Valley Couple Sentenced After Violent Dispute Over Narcotics

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 21-year-old man and an 18-year-old woman have both been ordered to federal prison following a drug dispute between the two that ended in violence and an attempted escape from custody, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Ricardo Gonzalez and his former girlfriend Violeta Torres, both of Brownsville, pleaded guilty Sept. 21 and Aug. 10, 2017, respectively.

Today, U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera ordered Gonzalez to serve a 120-month term of imprisonment to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release, while Torres received a term of 87 months followed by four years of supervised release.

Gonzalez and Torres were initially working together to distribute approximately 22 pounds of cocaine in the Brownsville area. Law enforcement ultimately recovered approximately 8.5 pounds of the narcotics.

During the course of the conspiracy, a dispute between the couple caused Torres to leave Gonzalez’s home. Thereafter, she then hired at least one other individual to break into her ex-boyfriend’s home, physically restrain him, tie him up and steal the cocaine.

The next day, Gonzalez travelled to the home where his ex-girlfriend resided and attempted to retrieve the cocaine by force, discharging his firearm during the altercation. After law enforcement arrived on scene in response to the gunfire, Gonzalez escaped police custody and fled into the south Texas brush. Authorities apprehended Gonzalez, who was hiding in the brush, shortly thereafter.

Both 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 investigation with the assistance of the Brownsville Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Corley prosecuted the case.