SAN ANTONIO The Bexar County Sheriff's Office provided details about a drug bust in east Bexar County. Waters said none of the victims of the crime members of Murdaughs family and the parents and relatives of his wife wished to speak on behalf of the prosecution before sentencing. During todays arrests authorities seized approximately two kilograms of cocaine, over 30 pounds of hydroponic marijuana, methamphetamine, three handguns and approximately $235,000. She works in the immigration portion of GEO. 2 at the DA's office, prosecutors believe at least some of the $6.5 million in a JP Morgan Chase and Co. bank account that his office is suing to forfeit came from kickbacks. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. In the quiet Lowcountry that Murdaughs family had dominated since the days of Jim Crow, a judge talked to Murdaugh in a way that few probably have not in his days playing college football, making millions as a high-powered attorney or gaining favor because of his name and reminded Murdaugh that he had to remove the portrait of the defendants grandfather from its place of honor in that same courtroom to ensure a fair trial. Investigators are asking witnesses about Coahuila politicians including Moreira and his brother, the current governor comprising a virtual who's who of businessmen from the state and the Zetas, one court document shows. He has also covered immigration, minority affairs and legal affairs as part of the projects team here and for other print, TV and radio outlets. The massive drug bust took place during a traffic stop in San Clemente, a wealthy enclave about 75 miles inland from the U.S.-Mexico border in San Diego, multiple Border Patrol sources told Fox News. According to police, during a traffic stop, officers found a loaded syringe containing heroin inside of a vehicle. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering operations primarily responsible for the nations illegal drug supply. The Zetas in particular had spread their control to Coahuila's mining sector, Moreira said. Marshals Service, Bexar County Sheriffs Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and Kendall County Sheriffs Office conducted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation called Operation Dirty Confidential. Nothing is more important than the safety and security of our citizens. Meanwhile, the U.S. investigation sprawled. Deputies saw the suspects vehicle leaving the home and thats when they conducted a traffic stop near Loop 410 and Ingram Road. They worked for him. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. It was during this search that deputies said they arrested Jose Ovalle, 66, who had an active warrant for a charge of possession of a controlled substance, and Francisco Menchaca, 45, who had 2 kilograms of meth and 138 grams of cocaine, according to the sheriffs office. Jason Buch is a freelance journalist based in Texas. Juror Craig Moyer told ABC News that when deliberations began, the jury immediately took a poll that came back with nine guilty votes. SAN ANTONIO A massive drug bust took place at a northwest side hotel where 75,000 fentanyl pills were seized, the Bexar County Sherriff's Office said. Juan Antonio Estrada aka "Tony," 37, of Ro Grande City Matthew Villa, 51, of San Antonio Zoos in the past were judged by who had the most animals, San Antonio Zoo chief Tim Morrow says. Some of the money came from inflated contracts, said First Assistant District Attorney Cliff Herberg. Tuesday, June 22nd 2021. By then, Villarreal disappeared. He's facing a federal charge of possession with an intent to distribute over 500 grams of a controlled substance, according to Salazar. San Antonio woman among 14 charged with conspiracy to distribute meth and cocaine, Privately run zoos in Texas adapt to new roles. Copyright 2023 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Updated: 10:32 PM CST February 27, 2021 PLEASANTON, Texas An eight-month crackdown operation on drugs has landed dozens of people in jail. He pleaded guilty to operating a money transmitting business without a license, Barrera said. Our nation-wide commitment to reducing gun crime in America, Report Waste, Fraud, Abuse or Misconduct to the Inspector General, Find Help and Information for Crime Victims, Register, Apply for Permits, or Request Records, Monitor Selection for Corporate Criminal Enforcement. Moreira's attorneys wouldn't comment for this report, but after Forbes magazine included him on a list of Mexican politicians accused of corruption, Mexico City lawyer Christian F. Zinser Cieslik wrote to the publication, saying the former governor had been exonerated in an investigation by the Mexican attorney general's office. The gang, he said, was responsible for a wave of violence that killed tens of thousand in Mexico, many in Coahuila. WALTERBORO, S.C. One of the last pieces of a legal dynasty that doled out justice in rural South Carolina for decades crumbled Friday as lawyer Alex Murdaugh was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison for the murder of his wife and son at their sprawling estate. According to court records, Haggard was convicted in 2006 and sentenced to four years imprisonment for aggravated robbery in Bexar County. The U.S. Good Morning San Antonio. Jose Tabares, 53, of San Antonio This comes as state officials said they've seen a surge in fentanyl seizures with DPS reporting a 950% increase from 2020. Oscar Heredia, 37, of San Antonio I was shocked, Ibarra said of her boyfriend's arrest. Over the past two days, federal, state and local authorities arrested all of the defendants with the exception of Brown, Martinez, Jose Garcia, Alvarado, and Bartlett. Hernandez, Haggard and Heredia were already in custody. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Francisco Manuel Mata-Martinez, 41, of El Paso, was indicted. He surrendered to state police on Oct. 29, 2011, and was released on bond within hours. OCDETF Lead Task Force Attorney Adrin Rosales is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. Map: See the San Antonio ties of Coahuilan politicians and businessmen, some of whom prosecutors say laundered millions of dollars in South Texas. By the time federal prosecutors charged Torres and Villarreal, Bexar County prosecutors finally had started moving their civil lawsuit forward. Gonzlez Fernandez, the son, has pleaded not guilty to the drug charges. He did say this is part of a larger drug operation and the investigation is on-going. The indictment alleges that the defendants conspired since January 2020 to distribute cocaine. (San . Gonzlez Trevio, the father, bought his first house in San Antonio in the early 1990s. Another $8,500 in cash was found at the home as well, according to officials. All the remaining defendants face between 10 years to life in federal prison upon conviction. He's not been charged with a crime, and neither have the Gonzlez Trevio brothers. It is our position that it's just a front for money laundering, Herberg said. Our position on behalf of Mr. Villarreal is to establish the facts and show that he is not guilty. And I could see the real Alex Murdaugh when he looked at me, Waters said. Bryan Anthony Brown, age 33 of San Antonio; Properties that the feds moved to seize in the case suggested they were looking at something more than a simple dope smuggling investigation. His high-powered attorney, J.A. Moyado and Cardenas were booked into the Karnes federal holding facility for possession with intent to distribute five kilos of heroin or more and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams of methamphetamine or more, according to the BCSO. Further back, in the 1800s, Coahuila y Tejas was one state under Mexican rule. Michael Barron, age 39 of San Antonio; Coronado and Flores Valdez, the Moreiras' nephew, were in San Antonio responding to a request by Bexar County to depose representatives of the LLCs that Villarreal's family members manage. The truth is he brought shame upon himself, his family, the community, his profession, Kinsinger said. They say those millions were looted from the Coahuila government and flooded Texas starting in 2007, during the term of former Gov. Prosecutors didnt have the weapons used to kill the Murdaughs or other direct evidence like confessions or blood spatter. That's what we're doing, he said. Erik Jason Pena, 41, of San Antonio; and Ojeda faces a mandatory five years in federal prison on the gun charge upon conviction. BCSO says as deputies were approaching the residence, Mendez was getting in a vehicle to leave. Photo: KTSA/Dennis Foley. Its radio and television stations have a reputation for supporting the Institutional Revolutionary Party, known by its Spanish acronym PRI, in general and the Moreiras in particular. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The indictment also charges Haggard with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, namely a Taurus semi-automatic pistol on August 28, 2020. In October 2012, Jos Eduardo Moreira, Humberto's son, was found murdered outside the border city of Acua, and several police officials were arrested in connection with the slaying. Jesus Manuel DeLuna aka "Chuy," 48, of San Antonio; Erik Jason Pena, 41, of San Antonio; and Omar Cuellar, 47, of San Antonio. They are steadfastly in his camp, defense attorney Jim Griffin said after the hearing. At about 11 a.m., SLO Police. The arrests made yesterday in San Antonio conclude a comprehensive investigation by the DEA along with our law enforcement partners into the criminal activities of a drug trafficking organization, who were responsible for transporting and distributing methamphetamine and cocaine into our communities, said DEA Special Agent in Charge Comeaux. On July 20, 2021, members of the BCSO and DEA TAG Unit executed a search warrant in the After additional surveillance of the area, investigators arrested Servando Yzaguirre after he was found to be in possession of 323.7 grams of meth, according to the sheriffs office. Prosecutors have said in court that they believe Flores helped a former governor of Tamaulipas, another state that borders Texas, launder bribe money from the Zetas. Monday February 10, 2003. The suspects were arrested for drug possession. Ashley Villarreal who was shot and critically wounded on Motes street at S. San Joaquin just a few houses down from her home. A federal grand jury in Corpus Christi in November charged Villarreal and Torres with money laundering and fraud. There were no guns, no drugs.. Marshals Service and the Bexar County Sheriffs Office assisted with arrests. If he gets extradited we will (fight the criminal case), but right now he has not been extradited, so he's still in Mexico, Canales said. Nicolas Rodriguez, age 39 of San Antonio; The KSAT 12 News Team provides a look at local, regional, statewide and national news events and the latest information on local traffic and weather issues. Man charged with murder cut off ankle monitor, captured after being spotted in San Antonio, 'Especially lush': Wildflower Center predicts above-average bluebonnet season, Spring-like weekend in store for San Antonio | FORECAST, 2 separate $10,000 rewards offered by law enforcement for the suspect involved in shooting two Corpus Christi officers, Police search for suspects who may be involved in robbery, Video shows possible suspect vehicle connected to Army soldier's murder on New Year's Day. Through more than 75 witnesses and nearly 800 pieces of evidence, jurors heard about betrayed friends and clients, Murdaughs failed attempt to stage his own death in an insurance fraud scheme, a fatal boat crash in which his son was implicated, the housekeeper who died in a fall in the Murdaugh home and the grisly scene of the killings. Today, the Zetas are their own criminal organization engaged in a wide range of illegal activities including drug trafficking, prostitution, human trafficking and distribution of counterfeit goods. Humberto Moreira. It's a very complicated matter that's taking a lot of time, but there are bank records and property records and it's taking a while to sift through all the facts to show he did not do what they claim he did.. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. It alleges that he laundered in San Antonio the proceeds of bribes, theft, embezzlement and drug distribution, another indication that the U.S. is investigating whether there's a connection between the alleged raiding of Coahuila's state coffers and the Zetas, a gang started by former Mexican special forces soldiers to be the Gulf Cartel's paramilitary arm. It didn't take long to convince the other three. This operation is part of an OCDETF Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. Updated: 11:05 PM CST November 13, 2020 SAN ANTONIO Nearly $30 million worth of drugs are seized from a Bexar County home. . Karen Lastiri was arrested after Bexar County Sheriffs deputies found 52.28 kilograms of meth in her vehicle during a traffic stop, according to court documents. Jason Buch, Guillermo Contreras, San Antonio Express-News. Nevrez hit a . Its disgraceful.. In interviews after his son's killing, Moreira placed blame on narcoempresarios, businessmen with ties to the cartels who allowed the gangs to act with impunity. Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. Last year, Raul Gonzlez Trevio bought a one-acre piece of commercial property on U.S. 281 near TPC Parkway. Multiple agencies conducted an arrest operation Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021 which resulted in fifteen indictments being served and the arrest of seven suspects. And that was the reason they offered it, Griffin said. Fernando Jose Moreno, age 45 of San Antonio; All the defendants, excepting Gutierrez, face between 10 years and life in federal prison upon conviction of conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute. Ashley. Nowadays, its habitats, conservation and education. During this investigation, authorities have seized approximately 25 kilograms of cocaine, 35 firearms, two silencers, a grenade, body armor and approximately $265,000 in U.S. Currency along with other assets attributable to this organization. Joseph Richard Guerrero, age 28 of San Antonio; The nighttime stakeout targeted her father. Jacob Sanchez, 21, of San Antonio. He has also covered immigration, minority affairs and legal affairs as part of the projects team here and for other print, TV and radio outlets. Lastiri was sentenced to a total of 100 months in federal prison. But not good enough, Moyer said. Lus Claudio Estrada aka Luz, 42, of La Joya; Jesus Manuel DeLuna aka Chuy, 48, of San Antonio; Guillermo has been with the Express-News for 20 years, and has covered federal court and its investigative agencies for most of that time. When Humberto came into power, RCG was tiny, said Jorge Rosales Saade, an official with the opposition PAN party in Coahuila. Rodger Hernandez aka Rocky, 43, of San Antonio Guillermo has also worked in Central America, Mexico, New Mexico, Arizona and California and his work has appeared in various publications, including the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, New York Post, Newsday, Denver Post and the Albuquerque Journal. POSS W/I DEL CS PG1 4G - 200G Felony, 1st Degree Bond: $30,000.00, POSS W/I DEL CS PG1 OVER 400G Felony, 1st Degree Bond: $60,000.00, POSS CS PG 1 1 GRAM TO 4 GRAM Felony, 3rd Degree Bond: $50,000.00, POSS CS PG 1 4 GRAMS TO 200 G Felony, 2nd Degree Bond: $15,000.00, POSS CS PG 1 1 GRAM TO 4 GRAM Felony, 3rd Degree Bond: $10,000.00, POSS CS PG 1 4 GRAMS TO 200 GRAMS Felony, 2nd Degree Bond: $15,000.00, PAROLE VIOLATION Felony, 3rd Degree Bond: RWOB, POSS CS PG 3 LESS THAN 28 GRAM Misdemeanor, Class A Bond: 3500.00. Today, it has large office buildings in Saltillo and hangars at the city airport. Javier Armando Casas, 40, of Pharr; According to the Bexar County Sheriffs Office, deputies on Friday executed a search warrant at a home in the 6900 block of Martinique Drive, not far from Highway 90 and Military Drive. The arrestsin San Antonio conclude a comprehensive investigation by DEA, along with our law enforcement partners, into the criminal activities of a drug trafficking organization, who were responsible for transporting and distributing methamphetamine and cocaine into our communities, said Daniel C. Comeaux, special agent in charge of the DEA office in Houston. Javier Garcia Lopez, age 29 of San Antonio; It makes the ownership of properties more difficult for investigators and regulators to trace, however, and also could be used to disguise the source of money in the original purpose. Copyright 2023 by KSAT - All rights reserved. Moyer said he didn't buy them. SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) $400,000 worth of drugs were found in an east side home today. First, the government filed a civil complaint and, when (Torres) contested this civil forfeiture by filing a motion to dismiss, then the government brought an indictment over the same subject matter all with the purpose of obstructing the ability to defend oneself against a groundless forfeiture.. Along with the San Antonio properties, prosecutors have filed lawsuits to take control of real estate in the Rio Grande Valley and millions of dollars in bank accounts in Texas and Bermuda. Alvarez does not work for GEOs separate Karnes County Detention Center, where some federal inmates are held before trial, said her lawyer, Joey Contreras.