4 arrested locally in connection to Mexican drug cartel

on Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Authorities arrested four people in Pflugerville Wednesday in connection to Project Coronado, a 44-month-long investigation targeting the drug trafficking activities of the La Familia cartel, the newest and most violent cartel in Mexico.

Adriel Maldonado-Jiminez, 22, and Javier Benitez Torres, 30, of Pflugerville and Diane Bernabe-Tinajero, 21, and Isidoro Gonzalez, Jr., 29, of Austin were arrested by members of the Drug Enforcement Administration's Austin Task Force.

Authorities said Jose Israel Maldonado of Austin is still on the loose.

Law enforcement authorities seized approximately 30 kilograms of cocaine, two handguns and approximately $350,000 from the suspects.

According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, the defendants conspired together from April 2008 until September 2009 to commit money laundering and distribute multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine in Austin as well as in Florida, North Carolina and Maryland.

The affidavit also alleges that the defendants transported the cocaine and money by shipping them via Fed Ex.

The raids targeting the La Familia cartel are being called the largest single strike at Mexican drug operations in the United States.

More than 300 people have been arrested in 19 states.

In Dallas alone, 77 people were charged by a number of different federal and local law enforcement agencies.

Officials said the Dallas arrests were on various drug, weapons and money-laundering charges. Officials said 220 pounds of meth, 4.5 kilograms of cocaine and 50 firearms were confiscated.

La Familia has earned a reputation for dominating the methamphetamine trade and displaying graphic violence, including beheadings. United States officials said the cartel, based in the state of Michoacan, in southwestern Mexico, has a vast network pumping drugs throughout the United States, specializing in methamphetamines.

Source: News 8 Austin

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