A Laredo man has been sentenced to over eight years in federal prison for heroin trafficking. Raul Garcia Jr., 33, pleaded guilty last year to possession with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin. U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison ordered Garcia to serve 100 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release.
The court considered Garcia's previous convictions and law enforcement contacts before handing down the sentence. The investigation into Garcia began in January 2024 when authorities suspected he was selling fentanyl in Laredo. Over several months, officials discovered narcotics being sold from his residence.
In March 2024, a search warrant led to the discovery of heroin packaged for street sale at Garcia's home. A subsequent search revealed additional drugs including methamphetamine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, marijuana, money, and a stolen firearm.
Garcia admitted to possessing the seized drugs during his plea agreement. He will remain in custody until transferred to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) initiative aimed at dismantling high-level criminal organizations.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven Chamberlin and Leslie Cortez prosecuted the case.
