On October 10, 2012, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas announced that 10 individuals were arrested after a three year investigation of drug trafficking in Harrison County. The defendants were arrested for distributing methamphetamine and cocaine around the city of Marshall in Texas.
The following defendants are scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Roy Payne today on October 11:
Apolinar Carbajal Abelardo, “La Cartera”
Santiago Carbajal Abelardo, “Chiquies”
Jehovani Abelardo
Santos Acuna
Rigoberto Aguirre-Valle, “Rigo”
Karin Cardenas, Quequi
Joeli Higuera Fernandez
Melicio Nunez-Duque
Julia Flores Saucedo, “Julia Bernal”
Oscar Diaz-Mendoza
The FBI believes that some of the defendants started importing methamphetamine and cocaine into the Marshall area in 2009. Apolinar Abelardo, Santiago Abelardo, Jehovani Abelardo, and Santos Acuna are all charged with conspiracy to possess the drugs, two counts of possession and intent to distribute cocaine, and four counts of possession and intent to distribute methamphetamine. They also face one count of possession of a firearm.
Rigoberto Aguirre-Valle, Karin Cardenas, and Joeli Fernandez are believed to have started delivering methamphetamine from Mexico to Texas in 2010. They are charged with conspiracy and 8 counts of possession and intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Melicio Nunez-Duque, Julia Saucedo, and Oscar Diaz-Mendoza are believed to have distributed 50 grams of methamphetamine in Marshall starting in 2011. They are charged with conspiracy and 4 counts of possession and intent to deliver.
In all, police officers seized a pound and a half of methamphetamine and two ounces of cocaine during the arrests. They also seized 14 firearms, four vehicles, and $8,600.
The defendants face a minimum of 10 years in prison and up to life in prison for the conspiracy charges. They face up to 20 years in prison for the possession charges, and the defendants with the weapons violations face between 5 and 40 years in prison.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation
