LAREDO, Texas – In a shocking case of organized crime, Pablo Cerda, 36, and Nicolas Sanchez-Reyes, 50, have pleaded guilty to their roles in a conspiracy to export weapons to Mexico destined for the notorious Los Zetas drug trafficking organization.
According to court documents, the two Laredoans were tasked with receiving a shipment of weapons from the Dallas area and arranging for their transportation to the Republic of Mexico. The shipment, which included 40 high-powered firearms and 39 empty magazines, was intercepted by Webb County Sheriff’s deputies on November 9, 2010.
Agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives had been monitoring the situation and set up surveillance at a Wal-Mart parking lot near I-35 in Lancaster, where they observed a tractor trailer driver meet with Otilo and Ranferi Osorio, who arrived in a Ford Explorer. The two duffel bags believed to contain weapons were removed from the Explorer and placed inside the tractor.
A traffic stop by Webb County Sheriff’s deputies in Laredo led to the discovery of the weapons, which included 37 high-powered firearms with obliterated serial numbers. The driver was arrested at the scene, and Sanchez-Reyes was later found to have coordinated the receipt of the weapons for ultimate transportation to Nuevo Laredo.
Sentencing has yet to be set, but the defendants will remain in custody pending the hearing. Co-defendants Otilo and Ranferi Osorio were indicted in Dallas and have since pleaded guilty and been sentenced to prison.
The case was investigated by agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mary Lou Castillo.
This brazen case of arms trafficking highlights the dangers of organized crime and the importance of law enforcement’s efforts to disrupt and dismantle these operations. As this case continues to unfold, one thing is clear: those involved in such activities will be held accountable for their actions.
Related Federal Cases
- US Justice Department, Drug and Arms Trafficking, Washington D.C., … · Texas
- Juan Francisco Saenz-Tamez, Texas Drug Trafficking, Beaumont TX, 2023 · New Mexico
- Tren de Aragua Leaders Unsealed, Terror Cartel Crimes, Texas, 2023 · Nebraska
- Wyndham Corporation, Sex Trafficking, USA, 2023 · Washington
- Pam Bondi, Money Laundering, Texas, 2023 · North Carolina
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Organized Crime|Weapons|Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News