Mexican National Gets Life for Meth and Firearms Trafficking

A federal jury in Texas has convicted Rene Hernandez-Cordero, a 52-year-old Mexican national, of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; one count of straw purchasing firearms; one count of trafficking in firearms; and one count of conspiracy to smuggle bulk cash.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Hernandez-Cordero was involved in an organization that smuggled firearms into the Republic of Mexico and methamphetamine into the United States. The group, which operated from August 2022 to August 2023, smuggled hundreds of firearms from the United States into Mexico.

Co-defendants Jesus Gerardo Ramos, 53, of El Paso, and Brian Alexis Munoz-Castro, 21, of El Paso, pled guilty to one count of trafficking in firearms. Munoz also pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Hernandez-Cordero faces up to 10 years to life in prison on the methamphetamine conspiracy charge. He, along with co-defendants Munoz and Ramos, face up to 15 years in prison for each of the firearm charges. Hernandez-Cordero also faces up to 10 years in prison for the cash smuggling charge.

Hernandez-Cordero, Munoz, and Ramos have been in custody since their arrests in August 2023. Munoz is scheduled for sentencing on July 10, 2024, while Ramos is scheduled for sentencing on July 17, 2024. Hernandez-Cordero’s sentencing is set for August 8, 2024.

The firearms charges are new offenses under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which was enacted in June 2022. The act specifically targets the unlawful trafficking and straw purchasing of firearms, carrying potential fines of up to $250,000. The prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative.

The OCDETF El Paso / Las Cruces Strike Force is comprised of agents and officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Chief Counsel. The investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the OCDETF El Paso/Las Cruces Strike Force Enforcement Group 3.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Myers and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Shannon Holderfield from Customs and Border Protection Office of Chief Counsel are prosecuting the case. U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas announced the conviction.