PECOS, Texas — A Mexican national has been convicted on federal drug charges after a jury found him at the center of a high-volume marijuana trafficking operation spanning the Texas borderlands. Tomas Herrera-Quinones, 33, was found guilty on two counts: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of more than 100 kilograms of the drug.
The verdict came after a trial in federal court in Pecos, where prosecutors laid out evidence tying Herrera-Quinones to a cross-border network. According to court documents and testimony, he and six co-defendants—each from Mexico—worked in concert to transport and distribute bulk quantities of marijuana across the Southwest corridor. The operation was uncovered during a DEA-led investigation targeting organized smuggling cells.
Herrera-Quinones now faces a maximum of 20 years in prison on each count, with sentencing scheduled for March 2022. The stakes are high: convictions on both counts could result in back-to-back sentences, meaning a potential four-decade prison term for the defendant.
Six co-defendants have already pleaded guilty. Jesus Olegario Chaparro-Fontes, 28; Wenceslao Chaparro-Fontes, 26; Martin Eduardo Torres-Bojorquez, 22; Francisco Vasquez-Baldenegro, 35; and Eliceo Vasquez-Baldenegro, 30, all admitted to possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Juan Torres-Chaparro, 33, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute.
Sentencing for the guilty co-defendants is already on the docket. Wenceslao Chaparro, Martin Torres, Juan Torres, Francisco Vasquez, and Eliceo Vasquez are set to be sentenced on January 25, 2022. Jesus Chaparro will face the judge on February 22, 2022. All are subject to up to 20 years behind bars.
The case was announced by U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff of the Western District of Texas and DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Greg Millard. The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lance Kennedy and Scott Greenbaum handling prosecution. The conviction marks another blow to international drug networks exploiting the southern border, officials say.
RELATED: Mexican National Tomas Herrera-Quinones Convicted in 100KG Pot Bust
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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