The indictment alleges the defendants were members of a drug and money laundering organization from on or about June 2011 through June 2013. They are charged with various federal violations, including engaging in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and possession with intent to distribute multiple kilogram quantities of marijuana as well as a conspiracy to launder drug proceeds.
The indictment alleges that the Erasmo Trejo-Nava drug trafficking organization, which operated out of the Laredo area, was engaged in a conspiracy to distribute bulk quantities of marijuana from the Laredo area for distribution in the Dallas area. The indictment also alleges the organization was involved in a money laundering conspiracy in conjunction with the drug conspiracy. As such, large sums of money were allegedly transported from the Dallas area – the organization’s point of drug distributions – to Laredo and then Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, according to the indictment.
The defendants allegedly procured multiple kilogram quantities of marijuana from the Republic of Mexico and illegally imported into the United States for further transportation by tractor trailer and other means. The indictment also alleges the profits from the sale and distribution of the marijuana were collected from drug distributors in the Dallas area and were transported to the Laredo area. The defendants then allegedly arranged for the transportation of those proceeds back to the Republic of Mexico. According to the charges, the proceeds were used to conduct financial transactions designed in whole or in part to conceal and disguise the nature, ownership, control and source of the drug proceeds when purchasing real estate, materials and services.
The indictment is the culmination of a long term Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Investigation dubbed Operation Trena Sin Trono spearheaded by the DEA and IRS-Criminal Investigation with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, Laredo Police Department and Zavala County Sheriff’s Office. Numerous agencies assisted with the arrests to include U.S. Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Webb County Sheriff’s Office, Webb Country Constable’s Office, U.S. Border Patrol and Customs and Border Protection Air & Marine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Lou Castillo is prosecuting the case.
