4 plead guilty for role in drug trafficking organization

McALLEN — Four men remain behind bars after entering a guilty plea for their role in a multi-ton drug trafficking organization.

The men were only four of 26 men under indictment in a multi-agency investigation called Dirty Dozen.  

At a hearing earlier this week, 60-year-old Lauro Treviño from Roma, 29-year-old Francisco Treviño from Mission, 53-year-old Guadalupe Garcia from Houston and 32-year-old Roberto Lee Coronado of Edinburg entered their pleas on the charge of possession with intent to distribute marijuana before U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez. Garcia and Treviño also pleaded guilty to money laundering.

The men will remain behind bars until their sentencing hearing in April.

The investigation into the case was carried out by the DEA, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Internal Revenue Service.

According to court records, Dirty Dozen began in June 2009 looking into large loads of marijuana that were being imported from Miguel Aleman; the drug was being stored in various houses in Mission, Roma and Edinburg before its final destination in Houston. As part of the investigation, authorities seized 11 loads of marijuana weighing about 5 tons and seized more than $120,000 in drug proceeds.

Through the investigation, authorities made various seizures and continued gathering evidence against the group. On Nov. 1, 2011, 26 men were indicted for their role in the operation. In addition to the four that already pleaded guilty, 12 are in custody and eight are out on bond all awaiting trial. Eight other defendants remain at large.

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Ildefonso Ortiz covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. He can be reached at iortiz@themonitor.com and (956) 683-4437.

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