Prosecution Of Methamphetamine DTO Results In Lengthy Federal Prison Sentences

DALLAS — The last defendant convicted in a Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) conspiracy that distributed large quantities of methamphetamine in the North Texas area was sentenced today, announced U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.

Dallas resident, Lashaun Lamont Warren, 40, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor to 120 months in federal prison. Warren pleaded guilty in August 2013 to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. All told, defendants convicted in the case, all Dallas residents, received federal prison sentences ranging from 120 months to 292 months, as noted below:

Tony Hernandez, aka “T,” 31, 200 months

Johnny Angel Gamez, 22, 120 months

Sergio Picasso-Nieto, 35, 240 months

Miguel Quintero, aka “Chuckie,” 20, 262 months

Agne Vasquez, 29, 292 months

Andres Vasquez, 45, 151 months

Baltazar Vasquez, 25, 168 months

Roberto Vasquez, aka “Beto/Bubba,” 21, 240 months

Maria Reyna Vasquez, 46, 240 months

All defendants pleaded guilty to their respective roles in the conspiracy, with the exception of defendant Agne Vasquez, who was convicted at trial in September 2013. At the time of his arrest, agents seized multiple firearms, including assault weapons, some of which he posed with on Facebook.

The investigation dates back to 2007, when the Dallas Police Department and the FBI began investigating a large-scale methamphetamine and cocaine trafficking organization operating in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Tony Hernandez was the organization’s leader, having gained that role after members of the Los Zetas Cartel murdered his brother, Gonzalo Hernandez.

In 2011, the FBI began investigating the Tony Hernandez DTO and learned the organization illegally imported approximately 1,200 kilograms of methamphetamine and multiple kilograms of cocaine from Mexico on a monthly basis. Once the drugs were smuggled across the border, they were transported to various distribution locations in Dallas.

During the course of the investigation, law enforcement also learned that Hernandez acquired multiple kilograms of cocaine and methamphetamine in Houston, Texas, and used members of his DTO to transport it to Dallas for distribution.

The investigation involved numerous undercover purchases involving significant quantities of methamphetamine and large amounts of cash as well as several court-ordered wiretaps. Law enforcement executed federal search warrants at four Dallas residences on Seevers Avenue that were used to store large shipments of cocaine, methamphetamine and large sums of cash derived from the distribution of the illegal narcotics. Law enforcement also executed state search warrants on Alaska Drive in Dallas and at a local residential tower. The investigation resulted in significant seizures of methamphetamine, cocaine, firearms and vehicles, including a Bentley Continental.

The FBI and the Dallas Police Department were in charge of the investigation.