SAN ANTONIO, Texas — A Texas border Gulf Cartel smuggler will spend close to 20 years in prison for the shipping of 3,000 to 5,000 pounds of marijuana to Houston every few weeks.
On Monday morning, 46, year-old Rogelio “Barrotes” Guerrero went before U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez who sentenced him to 11 and a half years in prison for two counts of drug possession and distribution.
Guerrero had been arrested in April 22 following a six year investigation called “White Line” by multiple federal agencies that has resulted in more than 30 convictions.
The investigation resulted in a sealed federal indictment that was handed down in April 15 accusing him and his right hand man Francisco “Pancho” Correa of their role in the drug conspiracy, according to court records obtained by Breitbart Texas. The indictment was unsealed in April 22 following Guerrero’s arrest.
Just days before he was set to go to trial, Correa pleaded guilty on July 1 and agreed to testify against Guerrero adding his name to the long list of witnesses in the three day trial on July 11 where jurors learned about the vast drug smuggling operation.
Jurors learned that Guerrero had his employees use tractor trailers to move between 3,000 pounds to 5,000 pounds of Gulf Cartel marijuana from the border city of Mission to Houston Texas every few weeks.
The investigation was carried out by U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office, Mission Police, U.S Border Patrol, Texas DPS and the FBI.
Folllow Ildefonso Ortiz on Twitter @ildefonsortiz