McALLEN, Texas – In a shocking turn of events, two former deputy sheriffs from Duval County have been sentenced to prison for conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
Ruben Silva, 35, of Freer, and Victor Carrillo, 28, of Benavides, pleaded guilty to their crimes on August 30, 2012. Today, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez sentenced Silva and Carrillo to respective terms of 105 and 70 months in federal prison.
As part of their sentence, both Silva and Carrillo were also ordered to serve three years of supervised release following completion of their prison terms. Silva was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.
The court noted their special status as police officers in uniform and carrying their duty weapons in announcing a higher sentence.
Silva admitted to conspiring with Carrillo, Jerry Tovar, and Jose Luis Tovar to distribute 10 kilograms of cocaine, which they would steal from a drug supplier. Both Silva and Carrillo participated in the conspiracy by performing a ‘pretend’ traffic stop using their official Duval County Sheriff’s vehicles and while in uniform, making the owner of the narcotics believe law enforcement had seized the drugs.
Silva received $5,000 as payment for his role in the drug distribution conspiracy and Carrillo received $1,000 from that payment. Following the ‘pretend’ traffic stop, Jerry Tovar received approximately six kilograms of cocaine at his residence in Mission from a source working with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
During the investigation, federal and state investigative agents discovered the Tovar criminal organization, led by Jose Luis Tovar, who was negotiating with what he believed were illegal drug traffickers to transport large amounts of narcotics.
Ruben Silva, 35, of Freer, and Victor Carrillo, 28, of Benavides, were sentenced for conspiracy to distribute cocaine. The crime occurred in McAllen, Texas.
Related Federal Cases
- Micol Jauron Sears, Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine, Texas 2014 · Texas
- Lakeva Shillette Hill, Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana and Crack Cocaine, Texas 2013 · Texas
- John N. Lockett III, Crack Cocaine Distribution Conspiracy, Ohio 2013 · Texas
- Nelson Pacheco, Cocaine Distribution Conspiracy, New York 2011 · Washington
- Mario Urbina, Cocaine Conspiracy, California 2014 · Ohio
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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