PLANO, TEXAS — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)), published as received.
PLANO, Texas – The Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative was established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
In the Eastern District of Texas, two defendants were sentenced to a total of 350 months in federal prison during the month of July as part of the Homeland Security Task Force, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Additionally, two other defendants pleaded guilty to drug trafficking violations and face up to life in federal prison, and a fugitive was extradited from Qatar after absconding to Pakistan.
On July 8, 2026, Nestor Molina Molina, also known as Chocolate, 37, a Mexican national illegally living in Garland, was sentenced to 140 months in federal prison for being involved in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Molina Molina was part of a cartel affiliated drug trafficking organization that distributed multiple kilogram quantities of methamphetamine from Mexico into the United States. A methamphetamine conversion laboratory, along with large amounts of methamphetamine in the conversion process, were discovered at Molina Molina’s residence during the investigation.
On July 10, 2026, a Houston man pleaded guilty to being involved in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas. Indolfo Hernandez, 36, faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison for leading a drug trafficking organization responsible for trafficking large quantities of methamphetamine. Law enforcement seized over 16 kilograms of the drug during the investigation.
On July 10, 2026, Garland man, Abdullah Anwar, 28, was extradited from Qatar to the United States to face multiple charges in the Eastern District of Texas, including conspiracy to transport stolen property in interstate and foreign commerce. Anwar had fled the United States for Pakistan while on pretrial release.
On July 20, 2026, Saginaw man, Kevin Chase McCauley, 38, was sentenced to over 17 years in federal prison for selling fentanyl-laced hydrocodone pills resulting in the death of an individual in Argyle, Texas. McCauley was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison for drug trafficking violations.
On July 22, 2026, Luis Enrique Ruiz Morales, 40, pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking charges on the 2nd day of his jury trial. Morales was extradited from Guatemala to the United States after being indicted in the Eastern District of Texas for his involvement in a drug trafficking organization responsible for smuggling cocaine from Tecun Uman, a city located on Guatemala’s border with Mexico, to members of the Sinaloa Cartel for further distribution. Morales faces up to life in federal prison at sentencing.
HSTF Dallas comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Dallas Field Office; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations - Dallas (ICE-HSI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Dallas Field Division; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Dallas Field Division; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CD; United States Postal Service, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Transportation Security Administration, Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS); United States Secret Service (USSS); Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DSS); TEXOMA HIDTA; and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Eastern District of Texas.
For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edtx.
