Gerardo Alanis, Cocaine Conspiracy, Texas 2024
BROWNSVILLE, Texas - A shocking case of corruption and drug trafficking has come to an end as former Progreso Mayor Gerardo Alanis has been sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.
The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr., also includes three years of supervised release and a $15,000 fine. This comes after Alanis pleaded guilty to the charges on February 25.
The investigation, led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration, High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force, Border Patrol, Texas Department of Public Safety, and Texas Rangers, revealed that between 2020 and 2022, conspirators would smuggle kilograms of cocaine into the United States from Mexico.
The cocaine would then be re-packaged and concealed in hidden compartments built into 18-wheelers. Other members of the conspiracy would transport the cocaine to other states, including Illinois, Tennessee, and North Carolina.
Several others have already been sentenced for their roles in the scheme. Francisco Alanis, 42, of Weslaco, received 150 months in federal prison. Eulalio Sierra, 51, of Los Indios, was ordered to serve 120 months, while Jose Salas, 43, of Weslaco, was sentenced to 47 months, and Ralph Lozano, 39, of Houston, received time served.
David Gomez-Ramos, 36, of Mercedes, will serve a 139-month-term of imprisonment, while Juan Pablo Serrata, 50, of Santa Rosa, and Gregorio Salinas, 54, of Mercedes, received prison terms of 70 and 37 months, respectively. Gomez-Ramos, Serrata, and Salinas are not U.S. citizens and are expected to face removal proceedings following the completion of their sentence.
It is worth noting that Alanis was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender in the near future.
“It is unthinkable that a public official would allow a school of all places to be used as a storehouse for cocaine,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. “The facts of this case demonstrate how the drug trade affects all facets of a community, not just law enforcement.”
The investigation is part of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Forces, which identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.
Mandatory facts:
Defendant/Respondent: Gerardo Alanis
Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine
City and State: Progreso, Texas
Exact Date: February 25, 2024
Sentence or Outcome: 46 months in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and a $15,000 fine
Dollar Amounts: $15,000 fine
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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