Levi Galvan-Galvan Gets 5 Years for Cocaine Brokerage

Levi Galvan-Galvan, a 37-year-old man from McAllen, Texas, has been sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for brokering a one-kilogram cocaine transaction from Mexico to Chicago. The conviction, handed down by U.S. District Judge Ricardo Hinojosa, follows Galvan-Galvan’s guilty plea on September 12, 2016, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and being unlawfully present in the United States.

Galvan-Galvan orchestrated the drug deal from his McAllen residence, using phone calls to coordinate the October 21, 2015, delivery of cocaine from a supplier in Mexico to a buyer in Chicago, Illinois. The shipment never reached its final destination—law enforcement intercepted the narcotics upon arrival, arresting the Chicago buyer and two accomplices. Galvan-Galvan was set to receive payment through Western Union from the buyer before the operation unraveled.

The court considered Galvan-Galvan’s criminal history in sentencing, including a prior 2009 conviction for drug possession. His role as the central broker between international and domestic players in the drug pipeline underscored the severity of the offense. Prosecutors emphasized that the transaction reflected a calculated effort to exploit border vulnerabilities and organized distribution networks.

The investigation, dubbed Operation Red-Eye, was conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. The probe not only led to Galvan-Galvan’s conviction but also triggered charges against three individuals in the Northern District of Illinois, highlighting the ripple effect of his criminal facilitation.

As an illegal alien, Galvan-Galvan will face mandatory deportation proceedings upon completing his prison term. He remains in federal custody and will soon be transferred to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility designated by authorities.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Juan F. Alanis prosecuted the case on behalf of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas. U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson confirmed the outcome, stressing federal zero tolerance for drug trafficking—especially when conducted by individuals previously deported for related crimes.