Jesus Alfonso Leos-Orozco, Cocaine Smuggling, Texas 2023

cocaine kingpin headed to prison

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – In a major blow to the Mexican cartel, a 37-year-old man from Valle Hermoso, Tamaulipas, Mexico, has been sentenced to 140 months in federal prison for organizing a scheme to smuggle 150 kilos of cocaine into the United States.

Jesus Alfonso Leos-Orozco, a 37-year-old manager/supervisor of the narcotics smuggling conspiracy, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute multi-kilograms of cocaine on May 1, 2023.

U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. handed down the sentence, citing the seriousness of the offense, nature of the criminal activity, and Leos-Orozco’s extensive involvement in the scheme. The defendant is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.

According to authorities, Leos-Orozco was responsible for distributing approximately 150 kilograms of cocaine using his commercial tractor trailers company, “Leos Auto Transportes De Carga.” He would smuggle 15 to 20 kilograms of cocaine weekly and charge $500 per kilogram imported, paying drivers $250 per kilogram smuggled into the United States.

The investigation revealed at least 20 border crossing incidents using a trailer are directly linked to Leos-Orozco. Surveillance video identified him as one of the individuals responsible for the transfer of a narcotics shipment to another driver.

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation, while Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Marian and Luis Salazar prosecuted the case. Leos-Orozco will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The case highlights the ongoing threat of Mexican cartels to the United States and the commitment of law enforcement to bring those responsible to justice. As the nation grapples with the opioid epidemic and other drug-related crises, stories like Leos-Orozco’s serve as a reminder of the devastating impact of cocaine trafficking on communities across the country.

Leos-Orozco’s sentence marks a significant victory for the U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement agencies working to dismantle the cartel’s operations in the region. As the investigation continues, authorities remain vigilant in their pursuit of justice for those affected by the cartel’s activities.

With the sentence now handed down, the nation can take a small measure of comfort in knowing that one more cocaine kingpin has been brought to justice. But as the Grimy Times has consistently reported, there is still much work to be done in the fight against the cartel’s influence in the United States.

MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS

Drug Trafficking

Four Lawrence Residents, Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin, New Hampshire 2016

Jul 25, 2017

Drug Trafficking

Steven Allen Longbrake, Methamphetamine Trafficking, Oregon 2015

Jan 29, 2015

Drug Trafficking

Miguel Morales, Heroin Trafficking, Connecticut 2014

Mar 18, 2015

Drug Trafficking

Daryl Lee Godette, Heroin Trafficking, North Carolina 2021

Jul 1, 2021