A drug trafficker from Mexico was able to illegally enter the U.S. and establish a distribution network in Washington state using Facebook after he was forced to flee to Mexico due to a weapons investigation. 

Beginning in 2010, Jesus Enrique “El Ricky” Palomera entered the U.S. illegally by paying a human smuggler or “coyote” $6,000 and made his way to Tacoma, Washington, records obtained by Breitbart Texas revealed. Once there, Palomera established a distribution network throughout the state. 

Federal authorities began investigating Palomera as part of a probe targeting the illegal sale of firearms. Court documents reveal that one of the sellers under claimed to be able to acquire various rifles, handguns, and grenades. Even though Palomera was in the country illegally and unable to legally buy weapons, Palomera bought an AR-15-type rifle that he later sold to an undercover officer. During the conversations that Palomares and undercover authorities had, the convicted drug lord discussed the murder of a man who stole drugs from him. 

Before federal authorities could capture him, Palomera fled to Mexico where he was able to continue his drug network. Hiding in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Palomera processed drug orders through Facebook. After customers wired monies to a Mexican bank account, Palomera would order his associates to move methamphetamine shipments from Mexico into California, Oregon, and Washington for delivery. 

According to information released by the U.S. Department of Justice, Palomares was arrested by Mexican authorities in June 2015 and was later extradited to Washington in July 2016. Earlier this month, Palomares pleaded guilty to various drug trafficking charges and is expected to be sentenced in February 2018. 

Ildefonso Ortiz is an award-winning journalist with Breitbart Texas. He co-founded the Cartel Chronicles project with Brandon Darby and Stephen K. Bannon.  You can follow him on Twitter and on Facebook.

Brandon Darby is managing director and editor-in-chief of Breitbart Texas. He co-founded the Cartel Chronicles project with Ildefonso Ortiz and Stephen K. Bannon. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook. He can be contacted at bdarby@breitbart.com.