LAREDO, Texas – A major drug pipeline funneling marijuana from Laredo to the Dallas area has suffered a blow with the guilty pleas of three men involved in a large-scale trafficking operation. Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez announced the convictions today, detailing a sophisticated scheme utilizing tractor-trailers to move kilogram quantities of the drug.
Armando Eloy Gutierrez, 38, Javier Mota Villanueva, 33, and Leopoldo Rodriguez III, 25, all of Laredo, each admitted guilt to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute marijuana. The trio’s roles, as revealed by investigators, were integral to the organization’s success in evading law enforcement and delivering substantial loads of narcotics.
The investigation, dating back to August 2013, uncovered a network responsible for transporting the marijuana. Gutierrez served as the operation’s logistics man, securing warehouses and contracting shipping companies to conceal the drugs within legitimate cargo. He didn’t stop there; Gutierrez acted as a scout, tailing the tractor-trailers through checkpoints to ensure safe passage. Once clear, he and associates would drive to the Dallas/Fort Worth area to oversee the unloading and distribution of the marijuana.
Mota-Villanueva was a key worker at the warehouses, directly handling the marijuana. His duties included wrapping the drug, moving pallets, and loading it onto the trailers. He frequently accompanied Gutierrez on trips to Dallas, assisting with the final stages of the distribution network. Rodriguez’s role centered on marijuana preparation and loading, working alongside Mota-Villanueva at the warehouses.
Authorities identified three warehouses in Laredo used by the organization between September 2013 and July 31, 2014, located on the 1800 block of Aduanales, the 200 block of Corpus Christi Street, and the 1600 block of West Calton. Three separate seizures originating from these locations yielded a combined total of over 1600 kilograms of marijuana. The scale of the operation points to a well-funded and organized criminal enterprise.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Scott Hacker accepted the guilty pleas. Sentencing is scheduled before U.S. District Judge George P. Kazen, with dates to be determined. Gutierrez and Villanueva face a minimum of 10 years and potentially life in federal prison. Rodriguez is looking at a minimum of five years and up to 40 years. Gutierrez and Mota-Villanueva remain in custody, while Rodriguez has been allowed to remain on bond pending sentencing. The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation, with crucial support from the Webb County District Attorney’s Office and the Laredo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Lou Castillo is prosecuting the case.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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