25th suspect in Starr County drug ring facing murder charges in San Antonio

Daniel Barragan

The 25th indicted defendant in a Starr County drug trafficking ring sought bond Friday though he’s facing murder charges in San Antonio.

Daniel Barragan appeared virtually from the Coastal Bend jail before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Scott Hacker in McAllen on Friday.

Barragan is the 25th defendant in a drug trafficking case in Starr County stemming from arrests first made in Sept. 2021, which included a justice of the peace.

The defendant is facing two charges for conspiracy and trafficking drug proceeds connected to a March 2021 incident involving $35,000, according to the superseding indictment.

Barragan entered a not guilty plea, and the attorneys began discussing whether they supported the judge setting bond.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Profit said the case was unusual since Barragan is currently under state custody facing a capital murder charge in Bexar County with a $750,000 bond, though he’s been unable to pay it.

Barragan and another man were indicted for killing three people in Aug. 15, 2021, according to the Bexar County District Attorney’s office.

The federal prosecutor also raised concern about Barragan’s criminal history which began at the age of 12 and includes some convictions.

Barragan’s attorney, Arturo Reymundo Cantu, rebutted and said most of his criminal history does not include serious charges, except for the most recent charges which have yet to yield a conviction. Cantu added they would like a bond and said his client would not be a flight risk.

The judge said the pending murder charge in San Antonio and the current drug trafficking indictment could create a flight risk.

Hacker said he would make a decision on detention at a later date.

A jury trial was scheduled in March before U.S. District Judge Randy Crane.