A Mexican national living illegally in Houston has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for his role in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Andres Reyes-Morales, 26, pleaded guilty on October 31, 2024. U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett sentenced him to 144 months in prison. As Reyes-Morales is not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings after serving his sentence.
Authorities began investigating Reyes-Morales in November 2022 and identified him as part of a transnational criminal organization responsible for smuggling and distributing methamphetamine from Mexico into South Texas and then Houston. He operated as a conversion lab operator, courier, and facilitator.
During an undercover operation, law enforcement purchased about five kilograms of methamphetamine from Reyes-Morales. He worked with Moices Moreno-Marin and Franciso Reyes Solorzano-Duarte to complete the drug deliveries.
On April 14, 2023, authorities searched Reyes-Morales’ home and found approximately one kilogram of methamphetamine hidden in a shoe box inside a bedroom closet. Reyes-Morales admitted ownership of the drugs.
Moreno-Marin, age 38, and Solorzano-Duarte, age 27—both also Mexican nationals—pleaded guilty for their involvement and received sentences of 36 months and 54 months in prison respectively.
Reyes-Morales will remain in custody until he is transferred to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility.
The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation while Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Day prosecuted the case.
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas oversees prosecutions such as this one across its offices located in Houston, Galveston, Corpus Christi, Laredo, McAllen and Brownsville (official website). The office employs more than 200 attorneys covering legal matters across 43 counties with over nine million residents (official website). It operates under the U.S. Department of Justice and serves under the Attorney General (official website). The office has had several notable leaders including Alamdar Hamdani (2022–2025) and Ryan Patrick (official history page).
