Alamdar Hamdani U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas
A Laredo man has been sentenced to over 16 years in federal prison for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy involving a Mexican cartel. Gavino Cadena, 37, pleaded guilty on November 10, 2022, to conspiring to distribute marijuana. U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana sentenced him to 194 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei announced the sentencing and noted that Cadena's criminal record included affiliations with Cartel del Noreste (CDN) and the Tango Blast gang. While awaiting sentencing, Cadena was involved in altercations with rival gangs such as Hermano Pistoleros Latinos.
Cadena was identified as a leader within the drug trafficking organization, coordinating shipments and communicating directly with cartel leaders in Mexico. He organized the transport of over 8,000 pounds of marijuana from tractor trailers imported from Mexico into Laredo.
"The Department of Justice is going to use all available avenues to crack down on cartel activity operating inside our country," said Ganjei. "The drug trade inevitably leads to violence, and so every drug dealer or cartel member taken off the street makes our communities a little bit safer."
The investigation led authorities to seize more than 17 tons of marijuana valued at approximately $16.4 million through two related indictments. In total, 22 individuals have been convicted for their roles in the conspiracy, receiving sentences ranging from 18 months to 168 months.
Cadena will remain in custody until he is transferred to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.
The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation was conducted by multiple agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration and Laredo Police Department among others. OCDETF aims to dismantle high-level criminal networks using an intelligence-driven approach that involves federal, state, and local law enforcement collaboration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Day and Anthony Evans prosecuted this case.
