John T. Floyd Law Firm
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March 5 , 2007
TWO ARRESTED AFTER HIGH SPEED CHASE CHARGED IN 10 TON MARIJUANA SEIZURE
"The following article includes allegations as released by the government and should not be taken as truthful evidence or as any indication of guilt. As these allegations remain unanswered by the accused and unadjudicated by a court, they remain unproved and are just as likely false."
Yellow school buses used to store marijuana in remote area of Southeast Houston
HOUSTON - Two of several persons believed to be involved in the distribution of thousands of pounds of marijuana found stored in two yellow school buses in a remote area of Southeast Houston were arrested following a high speed chase on Saturday, March 3, 2007, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today.
Juan Jose Villarreal, 35, of Donna, TX and Gerardo Valdez, 22, of Houston, TX have been charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to and possession with intent to distribute approximately 20,000 pounds of marijuana. Both are expected to appear before United States Magistrate Judge Frances Stacy tomorrow, Tuesday, March 6, 2007.
The arrest of Villarreal and Valdez is the result of an investigation conducted by special agents of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations officers, Harris County Sheriff’s Deputies (HCSD) and officers of the Houston and Pasadena Police Departments. According to allegations in the complaint, agents and officers established surveillance in and around a remote location on the 12000 block of Martindale in Houston believing the property was being used as an off-loading and distribution point for shipments of drugs smuggled into the United States.
During the course of the investigation, agents and officers saw multiple vehicles entering the property, which was comprised of five acres of heavily wooded land with several open air sheds and shelters, one of which contained two yellow school buses. While on the property, vehicles were seen backing up to the buses for a period of time, then departing the property. At approximately 6:45 p.m. on Saturday, March 3, 2007, four vehicles were observed leaving the property at the same time. An attempt by agents and officers to stop the four vehicles lead to a high speed chase. One of the four vehicles evaded officers. A second vehicle, a black pick up truck, was abandoned by its occupants, who fled on foot. The black pick up truck was carrying 1200 pounds of marijuana. The drivers of the other two vehicles, Villarreal, the alleged driver of a pickup truck with a trailer and Valdez, the alleged driver of a rented van also seen leaving the property, were apprehended. Twenty five hundred (2500) pounds of marijuana were discovered in the truck and trailer. The rented van contained 1500 pounds of marijuana.
“This seizure exemplifies the teamwork among local, state and federal law enforcement partners, “ said Robert Rutt, special agent-in-charge of ICE’s Houston Office of Investigations. “We work aggressively to keep drugs out of our communities, and to dismantle the criminal networks that profit from narcotics trafficking.”
Following the arrest of Villarreal and Valdez, agents and officers entered the Martindale property and discovered several vehicles to contain large amounts of marijuana, including the two school buses and two white panel rental vans. A total of 20,000 pounds of marijuana was seized from the vehicles on the property searched and the vehicles abandoned or allegedly driven by the defendants.
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