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Corpus Christi Meth Ring Leader Gets 235 Months
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX – A major methamphetamine and heroin trafficking operation in Corpus Christi has crumbled, with the final member of the ring sentenced to federal prison this week. The bust, dubbed “Operation Smoke’M Out,” landed six individuals a combined decades-long stretch behind bars, following a year-long investigation by the ATF, DEA, and other agencies.
Jesse Soliz, 40, the alleged ringleader, received a hefty 235-month sentence, while supplier Luis Reyes-Camacho, 36, a Mexican national unlawfully present in the U.S., was slapped with a 324-month term. The operation began unraveling in March 2020 when law enforcement initiated a probe into drug activity in the area, quickly identifying Soliz as the local distribution manager and Reyes-Camacho as the source.
The initial break came on April 10, 2020, during a routine traffic stop. Officers discovered 60 grams of meth in the center console of a vehicle driven by Matthew Cadena, 34, with Yvette Hernandez, 39, as his passenger. Cadena’s lack of a valid driver’s license led to his arrest and the impounding of the vehicle. But that was just the tip of the iceberg.
In January 2021, authorities surveilled Soliz’s residence, witnessing Reyes-Camacho deliver a large bag into the garage. Shortly after, multiple vehicles departed carrying the illicit cargo. A coordinated traffic stop yielded another 60 grams of meth in the vehicle occupied by Joshua Cadena, 30, and Julio Rodriguez, 52. Simultaneously, a K-9 unit alerted to Reyes-Camacho’s vehicle, uncovering a staggering two kilograms of methamphetamine hidden within the engine compartment, with Soliz riding shotgun.
A subsequent raid of Soliz’s residence turned up an additional three kilograms of meth, a kilogram of heroin, a Sig Sauer 9mm pistol, ammunition, and approximately $26,000 in cash. Matthew Cadena, recently sentenced to 135 months, was identified as a mid-level distributor operating under Soliz and Joshua Cadena’s direction. Hernandez and Rodriguez also pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos handed down the sentences, citing the significant quantity of drugs involved and the defendants’ roles within the organization. The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation involved the ATF, DEA, Texas Department of Public Safety, and Corpus Christi Police Department. Matthew Cadena remains in custody awaiting transfer to a Bureau of Prisons facility.
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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