Thirteen people tied to Mexican cartels have been arrested on federal drug conspiracy charges after an FBI-led bust Wednesday morning.
Investigators say the individuals — who they say are connected to Mexico's Los Zetas and New Generation Jalisco cartels — have conspired to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin since March 2014.
The criminal complaints, unsealed Wednesday afternoon, name the defendants as Juan Hernandez, Humberto Morales, Marcos Dominguez, Adolfo Ortiz, Albert Martinez, Alejandro Navarrete, Oscar Hernandez, Rebecca Mier, Leoncio Aguilar, Josue Coy, Fidel Alain Martin-Sosa, Yuniel Eduardo Lima Rivero and Henry Alberto Echarte Rivero.
The group's fluid hierarchy developed over time, investigators said, and money from drug sales and distribution either funded purchase of additional drugs or was sent to Mexico.
FBI agents on Wednesday raided a home across from a Grand Prairie elementary school and seized 380 grams of heroin, 5 kilograms of meth and a shotgun. Seven firearms and more cocaine was seized from two houses in Dallas while agents in Carrollton, assisted by Carrollton police, seized 3 kilograms of meth that Lima Rivero and Echarte Rivero tried to get rid of, according to U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox.
Law enforcement agents also seized nearly $25,000.
If convicted, the defendants each face up to 40 years in federal prison and a $5 million fine.
In addition to Carrollton police, the FBI conducted the investigation with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Internal Revenue Service and police departments in Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, Farmers Branch and Grand Prairie.
