Convicted Husband and Wife Sentenced to Additional Time in Federal Prison After Admitting They Interfered with the Government's Seizure of Their Property

DALLAS — A previously-convicted husband and wife from Dallas, who admitted selling property the government had planned to seize in connection with a marijuana trafficking and money laundering investigation, have been sentenced to serve additional time in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.

Griselda Hernandez, 36, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay to 15 months in federal prison, with seven of those months to be served consecutive to the current 57-month federal sentence she is presently serving following her guilty plea in 2013 to one count of money laundering stemming from her role in the marijuana trafficking conspiracy.

On Thursday, her husband, Andres Hernandez, Jr., a/k/a “Gordo,” 36, was also sentenced by Judge Lindsay to 15 months in federal prison with seven of those months to be served consecutive to the current 300-month sentence he is presently serving after pleading guilty in 2013 to one count of conspiracy to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana and one count of money laundering.

Andres and Griselda Hernandez each pleaded guilty last year to one count of destruction or removal of property to prevent seizure.

Andres and Griselda Hernandez were initially indicted in October 2012, along with 16 other individuals, for their roles in a marijuana distribution conspiracy.  According to documents filed in that case, Andres Hernandez admitted that on multiple occasions between January 2011 and the date of his arrest on November 1, 2012, he received and routinely distributed multi-pound quantities of marijuana from his residence.  Griselda Hernandez admitted delivering $28,854 in cash, proceeds from illegal drug sales, to a straw buyer to purchase a 10-acre property in Barry, Texas, in Navarro County.  The straw buyer paid off the loan on the property and deeded it over to the Hernandez’s that same day.  Griselda Hernandez admitted she was aware that her husband was selling and distributing drugs from their residence in Dallas and that she occasionally assisted him by collecting drug proceeds. 

The October 2012 indictment contained a forfeiture notice that informed Andres and Griselda Hernandez that the government would seek forfeiture from them of the Barry, Texas property that had been purchased with illegal drug sales proceeds.  The Hernandez’s agreed with and consented to the forfeiture.  In September 2013, Judge Lindsay entered a preliminary order of forfeiture concerning the property, directing the U.S. Marshals Service to seize and hold the property. 

Nevertheless, in October 2013, Andres and Griselda Hernandez sold the property for $20,000 and signed a warranty deed transferring the property title to the buyers.  The Hernandez’s admitted they knowingly transferred title to the property to others to prevent and impair the government’s lawful authority to take that property into its custody and control.

The United States Marshals Service and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation investigated the case.  Criminal Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham was in charge of the prosecution.

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