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Former Starr County Justice of the Peace Sentenced in Drug-Trafficking Organization

Former Starr County Justice of the Peace Sentenced in Drug-Trafficking Organization

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Two residents of Starr County, including a former justice of the peace, have been sentenced to federal prison for their involvement in a drug-trafficking organization.


Former Starr County Justice of the Peace Sentenced in Drug-Trafficking Organization

Former Starr County Justice of the Peace Sentenced in Drug-Trafficking Organization

Two residents of Starr County, including a former justice of the peace (JP), have been sentenced to federal prison for their involvement in a drug-trafficking organization, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Roel Valadez Jr., 33, and Diego Alberto Reyes-Roiz, 43, both of Rio Grande City, pleaded guilty earlier this year. Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has sentenced Reyes-Roiz to 22 years in prison, while Valadez, a former JP, received a 21-month sentence. Following their prison terms, Reyes-Roiz will serve five years of supervised release, and Valadez will serve three years.

Judge Crane determined that Reyes-Roiz led a drug-trafficking organization that smuggled significant quantities of drugs into the United States from Mexico, distributing them throughout Texas. Reyes-Roiz was held responsible for importing approximately 43 kilograms of methamphetamine, in addition to large amounts of cocaine and marijuana.

Valadez, who had served as a JP since 2018, was found to have assisted the drug-trafficking organization by using his official position. According to court records, Valadez made phone calls to the Starr County jail on behalf of Ignacio Garza, one of the organization’s leaders, to determine the status of a detained drug courier and to influence the release of the courier on low bond.

“As an elected official in Starr County, a judge none the less, Valadez swore an oath to uphold the law,” said Hamdani. “However, he betrayed his oath of office and the citizens of Starr County when he abused his office to assist and protect a local drug-trafficking organization.”

At the time of his plea, Valadez admitted to possessing with intent to distribute less than 100 kilograms of marijuana and acknowledged using his JP position to assist in securing a low bond for a detained associate.

Reyes-Roiz remains in custody awaiting transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility. Valadez has been permitted to remain on bond and will voluntarily surrender at a later date.

Ignacio Garza, 53, also of Rio Grande City, has pleaded guilty and is scheduled for sentencing on September 5. He faces up to life in federal prison and a possible $10 million fine. He remains in custody.

The convictions stem from an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and IRS Criminal Investigations, with assistance from local task force officers. The OCDETF program aims to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia Cook Profit and Ted Parran prosecuted the cases.

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