Example video title will go here for this video. 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. An indictment accused Ral Gonzlez Fernandez, a 42-year-old restaurateur who was born in Del Rio, of conspiring to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine and possessing more than 500 grams of the drug. SAN ANTONIO - A man and a woman were arrested after deputies busted a drug distribution operation in West Bexar County on Friday, according to the Bexar County Sheriff's Office. Guillermo has been with the Express-News for 20 years, and has covered federal court and its investigative agencies for most of that time. Agents arrested Lumbreras on Monday night. Yesterday, federal, state and local authorities arrested nine defendants. The truth is he brought shame upon himself, his family, the community, his profession, Kinsinger said. Fernando Jose Moreno, age 45 of San Antonio; USAA wants some remote employees in the office three days Texas Vista owner has threatened hospital shutdown before, VIA adding 8 new buses to its fleet and theyre all electric, BCSO: 3 arrested after 6 smuggled people, 3 stash houses found, Bexar County deputy reunites African tortoise with owners, Gunmen blast 75 rounds at Northwest Side apartment. Jury takes an hour to reach verdict over deal at Port S.A. Online reports can only be completed for the following crimes where no weapon was used and no suspect information is available. 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. Rodger Hernandez aka Rocky, 43, of San Antonio 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. Both arrests were in connection with the drug bust, the sheriffs office said. Shes a recreation specialist for GEO, supervising children at play, he said. Bexar County prosecutors say the treasurer, Hctor Javier Villarreal Hernndez, wired millions of dollars to Texas that he received from kickbacks. She previously worked for WICS/WRSP 20 in Springfield, Illinois. UPDATE: Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar says they found $29 million worth of methamphetamine, in addition to $400,000 worth of black tar heroin in a conversion lab in the Northeast Side. S.A.-area rancher catches the hearts of American Idol judges, USAA wants some remote employees in the office three days a week, Take a look inside this $3.5 million 'mystery' mansion, New food truck park opens at The CO-OP SA, 10 things to do this weekend in San Antonio. These arrests send a strong and unified message that these crimes will not be tolerated in our communities and those who commit these offenses will be brought to justice, said DEA Special Agent in Charge Comeaux. By the time federal prosecutors charged Torres and Villarreal, Bexar County prosecutors finally had started moving their civil lawsuit forward. By then, Villarreal disappeared. The DEA, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Texas Department of Public Safety, San Antonio Police Department, New Braunfels Police Department, University of Texas San Antonio Police Department, Gonzales Police Department, Comal County Sheriffs Office and the Guadalupe County Sheriffs Office conducted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation called Operation Brujas Blunder. Last year, Raul Gonzlez Trevio bought a one-acre piece of commercial property on U.S. 281 near TPC Parkway. Nicolas Rodriguez, age 39 of San Antonio; Tracy Kinsinger came to the courthouse with a homemade sign reading Murderer that he made the night before. Ashley Mendez, 28, and Ruben Zambrano, 38, were taken into custody. She traveled from Houston to San Antonio with two children in her vehicle. Deputies and Drug Enforcement Administration agents discovered the lab Thursday night after the arrest of 39-year-old Jose . The indictment alleges that the defendants conspired in 2020 to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine. Some of the money came from inflated contracts, said First Assistant District Attorney Cliff Herberg. 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. Murdaugh didnt look at the sign as he was hustled into the courthouse with his head down. DEA officials said the pills were smaller than a dime and that even a tiny dose of the drug could be fatal. AUSTIN, Texas Federal authorities arrested 21 people believed to be involved in drug trafficking on Thursday, according to the Department of Justice. Drug Enforcement Administration agents arrested her after the discovery of drugs, officials said. Jose Tabares, 53, of San Antonio All are from San Antonio. The specific mission of the Houston/South Texas OCDETF Strike Force is to disrupt and dismantle the drug trafficking organizations headed by designated Consolidated Priority Organization Targets (CPOTs), Regional Priority Organization Targets (RPOTs), and their affiliates that impact Houston and south Texas. The juror agreed with prosecutors that the key piece of evidence was a video locked on his sons cellphone for a year video shot minutes before the killings at the same kennels near where the bodies would be found. Jason Buch, Guillermo Contreras, San Antonio Express-News. Oswaldo Jesus Lopez, age 26 of Laredo; I think he's not guilty, so I was shocked.. According to Salazar, deputies found a couple hundred grams of methamphetamine and black tar heroin and $9,000. 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. All rights reserved. When he took the stand in his own defense, the first thing he did was admit he had lied to investigators about being at the kennels, saying he was paranoid of law enforcement because he was addicted to opioids and had pills in his pocket the night of the killings. It happened Friday in Atascosa County where the. Rubn Moreira, the current governor, told Mexican reporters that Gonzlez Trevio's position was unofficial and unpaid. We will continue to work closely with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners in order to enhance the quality of life for the citizens in the San Antonio region.. Authorities call it the largest. Moreira has not been charged, but his political career came to an abrupt end in 2011 when it was revealed that under his governorship Coahuila had racked up nearly $3 billion in debt. We look forward to taking a good hard look at the governments evidence.. 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. You have to have a federal and state license for that. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. They say those millions were looted from the Coahuila government and flooded Texas starting in 2007, during the term of former Gov. SAN ANTONIO - Six people are in custody, two of which are being held in a federal facility, following a drug bust on the North Side, according to the Bexar County Sheriff's Office. They refused to identify themselves to reporters or discuss why they were meeting in a conference room with prosecutors, a DEA agent and an investigator with the Texas attorney general's office. SAN ANTONIO- Twelve San Antonio residents face federal drug trafficking charges, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux, Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff. SAN ANTONIO - Twenty five men and women are in custody after authorities busted a drug distribution operation in the San Antonio area Thursday, according to officials. When there's two or three or four or five layers of individuals, that's called layering of ownership, he said. (Robert McLeroy/Staff). Ed Rodriguez, a former IRS agent who is not involved in the case, said there could be perfectly legitimate reasons for businessmen to distance themselves from properties they own, including protection from lawsuits. Zoos in the past were judged by who had the most animals, San Antonio Zoo chief Tim Morrow says. Tuesday, June 22nd 2021. Marshals Service and the Bexar County Sheriffs Office assisted with arrests. Before he was charged with murder, Murdaugh was in jail awaiting trial on about 100 other charges ranging from insurance fraud to tax evasion. Prosecutors decided not to seek the death penalty in this case, and Newman handed down the harshest possible sentence he could consecutive life sentences without parole. 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. Jose De Jesus Garcia, age 35 of San Antonio; Lastiri worked as a driver for a Drug Trafficking Organization and put her childrens lives at risk by bringing them on this job, said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Ivan Herrera has worked as a journalist in San Antonio since 2016. Torres and Villarreal were the closest persons to Moreira, Salazar said. Lock On Tuesday, federal, state and local authorities arrested all of the defendants with the exception of Lumbreras, Ojeda and Flores. Lus Claudio Estrada aka Luz, 42, of La Joya; Pictured is (left to right): Jeanette Gloria, 38; Crystal Coronado, 34; Kenneth Peterson, 28; Josh Delgado, 38. The DEA, U.S. The nighttime stakeout targeted her father. They whisked him to San Antonio, where prosecutors unsealed an indictment charging him with another count of money laundering. 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. It didn't take long to convince the other three. Updated: 10:32 PM CST February 27, 2021 PLEASANTON, Texas An eight-month crackdown operation on drugs has landed dozens of people in jail. Thirteen individuals are charged with trafficking cocaine in the San Antonio area, announced U.S. Attorney Gregg N. Sofer and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Steven S. Whipple, Houston Division. The head of south central Texas DEA shares new insight on the. Salazar said the three suspects face charges of human smuggling, engaging in organized crime . Among those charged are Villarreal, who is in a San Antonio jail awaiting trial, and Coahuila's former interim governor, Jorge Juan Torres Lpez, a fugitive. 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.. Oscar Jesus Lopez, age 23 of Laredo; Camouflaged among those escaping the more recent problems in the state are drug traffickers, unscrupulous businessmen and high-ranking Coahuila officials who laundered more than $35 million in kickbacks for state contracts, U.S. authorities say. Hernandez, Haggard and Heredia were already in custody. In court records, prosecutors wrote Zamora is ostensibly working as a self-employed plumber, but somehow came up with $500,000 to purchase drugs in the Bay Area, and lives in a $3 million home in . Coahuila prosecutors in October 2011 charged Villarreal with falsifying documents to take out millions of dollars in loans on the state's credit. SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) $400,000 worth of drugs were found in an east side home today. Coahuila, with its large manufacturing sector and border crossings, is a major trade partner with Texas, and politically connected people from the state who are not under investigation have become close with San Antonio city leaders. With Villarreal on the run, the lawsuits languished. SAN ANTONIO Six people are in custody, two of which are being held in a federal facility, following a drug bust on the North Side, according to the Bexar County Sheriffs Office. The government is abusing its power, Canales wrote in one filing. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. The prosecutors' deposition request included a list of people and entities they would be asking about, including the Moreira brothers, their nephew, a number of Villarreal's family members, Chaires, Humberto Moreira's former secretary, and Roberto Casimiro Gonzalez Trevio, the Coahuila cable magnate whose nephew was arrested in San Antonio and whose brother served as the state's spokesman here. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. He is the father of Ashley Villarreal, who at 14 was fatally shot by DEA agents conducting a stakeout in San Antonio in February 2003. Roberto Casimiro Gonzlez Trevio signed the deed of sale for the property and he's listed as the trust's sole managing member, but his name does not appear on public records filed by the LLCs. Zoos in the past were judged by who had the most animals, San Antonio Zoo chief Tim Morrow says. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. That fact is evident from the number of firearms recovered in this investigation - not to mention the silencers, grenade and body armor. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. Now, said Herberg, the No. Sheriff's deputies there said they stopped Villarreal, his wife and brother-in-law Oswaldo Coronado traveling with $67,000. And the apparent tears Murdaugh cried throughout the trial, even on the witness stand? The elder Villarreal was arrested in a DEA operation in which his daughter was shot and critically wounded by federal agents. San Antonio has strong historic ties to Saltillo, Coahuila's capital. He's facing a federal charge of possession with an intent to distribute over 500 grams of a controlled substance, according to Salazar. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Nowinski is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. Like a traditional mafia, the Zetas also are involved in public works fraud, creating fake companies or suborning legitimate businesses and bribing public officials in exchange for government contracts that are inflated or never completed. He pleaded guilty to operating a money transmitting business without a license, Barrera said. 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. Roberto Casimiro Gonzlez Trevio also shows up on the list of people Bexar County prosecutors told a judge they want to ask witnesses about as part of their money laundering investigation, and he once owned the house in Champions Ridge that the feds are trying to seize from his nephew. Copyright 2023 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Nowadays, its habitats, conservation and education. I was this close to him.. 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.. SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) A big drug bust on San Antonio's North side. The DEA contended that the car accelerated toward the agents, who opened fire not knowing that the teenager was behind the wheel. According to Sorianello, fentanyl is a synthetic opioid, over 50 times greater or stronger than heroine. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. But then they got word it had started again. 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. Updated: 11:05 PM CST November 13, 2020 SAN ANTONIO Nearly $30 million worth of drugs are seized from a Bexar County home. The former governor, Eugenio Hernndez Flores, has said those allegations are false. A locked padlock Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, METRO -- The father of Ashley Villarreal is led out of the Judge John H. Wood Federal Courthouse. 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. Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar says a drug operation at the home in the 100 block of Trudell was first broken up a few weeks ago when Deputies were delivering a warrant. 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. Please dial 911 for emergencies or 210.207.7273 for non-emergencies. Just a few weeks ago, 180 miles from the border, in the quiet San Antonio suburban town of Boerne, Texas, a vehicle carrying nine people two stuffed in the trunk was stopped for a traffic. Rosalinda Flores, 54, of San Antonio; At about 11 a.m., SLO Police. Jay Haggard, 34, of San Antonio An official website of the United States government. But Circuit Court Judge Clifton Newman wanted to know if he saw the mangled bodies of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh as he tried to sleep or thought about how he disgraced his family's three-generation reputation for justice through lying, stealing and eventually murder. His lawyer, Roy Barrera Jr., said Flores wasn't involved in public corruption or organized crime. 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. Frank Anthony Hernandez aka Pancho, 36, of San Antonio; Here's What's Up in San Diego County for July 9, 2022. 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. 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. Ojeda was already in custody, and Flores has yet to be arrested. Villarreal was involved in facilitating the purchase of the properties, Houston attorney Michael J. Wynne said. It might have been the monster you become," Newman said. 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. Monday February 10, 2003. I was shocked, Ibarra said of her boyfriend's arrest. Plus, Rooftop Cinema extends screenings until September. A major drug bust occurred in Eastland County. I would never under any circumstances hurt my wife Maggie and I would never under any circumstances hurt my son Paul-Paul, Murdaugh responded. 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. Copyright 2021 by KSAT - All rights reserved. The most high-profile arrest of the money laundering investigation has been that of Villarreal, the former state treasurer. Fernando Salazar, a recently elected senator from Coahuila who's in the opposing National Action Party, or PAN, said he thinks the problem goes well beyond the former treasurer and interim governor. Cash found at drug bust in West Bexar County. The female driver was identified as Shauna Madrid, 36, from Roswell, New Mexico. He did say this is part of a larger drug operation and the investigation is on-going. Copyright 2023 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. A federal grand jury indictment unsealed today charges the following defendants with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance: Francisco Garza aka Pancho, 52, of San Antonio Jesus Manuel DeLuna aka "Chuy," 48, of San Antonio; Erik Jason Pena, 41, of San Antonio; and Omar Cuellar, 47, of San Antonio. More than $1 billion worth of cocaine has been seized at the Philadelphia Port on Tuesday, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.They say the drug bust netted approximately 16.5 tons of the . Monday February 10, 2003. It becomes very difficult to track for any investigator in law enforcement, but it's especially more difficult for financial industry investigators because they're limited, they don't have authority of the government, subpoena power.. Further back, in the 1800s, Coahuila y Tejas was one state under Mexican rule. Then, starting in 2006, he and his brother, Roberto Casimiro Gonzlez Trevio, went on a spending spree. (San . Fridays hearing again took place in a packed courtroom. Cody King is a digital journalist for KSAT 12. 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. And, San Diego Pride Kicks off today. Jacob Sanchez, 21, of San Antonio. All the remaining defendants face between 10 years to life in federal prison upon conviction. Over the past century, your family including you have been prosecuting people here in this courtroom, and many have received the death penalty, probably for lesser conduct, the judge said. 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. Further, the indictment charges Pena with an additional one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Martinez, Robles, and Jose Garcia face between 15 years and life upon conviction of conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute. The voices of all three Murdaughs can be heard on the video, though Alex Murdaugh had insisted for 20 months that he hadn't been at the kennels that night. Cody King is a digital journalist for KSAT 12. 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. Coahuila corruption and drug ties spread influence to San Antonio, Privately run zoos in Texas adapt to new roles. Javier Garcia Lopez, age 29 of San Antonio; The Murdaugh case has attracted true crime fans from around the world with its threads of power, danger, money and privilege. It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. A similar lawsuit is seeking to forfeit for $2.3 million Villarreal has in another Bermuda bank. A federal grand jury indictment returned in San Antonio charges the following defendants with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine: After six weeks of trial, they came away more convinced he did not do this. Deputies searched a home Tuesday in the. The lawsuits sought millions of dollars in bank accounts in Texas and Bermuda as well as the commercial strip center on U.S. 281, the pharmacy on Stone Oak Parkway, a storage center on Loop 1604, a condo on South Padre Island and most of a commercial block in Brownsville that prosecutors said was purchased with money stolen from Coahuila's treasury. SAN ANTONIO Six people are in custody following a drug bust in east Bexar County earlier this week, according to the Bexar County Sheriffs Office. "They take a pill which seems very simple, never done that in their life, and they simply dont wake up.". Javier Armando Casas, 40, of Pharr; 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.