Progreso official charged for drug trafficking

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 40-year-old assistant city manager and school board president is now in custody on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute control substances, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. 

Authorities arrested Francisco aka Frank Javier Alanis today. He is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ignacio Torteya Oct. 16 at 9 a.m.

A federal grand jury returned the three-count superseding indictment Oct. 3. 

From January 2020 to March 20, 2022, Alanis allegedly conspired with Jose Rosbel Salas and others to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, mainly cocaine. 

If convicted, Alanis faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years up to life in federal prison as well as a possible $10 million maximum fine. The indictment also includes a notice of forfeiture related to the charges.

Salas, 42, Weslaco, has pleaded guilty for his role and is awaiting sentencing. Also charged are David Gomez Ramos, 34, and Gregorio Salinas, 52, both of Mercedes, and Juan Pablo Serrata, 48, Santa Rosa. They are currently in custody pending further criminal proceedings.

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration, High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force, Border Patrol, Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Rangers. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alejandra Andrade is prosecuting the case.   

The investigation is part of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Forces which identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage. 

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.