Booking Photo of Arturo Gomez
BROWNSVILLE–One of the suspects arrested in a drug trafficking and money laundering operation in the Lower Rio Grande Valley has posted bail and is out of jail, while the rest are still being held without bond.
Six people were arrested when ICE agents raided several locations for a multimillion dollar cocaine criminal ring in Brownsville.
At one home, agents found more than two kilograms of cocaine and more than a half million dollars in cash.
Authorities said the drug trafficking was in operation for about two years and they believed they moved about five kilograms of cocaine.
The federal agency was seeking to get the ring leader, Arturo Gomez, 31, to pay the government $1 million in forfeiture for money they believed he earned from drug proceeds.
Gomez appeared in federal court on Monday for a detention hearing. He’s charged with drug trafficking, money laundering and sending more than $50,ooo in undeclared money from Atlanta to Mexico. Federal Magistrate Judge Felix Recio denied him bond because he’s a flight risk.
Booking Photo of Reyna Ceballos
Reyna Ceballos, 21, also appeared in court for the same hearing. She’s charged with drug trafficking. She was also ordered to be held without bond.
Magda Zendejas, 28, charge with drug trafficking didn’t appear in federal court on Monday. She hasn’t been medically cleared. She is being held without bond until she appears for her detention hearing.
Two others involved in the drug trafficking operation also appeared. Julio Gonzalez, 45, and David Alcala, 30, of Brownsville were held without bond because they aren’t U.S. citizens.
Booking Photo of Vanessa Weaver
Vanessa Weaver, 28, of San Benito, who is charged with sending about $16,000 in undeclared currency from the Valley to Mexico, was given a $100,000 bond. She was released from jail and was given strict conditions for her release.
This federal case was indicted out of Corpus Christi. So the defendants being held in jail will be moved to the Coastal Bend and the trial will be held in Corpus Christi.
–South Texas Tribune, southtexastribune@gmail.com
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