A man from Cockrell Hill, Texas, has been sentenced to more than 11 years in federal prison for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine and other narcotics on behalf of the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), a criminal organization operating in Mexico and the United States. The announcement was made by United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.
“This case sends a clear message: those who dump poison into our streets will be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “Prosecuting an affiliate of senior cartel leaders requires years of painstaking work, unwavering resolve, and exceptional interagency cooperation. My office will continue to prioritize these impactful prosecutions.”
Joseph B. Tucker, Special Agent in Charge of DEA Dallas, commented on the sentencing: “The sentence of Mr. Velazquez reflects our continued focus on dismantling foreign terrorist organizations that traffic deadly drugs into our communities. DEA and our partners will continue targeting violent cartels and their criminal associates, in order to save American lives.”
FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock added: “The Dallas Homeland Security Task Force is focused on targeting the leadership, financial networks, and logistical infrastructure of transnational criminal organizations and foreign terrorist organizations, both locally and globally. The collaborative work of the HSTF led to this drug trafficker receiving an 11-year sentence and significantly reducing the flow of narcotics into our neighborhoods.”
Luis Robert Velazquez, age 39, pleaded guilty in July 2025 to participating in a drug conspiracy with CJNG. According to court documents, between November 2024 and April 2025 he received about 300 kilograms of methamphetamine, ten to twelve kilograms of heroin, and one kilogram of cocaine from associates based in Mexico. He then distributed these drugs within the Dallas area at his superiors’ direction and laundered proceeds back to Mexico-based cartel leaders. On January 5, 2026, U.S. Senior District Judge David Godbey sentenced Velazquez to 135 months in federal prison.
In February last year, CJNG was designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department following an executive order issued on January 20, 2025 that declared such cartels a national security threat beyond traditional organized crime.
This prosecution was part of an initiative by the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), created under Executive Order 14159—Protecting the American People Against Invasion—which coordinates efforts across government agencies to target criminal cartels and transnational organizations involved in activities such as human smuggling and trafficking within the United States.
The HSTF Dallas includes personnel from several law enforcement agencies: FBI, DEA, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Dallas Police Department, Coppell Police Department, and Grand Prairie Police Department. First Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Coker prosecuted this case.
