Texas Border Business
U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Two former high-ranking members of Cartel del Gulfo have been transferred into U.S. custody and are charged in separate indictments with significant drug trafficking.
Evaristo Cruz-Sanchez aka Vaquero, 40, and Jose Alberto Garcia-Vilano aka La Kena, 33, are expected to make their initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard Bennett in Houston at 2 p.m.
A federal grand jury in Brownsville returned separate and unrelated indictments against Cruz-Sanchez and Garcia-Vilano Nov. 10, 2021, and Feb. 28, 2024, respectively.
Cruz-Sanchez is charged in nine-count indictment for his involvement in drug trafficking between 2015 through 2021. The allegations include conspiracy to possesses with intent to distribute and conspiracy to unlawfully import more than 50 grams of meth, more than five kilograms of cocaine and more than 400 grams of fentanyl.
The three-count indictment against Garcia-Vilano alleges conspiracy to possesses with intent to distribute and conspiracy to unlawfully import more than five kilograms of cocaine. He is also charged with conspiracy to commit international money laundering. His alleged crimes occurred between 2019 and 2024.
“We are pleased that these two defendants have been extradited to the Southern District to face criminal charges in American courts,” said Ganjei. “This case demonstrates that criminals, be they cartel members or otherwise, cannot escape justice simply by residing abroad. Wherever you may be, if you committed a crime against the United States, know that we are looking for you.”
Both men face a maximum penalty of up to life in prison if convicted.
Authorities had previously arrested Cruz-Sanchez and Garcia-Vilano in Mexico. They were transferred into U.S. custody Feb. 27.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations are conducting both Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operations. OCDETF 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. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lance Watt is prosecuting both cases.
