Three Hidalgo County men were arrested earlier this week on drug possession charges after federal authorities cracked down on a conspiracy to distribute nearly 152 pounds of cocaine.
Jose Guajardo, Sergio Ledesma and Jaime Longoria are charged with knowingly and intentionally conspiring to distribute about 152 pounds of cocaine.
According to a criminal complaint, authorities managed to seize 36 bundles of suspected cocaine that weighed 97 pounds in total on Jan. 24.
That same day, agents received information that Guajardo was a co-conspirator in the transportation of the cocaine seized and that the drugs were to be delivered soon to an additional co-conspirator.
On Jan. 25, agents conducted surveillance and managed to obtain an audio recording of a meeting that took place at Longoria’s residence where he, Guajardo, Ledesma and another co-conspirator discussed the delivery of the 36 bundles, which was to happen early the next morning.
The audio also revealed that an additional 44 pounds of cocaine were already at Longoria’s property.
Agents then provided 36 bundles of sham cocaine to be delivered to Longoria which Ledesma received at the residence the next day.
“Approximately 5 minutes after the delivery of the shame cocaine, agents executed a search warrant for Longoria’s property,” the complaint said.
At Longoria’s property, agents found an RV where they found the sham cocaine they had provided and boxes containing an additional 20 bundles of cocaine that weighed about 54 pounds.
According to the complaint, no one claimed ownership of the RV.
During the execution of the search warrant, authorities found Longoria outside of the property.
Other agents noticed Guajardo, who was driving a white Jeep near the property, had pulled into El Grano De Oro at the intersection of South Alamo Road and East Iowa Road, which he later admitted to driving there to avoid law enforcement.
Guajardo also later stated he would get paid $100 for every kilogram of cocaine he transported and gave consent to a search of his phone, which revealed communications involving transportation of cocaine related to Longoria’s property.
Authorities also found audio and text messages between Guajardo and Ledesma discussing the coordination of the delivery of the cocaine to Longoria’s.
“Guajardo stated the movement of cocaine was coordinated by Ledesma and the other co-conspirator while Longoria was aware of the dealings,” the complaint said. “Guajardo described himself as the intermediary between Ledesma and the other co-conspirator.”
Ledesma told law enforcement that he had no knowledge of the cocaine and said he was in the bathroom in the RV when authorities entered the property, though law enforcement at the scene said the toilet area was still dusty, had no water and didn’t appear disturbed.
Before requesting legal counsel, Longoria told agents that he had no knowledge of the cocaine and stated his yard guy and Ledesma are the only two who had access to his property other than him.
“At some point, Longoria stated if he said anything, it would be ‘cutting my own throat,’” the complaint said.
All three men are set to appear before Magistrate Judge J. Scott Hacker on Jan. 31 for their detention hearings.
