In late August of 2020, the Dallas Morning News reported a multimillion-dollar drug bust involving a sophisticated trafficking ring of more than 20 alleged co-conspirators. According to court documents, those involved in the operation channeled millions of dollars in drug money through a local clothing store.
Court records indicate that the traffickers who brought the drugs into the United States were members of the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion, or CJNG. Among those arrested were a CJNG territory boss named Jose Valdovinos Jimenez, also known as “La Roca” (“The Rock”). Authorities say that Jimenez and his associates smuggled huge amounts of methamphetamine and heroin into the country. When Jimenez and the others were arrested, officials also seized approximately 1,500 pounds of meth, 175 pounds of heroin, and $500,000 in drug money.
Law enforcement officials said that as part of CJNG’s operations in the United States, Jimenez directed mid-level and upper-level dealers to take their profits to Yoli’s Western Wear, a Dallas clothing retailer. Officials said that the purpose of bringing the money there was so that it could be laundered and sent back to members of CJNG in Mexico.
Authorities say the people at Yoli’s who helped Jimenez and his associates launder their drug money were Ivan Noe Valerio, a 23-year-old manager at the store, and members of his family. Valerio and the others allegedly counted the money and divided it into thousands of smaller transactions to discreetly send it to Mexico. Valerio, his parents, and his sister were arrested as part of the drug bust.
The drug bust was conducted by the Dallas division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), the U.S. Marshals Service, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). These agencies also had help from the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office and Midlothian Police Department.
The federal indictment lists 38 charges against Jimenez, Valerio, and the others who were arrested. The charges include conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, conspiracy to distribute heroin, possession of a firearm by an undocumented person, and other drug and weapons offenses.
Charged with Drug Offenses or White-Collar Crimes in Texas? Contact a McKinney Criminal Defense Lawyer Today
Being convicted of drug crimes and white-collar crimes like money laundering can ruin your life. Depending on the circumstances of your case, the penalties for these crimes can include prison sentences of 10 years or longer, along with substantial fines. A conviction for a drug crime or white-collar crime is also likely to bar you from holding a job ever again, and you may have difficulty buying a home or car in the future.
If you have been accused of drug offenses or white-collar crimes, you need to speak to a criminal defense lawyer immediately. The criminal defense attorneys at Rosenthal Kalabus & Therrian will guide you through the legal process, find weak spots in the prosecution’s case against you, and work with authorities on a plea agreement if you choose to cooperate with them.
Our experienced criminal defense team will make sure you don’t stand alone as you navigate this critical moment in your life. Call our office today at (972) 369-0577 or visit our contact page for a free, confidential consultation.