McALLEN, TEXAS – A cross-country cocaine operation ended with a hefty federal prison sentence for Walter Lee Houze, 61, of Michigan. Houze was sentenced to 120 months – ten years – in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with the intent to distribute 14 kilograms of cocaine. U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei announced the sentence, a clear signal that federal authorities are cracking down on interstate drug trafficking.
The bust unfolded May 9, 2023, at a Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint near Sarita, Texas. Houze, driving a Volkswagen Tiguan, had Jose Taurus Burks, 52, of Harrison Township, Michigan, riding shotgun. A K-9 unit flagged the vehicle for secondary inspection, and authorities quickly discovered the contraband: 14.26 kilograms of cocaine cleverly concealed within a black suitcase, mixed with clothing and laundry detergent beads. The stash belonged to Houze, according to investigators.
U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton didn’t just consider the quantity of cocaine. The court specifically noted the aggravating factor of Houze possessing a firearm in connection with the narcotics offense, adding weight to the sentence. Following the sentencing, Houze, who had been released on bond, was immediately taken back into custody to await transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility.
Burks, implicated as an accomplice, admitted to traveling from Michigan with Houze, expecting payment for assisting in the purchase and transport of the cocaine from Hidalgo County. He pleaded guilty on March 31, alongside Houze, and remains in custody awaiting his own sentencing on September 9. The arrangement points to a deliberate, organized scheme to move a significant quantity of narcotics across state lines.
The investigation was a collaborative effort between Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) and the U.S. Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexa D. Parcell skillfully prosecuted the case, securing the conviction and subsequent sentencing. This case demonstrates the ongoing commitment of federal agencies to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations operating within and beyond the Texas border.
The 120-month sentence will be immediately followed by five years of supervised release for Houze. While the cocaine is off the streets, and Houze is behind bars, the investigation remains open as authorities attempt to trace the source of the narcotics and identify any further co-conspirators involved in this brazen attempt to flood the country with illegal drugs.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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