Del Rio Drug Traffickers Sentenced for Year-Long Conspiracy

DEL RIO, Texas – Two defendants convicted of drug trafficking were sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to a combined 25 years in prison for participating in a year-long conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

According to court documents, a coconspirator identified Roberto Tovar, 47, as one of several individuals to whom she provided methamphetamine for the purpose of distribution within the Del Rio area. Between June 2019 and June 2020, Tovar was involved in two transactions with undercover law enforcement agents. Melissa Villarreal, 36, was also named by another codefendant.  Between June 2019 and June 2020, indicted co-conspirator Melissa Villarreal was involved in six undercover transactions. On five occasions, Villarreal sold a total of 253.7 grams of a substance which tested positive for methamphetamine. On the sixth transaction, she sold another 259.1 grams of methamphetamine.

Tovar pleaded guilty on June 24, 2021. He was sentenced to 168 months in prison. Villarreal pleaded guilty March 28, 2022. She was sentenced to 135 months. Codefendants Rose Vasquez Baker, Ray Nathan Garcia, Bryan Alexander Gomez, and Ruben Reyes remain in federal custody as they await their sentence hearings.

“In addition to the destruction that narcotics trafficking brings to our communities, the human cost on families, their children, and all individuals struggling from addiction to illegal drugs is immeasurable,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “By proactively investigating this prolific narcotic trafficking organization operating in and around Del Rio, our partners with Homeland Security Investigations has helped to disrupt and dismantle their dangerous drug trafficking activities.”

HSI investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Miner prosecuted the case.

###