Federal Grand Jury Indicts 16 Gang Members and Associates for Drug Trafficking in Eagle Pass Area

DEL RIO – Sixteen Partido Revolutionario Mexican (PRM) members and associates, primarily from the Eagle Pass area, face federal drug trafficking charges.

A federal grand jury indictment unsealed today charges the following defendants with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance:

The indictment alleges that the defendants conspired since March 2019 to distribute narcotics. All of the listed defendants have been arrested with the exception of Kevin Ritchie and Louis Iglesias who were already in custody. Authorities also seized cocaine, firearms, and cash attributable to the organization.

U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff; Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux, Houston Division; Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division; and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Acting Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee made today’s announcement.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Kam is prosecuting this case.  The DEA and FBI led this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation called Operation Tequila Sunset. Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Border Patrol, Texas Department of Public Safety, Eagle Pass Police Department, and the Sheriff’s Offices from Maverick, Dimmitt and Val Verde counties assisted with today’s arrests. 

It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt.  The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

This effort is part of 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.

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