A significant crackdown on drug trafficking and money laundering has led to the apprehension of 29 individuals in Houston and several other states. Jennifer B. Lowery, the acting U.S. Attorney, revealed the arrests, which were carried out through a well-coordinated operation in Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina, and different parts of Texas.
Criminal Network Uncovered Across Multiple States
This Article Includes
Several individuals arrested in the Houston area have recently made their initial court appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray. These arrests are in connection with criminal activities that allegedly occurred between April 2022 and October 2024. Detailed in four separate indictments, the charges shed light on a sophisticated international trade-based money laundering operation. The indictments were returned by grand juries in Houston in October and November 2024.
Criminal organizations, including the notorious Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), utilized this network to launder illegal funds through the buying and selling of cellular phones, as per the indictments. Francisco Jaramillo-Valdovinos, also known as Chico Jaramillo, has been identified as a key player in the operation. Jaramillo-Valdovinos, an alleged high-ranking member of CJNG, is currently on the run, and law enforcement officials have issued an arrest warrant for him. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is urging the public to come forward with any information about his whereabouts. If you have any information, please contact 713-693-3000.
Significant Seizures and Long-Term Investigation Efforts
The arrests signify the conclusion of a 21-month investigation called Operation Noch, which was spearheaded by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). According to reports, law enforcement agencies involved in the operation confiscated substantial quantities of illegal drugs, including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana, and alprazolam. Additionally, they seized millions of dollars in drug proceeds.
Law enforcement officials made several arrests and also confiscated a significant amount of contraband and assets. The seized items include:
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- 85 kilograms of methamphetamine
- 10 kilograms of cocaine
- 17 firearms
- $481,000 from a bank account
- Approximately $566,000 in bulk cash
Potential Sentences and Ongoing Investigation
If found guilty, those accused of drug trafficking offenses may be sentenced to life imprisonment and hefty fines totaling millions of dollars. As for individuals charged with money laundering, they could potentially face up to two decades behind bars in federal prison. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Bauman, Sherin Daniel, and Leo J. Leo III are overseeing the investigation and legal proceedings.
The investigation was led by the DEA and IRS Criminal Investigation, with support from the police departments in Houston and Galveston, as well as the U.S. Marshals Service and several other law enforcement agencies throughout the country.
Operation Noch and the OCDETF Mission
The OCDETF initiative is dedicated to identifying, disrupting, and dismantling high-level criminal organizations that pose a significant threat to the United States. This task force utilizes a strategy that is led by prosecutors and driven by intelligence, bringing together multiple agencies to combat these criminal enterprises. You can find additional details about this program on the official OCDETF webpage of the Department of Justice.
Authorities are fully dedicated to conducting a thorough investigation to ensure that all individuals involved in the criminal network are held accountable. Their main objective is to guarantee the safety and security of the affected communities, shielding them from the harmful influence of organized crime.
