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Press Release

Federal Prison Sentences Handed Down In Crystal Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Texas

In San Antonio this morning, U.S. District Judge David A. Ezra sentenced Israel Hernandez, Jr., of Rio Bravo, TX, to 300 months in federal prison for his role in a crystal methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy plus an additional 30 months in federal prison for violating his supervised release announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Javier Pena.

On June 3, 2013, Hernandez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.  By pleading guilty, Hernandez, a self-purported drug transportation coordinator, admitted that between March and September in 2012, he conspired with San Antonio residents Carlos Ruiz and Andrew Kessler, II, to transport crystal methamphetamine from Brownsville to Laredo.  On September 14, 2012, DEA Task Force agents seized approximately 15 pounds of 99.9% pure crystal methamphetamine inside Kessler’s vehicle while in Mission, TX.  According to court records, Ruiz offered to pay Kessler $1,200 for transporting the six kilograms of crystal methamphetamine to Laredo.  The next day, federal agents in San Antonio arrested Hernandez and Ruiz as they were attempting to locate Kessler and the missing crystal methamphetamine. 

On Monday, Judge Ezra sentenced Carlos Ruiz to 15 years in federal prison for his role in the conspiracy.  On August 8, 2013, Andrew Kessler was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for his role in the conspiracy.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force made up of investigators from the New Braunfels Police Department, San Antonio Police Department, Boerne Police Department, Balcones Heights Police Department, Comal County Sheriff’s Office, Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office, Kendall County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Updated December 15, 2014