HOUSTON – A 28-year-old Mexican citizen who illegally
resided in Houston was ordered to federal prison for his conviction of
trafficking nearly six kilograms of methamphetamine, announced Acting U.S.
Attorney Abe Martinez. Jesus Ortiz-Flores pleaded guilty Aug. 12, 2016.
Today, Senior U.S. District Judge David Hittner sentenced
Ortiz-Flores to 300 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is
expected to face deportation proceedings following his prison term.
At the time of his plea, Ortiz-Flores admitted to playing a
key role in attempting to deliver methamphetamine in the Houston area.
On June 13, 2014, a confidential source mistakenly received
several bundles which contained approximately six kilograms of methamphetamine
from two unknown male couriers working for him. The couriers had approached him
and mistakenly threw a bag in his car containing six bundles of
methamphetamine. The source quickly realized the bundles contained drugs and
contacted federal agents who advised him to contact Ortiz-Flores. At that time,
Ortiz-Flores advised him that drugs were supposed to go to another person who
was then supposed to divide it up and provide to others.
Ortiz-Flores told him he could just sell the drugs. The
source later told Ortiz-Flores he sold two kilograms of methamphetamine. Upon
the direction of Ortiz-Flores, the source then delivered the remaining four
kilograms to another man for him to sell. The drugs were hidden inside a spare
tire and delivered as instructed.
Officers then conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle the man
was driving and seized the methamphetamine. All six of the bundles of
methamphetamine were subsequently sent for further analysis, which demonstrated
a net weight of 5.924 kilograms and 100% purity.
The drugs had been imported from Mexico.
The evidence in the case also revealed Ortiz-Flores was
involved in other methamphetamine trafficking transactions totaling more than
17 kilograms for which he was held accountable at the hearing today.
He will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau
of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Houston Police
Department and Harris County Sheriff’s Office conducted the Organized Crime
Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Arthur R.
Jones is prosecuting the case.