Texas Inmates, Correctional Officers Indicted on Narcotics Smuggling Charges

SAN ANTONIO – A federal grand jury in San Antonio returned an indictment charging 13 defendants, including inmates and correctional officers, for their involvement in the smuggling of narcotics into Texas prisons.

According to court documents, inmate Juan Francisco Munoz aka “Joker,” 35, leads the Juan Munoz Drug Trafficking Organization (Munoz DTO) and is currently serving a 35-year prison sentence for murder. Using contraband cellphones that had been smuggled into the correctional facilities, Munoz and other inmates, such as Paul Govea aka “Salute,” 35, and Verndale Ray Seals, 34, are alleged to have directed and coordinated the DTO’s drug trafficking activity. The indictment alleges that the group obtained the narcotics from multiple sources of supply, including Osama Mohammed Elwan, 32, and employed correctional officers, such as Osauwa Emmanuel Williams, 48, Anival Ruiz Porras aka “Tall Guy,” 41, and Ryan Ty Melchor, 26.

The three officers allegedly met with non-incarcerated members of the DTO such as Rosa Teromina Miller, 43, and Daniel Guadalupe Flores, 30, to receive narcotics, cellphones and other contraband, then smuggle the goods into the correctional facilities in exchange for thousands of dollars. The DTO also allegedly used the mail to smuggle narcotics and other contraband into prisons. In addition to Miller, non-incarcerated members Melissa Amador, 28, Ashley Marie Arriaga aka “Ashley Zavala,” 35, Amber Tanae Huey, 34, and Aida Gerardina Gomez Ortiz, 32, allegedly packaged drug-soaked sheets of paper and mailed them to inmates who were either members or customers or the Munoz DTO.

The indictment alleges that special agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration seized from defendant residences, more than 520 grams of paper sheets soaked with fentanyl and synthetic cannabinoids, more than 120 grams of paper sheets soaked with heroin and synthetic cannabinoids, and 254.6 milliliters of liquid synthetic cannabinoids, along with envelopes addressed to inmates. According to the indictment, once smuggled into the correctional facility, DTO members could then sell a single sheet of drug-soaked paper for up to $1,000. During the dates covered in the indictment, Miller transferred nearly $333,000 from the peer-to-peer payment platforms used in the smuggling operation.

Munoz and Miller are each charged with six counts including conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine and conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, Munoz faces 15 years to life in prison, and Miller faces 10 years to life in prison.

Govea is charged with four counts including conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and identity theft. If convicted, he faces 10 years to life in prison.

Elwan is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, he faces 10 years to life in prison.

Seals is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. If convicted, he faces 15 years to life in prison.

Amador is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, she faces 10 years to life in prison.

Flores is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted, he faces 15 years to life in prison.

Arriaga is charged with five counts including conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and identity theft. If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in prison.

Porras and Huey are each charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. If convicted, they each face up to 20 years in prison.

Melchor and Ortiz are each charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. If convicted, they each face up to 20 years in prison.

Williams is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.

A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas made the announcement.

The DEA, FBI, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and Wichita Falls Police Department are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Nowinski is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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