BEAUMONT, Texas – Alejandro ‘Alex’ Gonzales, 36, of Alvin, Texas, the notorious leader of a drug trafficking ring that funneled multi-kilogram drugs from Mexico to the U.S., was today sentenced to 270 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Thad Heartfield.
Gonzales pleaded guilty on Jan. 30, 2014, to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute over 5 kilograms of cocaine, over 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, and over 500 grams of methamphetamine. The sentencing followed an extensive two-and-a-half year joint investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF).
According to court information, Gonzales had been acquiring large quantities of drugs from Mexican cartels since the late 2000s. These drugs were then smuggled into the U.S. and distributed in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, North Carolina, New York, and New Jersey.
The federal grand jury returned a six-count second superseding indictment against Gonzales and 27 other codefendants on Aug. 8, 2013, charging them with numerous federal drug trafficking conspiracy and firearm violations.
During the investigation, state and federal agents arrested 40 individuals, seized large quantities of drugs, $766,577 in cash, 30 vehicles, a boat, three residences, and 25 firearms. This case marked a significant victory for law enforcement in dismantling a major drug trafficking organization.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, FBI, IRS, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Marshals Service, Texas Department of Public Safety, and various local law enforcement agencies all contributed to the successful investigation and prosecution of this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Baylor Wortham and Michelle Englade are handling the prosecution.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime|Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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