April 10, 2015

Jury in Midland Convicts Four on Federal Drug and Firearm Charges in Connection with a Homicide

In Midland, a federal jury convicted four Odessa residents for their role in a Permian Basin drug distribution scheme involving firearms and resulting in murder announced Acting United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr., Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Douglas E. Lindquist and Odessa Police Chief Timothy Burton.

Jurors convicted 40-year-old Raymond Hernandez Olgin, Jr., 34–year-old Rudolfo Romero Parades, 40-year-old Stacey Louise Castillo, and 32–year-old Anthony Ryan Gonzales of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and murder during the course of a drug trafficking crime.

Prior to jury selection, 35–year-old Liz Sanchez Hernandez pleaded guilty to the charge of murder during the course of a drug trafficking crime. Her son, 18-year-old Brian Adan Hernandez, pleaded guilty to the drug conspiracy charge. Liz Hernandez and Brian Hernandez face up to 30 years and up to five years in federal prison, respectively, when they are scheduled to be sentenced next month.

Evidence presented at trial revealed that the defendants were involved in the abduction and murder of Sean Michael Lamb because they suspected that Lamb and others had stolen a large amount of “crystal” methamphetamine from Liz Hernandez and her brother, 34-year-old Ruben James Hernandez.

On May 13, 2014, Odessa Police responded to a “shots fired” call in the alley behind #30 Neta Place in Odessa. There they discovered Lamb’s body with multiple gunshot wounds to the head and torso. Evidence presented during trial revealed that 35–year-old Noe Garcia Galan, accompanied by Olgin and Paredes, shot and killed Lamb for stealing the “crystal” methamphetamine. Jurors found this act to be a first degree premeditated murder.

Testimony during trial revealed that Castillo not only participated in the drug distribution operation as well as the murder of Lamb, but on the evening of May 14, 2014, she and Gonzales drove Ruben Hernandez to the international border in Presidio, TX, so he could escape into Mexico in exchange for an introduction to a narcotics supplier she could use in the future.

Olgin, Parades, Castillo and Gonzales face up to 20 years in federal prison on the drug conspiracy charge; a mandatory consecutive seven years’ imprisonment on the firearms charge; and, up to life in federal prison on the charge of murder during the course of a drug trafficking crime. Sentencing is scheduled for June 25, 2015. Noe Galan and Ruben Hernandez remain fugitives. They are charged by indictment with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and murder during the course of a drug trafficking crime.

This indictment resulted from an investigation conducted by the Odessa Police Department and the FBI with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Texas Rangers, and the U.S. Border Patrol. Assistant United States Attorneys John Klassen and William F. Lewis, Jr., are prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.