A federal jury convicted a Mission businessman and three others in a cocaine smuggling case where they used hollowed oxygen tanks and two of them laundered more than $2.2 million dollars.
VALLEYCENTRAL.COM first reported the trial of the four men before U.S. District Court Judge Randy Crane earlier this month.
After nine days of testimony, a federal jury in Houston convicted the following four Valley men on drug on drug charges late Tuesday afternoon:
- Mariano Alvarez, 44
- Eden Flores, Sr., 48
- Guadalupe Hernandez, 45
- Abraham Hernandez, 43
Alvarez is a Rio Grande City resident while La Tejana Steakhouse and Meatmarkets owner Eden Flores and the Hernandez brothers were identified as Mission residents.
The men were convicted for using used hollowed out medical oxygen tanks to transport cocaine from Alvarez Road in Rio Grande City to the McAllen-Mission area.
The modified medical oxygen tanks were transported in commercial vehicles that were specifically designed to transport hazardous materials.
The jury convicted Alvarez and Flores of laundering $2,279,995 dollars in drug profits.
The two used spare tires filled with cash and other means to move the money into Mexico.
The four are expected to be sentenced on September 23rd before Judge Crane in McAllen.
Each of them faces 10 years to life in prison and a $4 million fine for the drug conspiracy and various drug convictions.
Alvarez and Flores also face up to 20 years in federal prison for their money laundering convictions.
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