BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 37-year-old man from Valle Hermoso, Tamaulipas, Mexico, has been sentenced following his conviction for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute multi-kilograms of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Jesus Alfonso Leos-Orozco pleaded guilty May 1, 2023.
U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. has now ordered Leos-Orozco to serve 140 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the necessity to consider the seriousness of the offense, nature of the criminal activity and Leos-Orozco’s extensive involvement in the scheme.
Leos-Orozco was a manager/supervisor of the narcotics smuggling conspiracy responsible for distributing approximately 150 kilograms of cocaine.
From approximately 2019 to 2021, law enforcement conducted multiple arrests of individuals possessing multi-kilograms of cocaine in the Brownsville/Edinburg area. Authorities connected the narcotics seizures to attempts to enter the United States, gas station transfers, highway interdictions and bulk currencies destined for Mexico. The bulk currencies are proceeds of the conspiracy that are both connected to a truck transporting company and Leos-Orozco.
The investigation revealed Leos-Orozco would smuggle 15 to 20 kilograms of cocaine weekly and charge $500 per kilogram imported utilizing his commercial tractor trailers company “Leos Auto Transportes De Carga.” Leos-Orozco would then recruit drivers and pay them $250 per kilogram smuggled into the United States.
Further investigation indicated at least 20 border crossing incidents using a trailer are directly linked to Leos-Orozco. Surveillance video also identified Leos-Orozco as one of the individuals responsible for the transfer of a narcotics shipment to another driver.
Leos-Orozco will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Marian and Luis Salazar prosecuted the case.
