in supplying various loads of marijuana over the course of the conspiracy and mapping out boat docks in the Corpus Christi area that would be used to retrieve the marijuana-laden vessels for further transportation to Houston. The government detailed how four loads of marijuana were intercepted and a total of 1,600 kilograms of marijuana were seized over the last two years.
Members of the conspiracy who served as drivers include Lombardo Zarate, 49, Rogelio Mendoza, 37, Glen Dial, 56, Luz Ramirez, 25, and Hector Perez-Gonzales, 39, all of whom have previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judges in Corpus Christi and have either been sentenced to terms of imprisonment at the Bureau of Prisons or await sentencing.
Lopez-Reyna faces a minimum of five and up to 40 years in prison as well as a possible $5 million fine and a substantial money judgment. Sentencing will be before Senior U.S. District Judge Janis Graham Jack on a date yet to be determined.
Related Federal Cases
- David Lopez, Conspiracy to Possess Marijuana, Texas 2024 · Kansas
- Lakeva Shillette Hill, Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana and Crack Cocaine, Texas 2013 · Texas
- Guadalupe Reyes, Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana, Texas 2016 · Indiana
- Daniel Elizondo, Conspiracy and Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Texas 2016 · Texas
- Micol Jauron Sears, Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine, Texas 2014 · Texas
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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