Victor Hugo Gil-Martinez, Cocaine and Meth Possession, Texas 2021

McALLEN, Texas – In a major blow to the Rio Grande Valley’s illicit drug trade, two men have been ordered to federal prison for their role in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 128 kilograms of cocaine and five kilograms of methamphetamine.

Victor Hugo Gil-Martinez, 28, pleaded guilty on January 3, while Rodrigo Aguilar-Rosas admitted his guilt on March 22. Today, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez sentenced both men to each serve 210 months in federal prison.

Not U.S. citizens, both men are expected to face removal proceedings following their imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard evidence that in addition to receiving and storing narcotics from Mexico, both men also participated in the transport of currency and ammunition back south to Mexico.

On September 27, 2021, law enforcement conducted a search of an Edinburg residence and located approximately 39 vehicle batteries. Upon opening the batteries, they discovered a total of 128 kilograms of cocaine and five kilograms of methamphetamine.

Both Gil-Martinez and Aguilar-Rosas admitted to receiving the narcotics-filled batteries from other individuals who smuggled them into the United States from Mexico. The men would store the narcotics-filled batteries at the residence, remove the narcotics and then transport the narcotics to other individuals across the Rio Grande Valley.

At the time of the search, authorities also located approximately $142,000 in United States currency. The bulk currency was wrapped and packaged destined to be transported to Mexico.

The total narcotics seized has an estimated street value of $3,217,500.

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Hidalgo County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and Hidalgo County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Garcia prosecuted the case.

The defendants will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

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