Progreso Mayor Sentenced for School Building Cocaine Plot

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – The former mayor of Progreso has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Gerardo Alanis pleaded guilty Feb. 25. U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. ordered Alanis to serve 46 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was also fined $15,000. The court heard evidence detailing the use of a school building for storing and re-packaging cocaine.

In handing down the sentence, the court emphasized that dangerous drugs destroy lives on both sides of the border, and using school district property was an aggravating factor. ‘It is unthinkable that a public official would allow a school to be used as a storehouse for cocaine,’ Ganjei said.

The investigation revealed that from 2020 to 2022, conspirators smuggled kilograms of cocaine into the U.S. from Mexico, re-packaging it in hidden compartments in 18-wheelers and transporting it to Illinois, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Francisco Alanis, Eulalio Sierra, Jose Salas, Ralph Lozano, David Gomez-Ramos, Juan Pablo Serrata, and Gregorio Salinas were also sentenced for their roles.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from various agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lance Watt and former AUSA Alejandra Andrade prosecuted the case. The investigation is part of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Forces, which identifies and dismantles high-level criminal organizations.

Alanis was permitted to remain on bond and will surrender soon. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.