Former constable convicted of drug trafficking in 2003 to walk free

A former Cameron County Precinct 7 deputy constable who was sentenced to 40 years in prison for protecting marijuana and cocaine shipments for the Gulf Cartel will be released from prison later today or tomorrow.

A former Cameron County Precinct 7 deputy constable who was sentenced to 40 years in prison for protecting marijuana and cocaine shipments for the Gulf Cartel will be released from prison later today or tomorrow.

U.S. District Judge Hilda Tagle resentenced former Constable Juan Contreras to time served Friday.

In March, Tagle ruled that Contreras received ineffective assistance of counsel from his attorney during his 2003 trial for not properly informing Contreras of the consequences of not taking a plea deal in 2003.

Contreras, along with former constable Jose Alfredo Jimenez and Jose A. Camaron Morales, who was not a law enforcement officer, and former deputy Benito Villarreal, were all convicted in the case that implicated the men, who operated out of La Feria, of protecting drug loads for the Gulf Cartel.

In her ruling, Tagle ordered the government to reoffer that plea deal, which formally happened Friday morning.

In one hearing, Tagle vacated Contreras’ conviction and sentence, rearraigned the man on the re-offered plea deal and sentenced him to time served. Contreras has served 15 years in prison.

Tagle ordered five years of supervised release and told Contreras to have no contact with his co-defendants. She ordered the U.S. Marshals to process and release Contreras as soon as possible.

Contreras pleaded guilty to conspiracy with possession and intent to distribute 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, possession with intent to distribute 500 kilograms of marijuana and possession with intent to distribute 132.8 kilograms of marijuana.

“I understand that nothing I say can actually change anything but I am fully aware of my actions and results,” Contreras said during the hearing. “I can blame nobody except myself. I wasn’t taught, trained or raised like that. All I can tell you is I’m sorry for everything although I know sorry doesn’t fix anything, and I’d like to apologize to everybody.”

He also apologized for abusing the badge.

After the hearing, his family gathered outside the courtroom, overwhelmed with emotion. Contreras’ father, Juan Contreras Sr., said he loves his son.

“I feel great. I want to thank all my friends for all the help they gave me,” the father said.