Manuel Pena, Drug Conspiracy And Money Laundering, Texas 2023

Manuel Pena, aka ‘Super,’ 48, the leader of a drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy, has been handed a significant federal sentence. Pena, a member of and former leader in the Texas Syndicate prison gang, orchestrated various drug deals in the Corpus Christi area.

U.S. District Judge Janis Graham Jack determined Pena to be a leader in the conspiracy and sentenced him to a total of 360 months in federal prison. In handing down the sentence, Judge Jack considered his extensive criminal history and the need to protect the public from future criminal conduct. She further ordered he serve a five-year-term of supervised release following completion of his prison term and also ordered forfeiture of his interest in a property on Aaron Street in Corpus Christi.

Pena’s crimes came to light as part of 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.

As part of the investigation, several others – Ignacio Pena, aka ‘Nacho,’ 45, Raul Leal Martinez, aka ‘Indio’ or ‘Wahoo,’ 37, and, David Pete Dominguez, aka ‘Buda,’ 31, all also of Corpus Christi, previously pleaded guilty in relation to the case and were sentenced to 168, 85 and 120 months, respectively. Jose Guajardo, aka ‘Garfield,’ 41, Rocky Bazaldua, aka ‘Rock,’ 32, and Julieann Gutierrez, 25, also pleaded guilty and will be sentenced at a later date.

The indictment charged all of the defendants with conspiring from June 1, 2008, to Jan. 8, 2013, to possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. Evidence proved that in May 2011 Manuel Pena made deals to provide cocaine and methamphetamine to Bazaldua and Dominguez. He admitted he acquired cocaine and agreed to sell methamphetamine to Guajardo. Pena also received methamphetamine from Martinez, a local home builder. Ignacio Pena, Manuel Pena’s brother, helped receive and deliver various amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine to various drug dealers in Corpus Christi.

Martinez and Guajardo also pleaded guilty to conspiring to launder the proceeds of their drug sales through various financial transactions. As part of their plea agreements, Manuel Pena, Martinez and Guajardo also agreed to forfeit their interests in various properties around Corpus Christi.

Pena 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 is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Hess.

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