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Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering Ring Leader Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison
CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS – In a significant blow to organized crime, Jose Fidel Guajardo, also known as ‘Garfield,’ has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for his leadership role in a drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy.
Guajardo, 42, was found guilty of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine from June 1, 2008, to January 8, 2013. The investigation revealed that Guajardo, a member of the Texas Syndicate prison gang, orchestrated various drug deals in the Corpus Christi area, including a deal to provide 20 kilograms of cocaine to a drug distributor in San Antonio in March 2011.
Guajardo also made deals with Manuel Pena to purchase methamphetamine for distribution in the Corpus Christi area. Additionally, he conspired to launder the proceeds of his drug sales through various financial transactions, including investing significant amounts of cash into the construction of homes in the Corpus Christi area. Agents determined that this cash was the proceeds of illegal drug sales.
As part of his plea agreement, Guajardo agreed to forfeit his interests in various properties around Corpus Christi. He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The case was investigated through a joint effort by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Texas Department of Public Safety, the Nueces and Kleberg County Sheriff’s Offices, and the Corpus Christi, Aransas Pass and Portland Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Hess.
Guajardo’s extensive criminal history and the need to protect the public from future criminal conduct were taken into consideration by U.S. District Judge Janis Graham Jack in handing down the sentence. Judge Jack also ordered Guajardo to serve five years of supervised release following completion of his prison term.
The other defendants in the case, Manuel Pena, Ignacio Pena, Raul Leal Martinez, David Pete Dominguez, Julieann Gutierrez, and Rocky Bazaldua, have also been sentenced to prison terms ranging from 85 to 360 months. The investigation and prosecution of this case demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement agencies to disrupting and dismantling organized crime in the Corpus Christi area.
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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