LAREDO, Texas – A 60-year-old resident of Laredo has been ordered to federal prison for his involvement in a multi-year conspiracy involving numerous types of narcotics, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan Patrick. Daniel Martin Huerta pleaded guilty Aug. 22, 2018.  

Today, U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison sentenced Huerta to 120 months of imprisonment to be immediately followed by a five-year-term of supervised release. At the hearing, he was held accountable for being the leader and organizer of five or more persons during the course of the drug trafficking conspiracy.

Between May 1, 2012, and April 24, 2018, Huerta conspired with persons in his drug trafficking organization to possess with the intent to distribute large amounts of cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and marijuana. Huerta and his co-conspirators were responsible for importing the controlled substances from Mexico and sending them to Dallas and other cities throughout the United States.

Huerta also laundered money in U.S. bank accounts and smuggled U.S. currency derived from drug proceeds into Mexico. Notably, on April 27, 2013, Huerta directed co-conspirators to smuggle $238,335 in bulk cash into Mexico. Law enforcement seized this load prior to the money exiting the U.S.

On Nov. 24, 2014, local authorities seized 24 kilograms of cocaine in four car batteries after a traffic stop of a flatbed trailer which belonged to Huerta.

Huerta has been in custody since his arrest on May 4, 2018. He will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher dos Santos prosecuted the case.