Delfino Bazan, Marijuana Trafficking, Texas 2013

McALLEN, Texas – A year-long Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation has led to the arrest of 12 individuals in connection with a massive marijuana trafficking ring operating in Starr County, Texas.

The investigation, dubbed "Operation Casanova", targeted the illegal importation and distribution of marijuana from Starr County to other locations within the United States. The OCDETF investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and the Starr County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.

The indictment, returned on June 25, 2013, was partially unsealed upon the arrests of 12 individuals, including Delfino Bazan, 44, of Rio Grande City and Houston, and his common law wife, Alejandrina Martinez, 43, of Houston. Both are charged with conspiring to launder proceeds from drug trafficking. Bazan is also charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana as well as several substantive drug trafficking counts.

Bazan and Martinez made their initial appearances yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge John R. Froeschner in Galveston. U.S. Magistrate Judge Froeschner ordered Bazan into custody pending a detention hearing to be held at a later date in McAllen. Martinez was permitted release upon posting bond and ordered to appear in court in McAllen on July 30, 2013.

Today, nine others were taken into custody for conspiring with Bazan to possess with intent to distribute marijuana. The individuals arrested include Baldemar Montalvo, 45, Enrique Montalvo, 40, Thomas Garcia, 52, Ivan D. Campos-Landa, 31, and David Ulloa Correa, 47, all of Rio Grande City; Jose Luis Palacios Jr., 37, of Mission; Edmundo Canales, 23, and Jose Luis Palacios Sr., 63, both of Edinburg; and Elee Campos Camargo, 37, of McAllen. They are all charged in the overall drug conspiracy.

The defendants face a potential range of punishment of five to 40 years and a possible $5 million fine if convicted of the overall drug conspiracy. If convicted of conspiracy to launder drug proceeds, Baldemar Montalvo, Martinez and Bazan all face a potential punishment of up to 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine. Each defendant further faces one or more substantive drug trafficking charges, with amounts ranging from 14 to 1,959 kilograms in each instance.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Juan F. Alanis.

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