BEAUMONT, TEXAS — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)), published as received.
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Houston man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei today.
Alexis Villatoro, 26, pleaded guilty on Jan. 12, 2021, to conspiracy to commit money laundering and was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Thad Heartfield.
“Drugs and money laundering go hand-in-hand,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. “Seizing the proceeds of drug trafficking is an important part of our efforts to fight illegal drug activity and our district will continue to pursue these violators with every resource available.”
According to information presented in court, on Dec. 10, 2018, local law enforcement authorities conducted a traffic stop of Villatoro on Interstate-10 in Beaumont. During the traffic stop, a police canine positively alerted to the presence of contraband. A subsequent probable cause search was conducted on the vehicle, during which $12,360 in cash was located in the rear hatch area. Further investigation revealed the money was the proceeds of an illegal drug transaction. Villatoro was indicted by a federal grand jury on Oct. 7, 2020.
This effort is part of Operation Guitar Hero, an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Beaumont Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Anderson.
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