In Austin today, a federal judge sentenced 17 individuals, including ringleader Horace Lee Caruther, for their alleged roles in a narcotics distribution ring operating in and around the Taylor, TX, area announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Will Glaspy, Houston Division.

U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel sentenced:

Horace Lee Caruther, age 43 of Round Rock, TX, to 210 months in federal prison;

William Collins (aka “Bugs”), age 62 of Taylor, TX, to 87 months in federal prison;

Trevor Deshaun Hunt, age 26 of Taylor, to 57 months in federal prison;

Gregory Bean, Jr., age 45 of Pflugerville, TX, to 15 months in federal prison;

Robert Carl White, age 39 of Temple, TX, to 77 months in federal prison;

Angel Amado Rodriguez, age 24 of Austin, to 188 months in federal prison;

Kenneth Xavier Garza, age 23 of Austin, to 60 months in federal prison;

Esmerelda Rodriguez, age 23 of Austin, to three years probation;

Salomon Orozco-Benitez (aka “Viejito”), age 34 of Austin, to 168 months in federal prison;

Elias Montiel, age 27 of Sanford, NC, to 46 months in federal prison;

Federico Alvarez-Mendoza, age 37 of Cameron, NC, to 30 months in federal prison;

David Ibarra, age 26 of Broadway, NC, to 30 months in federal prison;

Miguel Benitez-Benitez (aka “Daniel Sanchez Benitez”), age 39 of Pflugerville, to 262 months in federal prison;

Sandra Parra-Velez (aka “La Coyota”), age 34 of Austin, to 70 months in federal prison;  

Jose Parra-Martinez (aka “Vitaminas”), age 36 of Austin, to 60 months in federal prison;

Maria Loreto Bustamonte, age 53 of Laredo, TX, to time served (approx. 14 months incarceration); and,

Ana Patricia Gonzalez, age 48 of Laredo, to three years probation.

 

Previously, Garza and Parra-Martinez pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime and Esmerelda Rodriguez pleaded guilty to one count of misprision of felony.  The remaining defendants mentioned above pleaded guilty to either conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine or possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

Co-defendant James Wilbert McNeil, age 71 of Round Rock, was sentenced on August 27, 2018, to time served (approx. 9 months incarceration) after pleading guilty to one count of misprision of felony.  Also, co-defendant Jesus Parra-Martinez (aka “Chuy”), age 24 of Austin, was sentenced on October 26, 2018, to 87 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. 

According to court records, from July 2016 to October 2017, members of this organization were responsible for the distribution of large amounts of cocaine, methamphetamine and diverted pharmaceutical narcotics. The narcotics would be transported from Laredo to Central Texas and ultimately to areas across the U.S., including North Carolina, for further distribution. Defendants would also collect, transport and launder cash proceeds derived from the sale of narcotics. To date, this investigation has resulted in the arrests and conviction of 20 defendants; and, the seizure of $161,020 in U.S. Currency, six kilograms of cocaine, two ounces of “crack” cocaine, 42 pounds of marijuana and, three guns.

The DEA Austin High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force investigated this case. The Austin Police Department, Cedar Park Police Department, Georgetown Police Department, Lakeway Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, Travis County Sheriff’s Office, Hays County Sheriff’s Office, Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are participating agencies in the HIDTA Task Force.

The principal mission of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering operations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.

This week, federal and state authorities in the Austin area arrested 20 individuals, including ringleader Horace Caruther of Round Rock, TX, for their alleged roles in a narcotics distribution ring operating in the Taylor, TX area announced United States Attorney John F. Bash and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Will Glaspy, Houston Division.

 

Those arrested include:

 

Name                                                                                                  Age                 Residence

Horace Lee Caruther                                                                           42                    Round Rock, TX

Trevor Deshaun Hunt                                                                         25                    Taylor, TX

Gregory Bean Jr.                                                                                 44                    Pflugerville, TX

William Collins (aka “Bugs”)                                                             61                    Taylor

James Wilbert McNeal                                                                       70                    Round Rock

Robert Carl White                                                                               38                    Temple, TX

Daniel Sanchez-Benitez                                                                      38                    Pflugerville

Angel Amado Rodriguez                                                                    23                    Austin

Kenneth Xavier Garza                                                                        22                    Pflugerville

Salomon Orozco-Benitez (aka “Viejito”)                                           33                    Austin

David Ibarra                                                                                        25                    Broadway, NC

Esmeralda Rodriguez                                                                         22                    Austin

Jesus Parra-Martinez (aka “Chuy”)                                                    23                    Austin

Jose Parra-Martinez                                                                            35                    Austin

Sandra Parra-Velez (aka “La Coyota”)                                              33                    Austin

Elias Montiel                                                                                       26                    Sandford, NC

Federico Alvarez-Mendoza                                                                36                    Cameron, NC

Maria Bustamante                                                                               52                    Laredo, TX

Ana Gonzalez                                                                                     47                    Laredo

Adriana Deleza                                                                                   42                    Laredo

 

On November 21, 2017, a federal grand jury in Austin indicted the defendants charging them with one count of conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.  The grand jury also charged defendants Orozco, Montiel, Alvarez, Ibarra, Sanchez, Parra-Velez, Jesus Parra-Martinez, Deleza and Gonzalez with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

 

Authorities allege that from July 2016 to October 2017, this organization was responsible for the distribution of large amounts of cocaine, methamphetamine and diverted pharmaceutical narcotics.  The narcotics would be transported to areas across the United States, including North Carolina, for further distribution.  Defendants would also collect, transport and launder cash proceeds derived from the sale of narcotics. 

 

To date the investigation has resulted in the arrests of 26 defendants; and, the seizure of $161,020, six kilograms of cocaine, two ounces of “crack” cocaine, 42 pounds of marijuana and, three guns.

 

All of the defendants remain in federal custody pending detention hearings expected to occur in U.S. Magistrate Court in Austin beginning next week.  On the drug conspiracy charge, defendants face a mandatory ten years to life imprisonment upon conviction.  The defendants face up to 20 years imprisonment upon conviction on the money laundering conspiracy charge.

 

The DEA Austin High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force investigated this case.  Participating agencies in the Task Force include the: Austin Police Department; Cedar Park Police Department;  Georgetown Police Department; Lakeway Police Department; Texas Department of Public Safety; Williamson County Sheriff Office; Travis County Sheriff’s Office; Hays County Sheriff’s Office; Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office; Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

 

The principal mission of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering operations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.

 

It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt.  The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.