San Benito Man Sentenced for Trafficking More than 15,000 Kilograms of Marijuana

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 37-year-old U.S. citizen from San Benito has been handed a significant sentence following his convictions stemming from a multi-count indictment related to a conspiracy to possess with Intent to distribute marijuana, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson along with Acting Special Agent in Charge Mark Dawson of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) - San Antonio. Hervey Roel pleaded guilty in August 2014.

Today, U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen ordered he serve a sentence of 300 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. The sentence reflected an enhancement as the court found he was a leader/organizer in the conspiracy, he maintained certain premises for distributing controlled substances, possessed firearms during the drug conspiracy and committed the offense as part of a pattern of criminal conduct engaged in as a livelihood.  The court further ordered a money judgment in the amount of $9 million and forfeited any interest Roel may have in a ranch in Olmito and a residence in Brownsville.

The charges arose from the apprehension of Roel and others at different locations in San Benito and Olmito after agents seized 1,785.5 kilograms of marijuana in a tractor-trailer.

“The court's sentence appropriately punished Roel for his being the head of large scale narcotics organization in south Texas, that negatively impacted the Rio Grande Valley,” said Dawson. “HSI will continue to utilize its broad authorities to dismantle criminal organizations who blatantly ignore the laws of this nation.”

Evidence presented at the plea hearing and sentencing proved that on June 8, 2013, HSI agents conducted surveillance at a warehouse located in Brownsville, where a tractor-trailer was then driven to a gas station in Olmito. There, the driver - Manuel Torres-Hernandez, 32, met with Lauro De La Fuente Jr., 25, and Ricardo Ochoa, 33. Agents observed Roel arrive separately and also meet with De La Fuente and Ochoa. Roel left and was followed to a ranch nearby. Torres-Hernandez left the gas station driving on Highway 77 and was stopped in San Benito where the mariJuana was discovered. De La Fuente and Ochoa were apprehended along with Victor Silva, 34, and Martin Enrique Rodriguez 25, when they drove to the scene. The individuals appeared to be conducting counter-surveillance looking for law enforcement and agents found a drug ledger within their vehicle.

Further investigation by HSI agents revealed Roel to be the coordinator of numerous drug loads to Houston and other areas north since 2011. Roel would hire individuals to package and rewrap marijuana for transport.

Ochoa was previously sentenced to a term of 125 months in prison, while De La Fuente was ordered to serve a 101-month term of imprisonment. Torres-Hernandez, Silva and Rodriguez received respective sentences of 47, 58 and 57 months in prison. All had also pleaded guilty and resided in Brownsville.

Roel will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The charges are the result of an investigation conducted by HSI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Oscar Ponce is prosecuting the case.