Thread: 14 charged in Hidalgo County-Minnesota drug probe

14 charged in Hidalgo County-Minnesota drug probe

May 6, 2009 - 7:43 AM
By JEREMY ROEBUCK/The Monitor

McALLEN - A federal grand jury has indicted 14 Hidalgo County residents for their alleged roles in a drug distribution network operating between Mexico and Minnesota, prosecutors said Tuesday.

The trafficking organization - allegedly led by Roberto Guadalupe Alemán, 28, of Hidalgo - is believed to be responsible for moving dozens of loads of cocaine and methamphetamine to street-level dealers operating in the Minneapolis area.

Its supplies came directly from the Gulf Cartel, according to a statement issued by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota.

"Cocaine is not manufactured in Minnesota," said Bernard Zapor, head of the St. Paul, Minn., office of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. "So it takes a violent criminal syndicate to bring and distribute it here."

According to a 29-count indictment issued in a federal court in Minneapolis, Alemán and his alleged associates shipped the drugs from the Rio Grande Valley to the Midwest, making a profit estimated at $2.4 million over the past four years. Accomplices in Minnesota would then deposit the proceeds in bank accounts in sums of less than $10,000 that were later withdrawn in Texas to avoid federal reporting requirements.

Investigators first began probing Alemán's purported smuggling organization last year and made numerous controlled purchases from group members and recorded telephone conversations among them. Agents arrested him and 12 of his alleged accomplices throughout the past week.

In all, federal agents arrested 27 suspects in Minnesota, Texas and Wisconsin and seized more than 90 pounds of cocaine and $505,000 in alleged drug proceeds, federal prosecutors said.

Alemán now faces 15 counts of conspiracy, drug possession and aiding and abetting narcotics distribution. If convicted on all counts, he could face up to life in prison and $4 million in fines.

Federal prosecutors have also initiated criminal forfeiture proceedings against nine homes and properties in the Rio Grande Valley that are believed to have been used in hiding the organization's drugs - including six in Hidalgo and one each in Edinburg, McAllen and Mission.

It was not immediately clear Tuesday whether Alemán or any of his co-defendants had retained attorneys.

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Jeremy Roebuck covers courts and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4437.

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SUSPECTS INDICTED IN HIDALGO COUNTY

>> Roberto Guadalupe "Cono" Alemán, 28, of Hidalgo: two counts of drug smuggling and money laundering conspiracy, nine counts of aiding and abetting cocaine distribution; two counts of cocaine distribution, one count of aiding and abetting cocaine possession, one count of aiding and abetting methamphetamine distribution.

>> Maria Isabel Alemán, 61, of Hidalgo: two counts of drug smuggling and money laundering conspiracy, two counts of aiding and abetting cocaine distribution.

>> Daniel Armando Alemán, 30, of Hidalgo: two counts of drug smuggling and money laundering conspiracy, three counts of aiding and abetting cocaine distribution.

>> Esaul "Pajaro" Miranda, 36, of Hidalgo: two counts of drug smuggling and money laundering conspiracy, one count of aiding and abetting cocaine distribution.

>> Jesus "Yope" Villanueva, 36, of Mission: two counts of drug smuggling and money laundering conspiracy, two counts of aiding and abetting cocaine possession.

>> Josue Azahael "Pee Wee" Garza, 19, of Mission: one count of drug smuggling conspiracy, one count of aiding and abetting cocaine distribution.

>> Emily Judith "Zapata" Balderas, 26, of McAllen: one count of drug smuggling conspiracy, one count of aiding and abetting cocaine distribution.

>> Arcelia Reyes, 37, of McAllen: one count of drug smuggling conspiracy.

>> Andres Guzman Fegaroa, 24, of Mission: one count of drug smuggling conspiracy, one count of aiding and abetting cocaine distribution.

>> Rafael Quintanilla, 26, of Hidalgo: two counts of drug smuggling and money laundering conspiracy.

>> Ricardo Quintanilla, 36, of Hidalgo: two counts of drug smuggling and money laundering conspiracy.

>> Luiz Manuel Roman, 36, of Hidalgo: two counts of drug smuggling and money laundering conspiracy.

>> Miriam Leal, 29, of Mission: two counts of drug smuggling and money laundering conspiracy.

>> Alejandro Paz, 33, of Hidalgo: two counts of drug smuggling and money laundering conspiracy.

http://www.valleymorningstar.com/news/h ... -drug.html

It appears some of them are related. "Good family values" -NOT.