CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Roman Valdez, 23, is facing a long stretch behind bars after a federal jury found him guilty of trafficking cocaine and possessing a firearm while doing so, directly in front of Flour Bluff Elementary School. The conviction, handed down after a swift two-day trial, sends a clear message: bringing poison and firepower near our kids won’t be tolerated.
The bust went down November 14, 2018, around 3:00 p.m. when officers found Valdez passed out at a traffic light, his car stalled and a whole lot of trouble brewing inside. Things escalated quickly when he became combative as officers tried to check on him, frantically reaching around the vehicle. A loaded handgun was the first discovery – wedged between the driver’s seat and center console during the struggle.
But the gun wasn’t the only problem. A thorough search of Valdez’s vehicle revealed a mobile drug lab. Officers seized multiple bags of white powder, black tar, a stash of synthetic cannabinoids (the dangerous “Spice” or “K2” stuff), a cocktail of prescription pills, baggies for packaging, and a digital scale. Oh, and another loaded handgun, conveniently hidden in the backseat. The DEA lab confirmed the white powder was cocaine, the black tar was heroin, and the synthetic material was 5F-MDMB-PICA – a particularly nasty synthetic cannabinoid.
Valdez’s defense team tried to spin it as personal use, claiming the guns weren’t connected to the drugs. The jury wasn’t buying it. They saw through the flimsy attempt to downplay the severity of the situation and delivered a guilty verdict on all counts. This wasn’t about a troubled individual; it was a calculated effort to peddle drugs, armed, in a school zone.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzalez Ramos will hand down the sentence on August 14, 2019. Valdez is looking at up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine for the drug trafficking charge. The firearm offense carries a mandatory minimum of five years, which will be served on top of any sentence for the drugs. He’s already been cooling his heels in jail since his arrest and will remain there until sentencing.
The investigation was a joint effort by the Corpus Christi Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lance Watt and Joel Dunn are handling the prosecution. This case demonstrates what happens when federal and local law enforcement work together to clean up the streets – and keep our children safe. The synthetic cannabinoids, often disguised as incense, are particularly dangerous and have been linked to numerous overdoses and health crises.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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