He wouldn't say more in an interview, but in court Canales called the indictment a sham and accused prosecutors of using it to retaliate against Torres for fighting the civil suit. Gonzlez Fernandez didn't respond to letters written to him in jail, and his new attorney, San Antonio white collar crime expert Cynthia Orr, wouldn't comment. SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) $400,000 worth of drugs were found in an east side home today. The indictment alleges that defendants Arteaga, Rodriguez, Brown, Chavarria, Oscar Oviedo, Joseph Guerrero, Vasquez, Martinez, Justin Guerrero, Gonzalez, Robles, Moreno, Palafos, Barron, Lopez, Jose Garcia, Alvarado, Bartlett, and Albelardo Oviedo conspired from June 2019 until April 7, 2021, to distribute methamphetamine. Moyer said he didn't buy them. They asked a judge to give them three San Antonio houses, all appraised at more than $500,000; the Champions Ridge home owned by Gonzlez Fernandez, a house in the Vistas at Sonterra owned by his brother; and a house in Oakwell Farms, an exclusive inside-the-loop gated community, owned by their father, Ral Gonzlez Trevio. Oswaldo Jesus Lopez, age 26 of Laredo; Photo: KTSA/Dennis Foley. He liked to stare me down as he would walk by me during this trial. The gang, he said, was responsible for a wave of violence that killed tens of thousand in Mexico, many in Coahuila. All he had was Cablevision, but they made him a multimillionaire with enormous power. All the billboards that the PRI used in its campaigns they would rent from Roberto, and they'd easily get the permits from the city governments.. Updated: 10:32 PM CST February 27, 2021 PLEASANTON, Texas An eight-month crackdown operation on drugs has landed dozens of people in jail. 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. Nothing is more important than the safety and security of our citizens. Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. Torres remains a fugitive in Mexico. Updated: 4:52 PM CST January 28, 2022. This comes as state officials said they've seen a surge in fentanyl seizures with DPS reporting a 950% increase from 2020. Officials seized. Hernandez, Haggard and Heredia were already in custody. 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. An employee of a residential facility for immigrant families and the father of a girl shot dead by federal agents in San Antonio 18 years ago are among 14 alleged members of a drug ring charged in a new federal indictment. Initially, they claimed in court documents that the money in the Texas banks and the funds used to buy the San Antonio properties came from fraudulent loans Villarreal took out on Coahuila's credit. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering operations, and those primarily responsible for the nations illegal drug supply. Jose De Jesus Garcia, age 35 of San Antonio; This is a carousel. Marshals Service, IRS Criminal Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Texas Department of Public Safety, Bexar County Sheriffs Office, Terrell Hills Police Department, Seguin Police Department and San Antonio Police Department conducted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation called Operation Alamo Fade. For decades, that meant that practically anyone who ended up in court whatever side of the law they found themselves on would have a Murdaugh either watching their back or staring them down. Jury takes an hour to reach verdict over deal at Port S.A. Later in the year, attention focused on Coahuila's former interim governor. Ashley Mendez, 28, and Ruben Zambrano, 38, were taken into custody. Drug Enforcement Administration agents arrested her after the discovery of drugs, officials said. 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. U.S. authorities were ramping up their investigation after Gonzalez's arrest on drug charges. Prior to today, authorities seized approximately 21 kilograms of cocaine, 100 kilograms of methamphetamine, a firearm and approximately $124,000 along with other assets attributable to this organization. Map: See the San Antonio ties of Coahuilan politicians and businessmen, some of whom prosecutors say laundered millions of dollars in South Texas. Murdaugh didnt look at the sign as he was hustled into the courthouse with his head down. SAN ANTONIO The Bexar County Sheriff's Office provided details about a drug bust in east Bexar County. The bust happened at 523 Porter St. early Friday. 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. Heather Freitag, 27, was arrested on a charge of possession of a controlled substance. SAN ANTONIO - Six people are in custody following a drug bust in east Bexar County earlier this week, according to the Bexar County Sheriff's Office. During this investigation, authorities seized approximately 24 kilograms of methamphetamine, six kilograms of heroin, three kilograms of cocaine, four firearms and approximately $100,000 along with other assets attributable to this organization. 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. That's it. Copyright 2022 by KSAT - All rights reserved. Lawyers for both men maintain they're innocent. It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. With Villarreal on the run, the lawsuits languished. Murdaugh's family founded the areas most powerful law firm a century ago in neighboring Hampton County. 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. Joe Angel Villarreal later was sentenced to 19 years in federal prison for leading a large cocaine-trafficking group. Jacqueline Alvarez, 57, of San Antonio He asked for an investigation of those persons, many of whom are part of society and are well-known and who have financial relations with (organized crime) and who have made their fortunes through them. Deputies. OCDETF Lead Task Force Attorney Adrin Rosales is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. This arrest operation also resulted in firearms, currency, and a large amount of methamphetamine being seized from these individuals. Aug. 2, 2014 Updated: Aug. 4, 2014 11 a.m. Facebook Twitter Email. Drug dealing and violence go hand in hand. Another $8,500 in cash was found at the home as well, according to officials. That fact is evident from the number of firearms recovered in this investigation - not to mention the silencers, grenade and body armor. SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) A big drug bust on San Antonio's North side. Now he's found a new voice in recovery. 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. Copyright 2023 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. In December, six Coahuila businessmen gathered at the Hotel Contessa in downtown San Antonio. Ashley Villarreal who was shot and critically wounded on Motes street at S. San Joaquin just a few houses down from her home. Mark Anthony Ojeda, 33, of San Antonio; Joel Villarreal aka Gordo, 49, 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. The house in Champions Ridge is owned by Raul Gonzlez Fernandez, but over the years it's been owned by his father, brother, uncle and by Vicente Chaires Yaez, Moreira's personal secretary while he was governor. 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. Lock Madilyn Marie Alvarado, age 26 of Del Rio The Bexar County District Attorneys Office also assisted in the investigation. Gonzlez Trevio wouldn't comment and officials at the Mexican Consulate and in San Antonio's International Relations Office said they're not familiar with him. Good Morning San Antonio. He surrendered to state police on Oct. 29, 2011, and was released on bond within hours. On one occasion, he said, a state contract went to a mineral extraction company controlled by the Zetas drug gang, former en- forcers for another cartel who spun off into their own criminal organization. Tuesday, June 22nd 2021. Juror Craig Moyer told ABC News that when deliberations began, the jury immediately took a poll that came back with nine guilty votes. Deputies searched a home Tuesday in the 1200 block of Delmar when they arrested Edward Medrano, 35, for being in possession of 373.3 grams of methamphetamine, according to officials. "No tears. 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. Domestic Cannabis Suppression / Eradication Program, Red Ribbon Toolkit - Resources For Your Community, DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Intelligence Research Specialist Job Announcements, Schedule A Hiring Authority: Intelligence Research Specialist, Privacy Impact Assessment and Management Information Systems, Victim Witness Assistance Program Resources. Ivan Herrera has worked as a journalist in San Antonio since 2016. You have to have a federal and state license for that. 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. Boy, 11, shoots self in head with gun he found in apartment, Photos show a massive alligator on an Atascosa County road, Look inside historic $2.3 million King William home. Tony Canales, said Torres is innocent but won't come to the U.S. to fight the charges because he's afraid he won't get bond. Prosecutors have moved to seize tens of millions of dollars in San Antonio real estate including a home in The Dominion, commercial property on U.S. 281 and a pharmacy on Stone Oak Parkway and indicted six people under an investigation into a nexus of politics, private industry and one of Mexico's most notorious drug gangs.