Law enforcement officers working together to combat drug trafficking in San Antonio.
Marco Antonio Morales-Perez, a 51-year-old drug kingpin, has been sentenced to 21 years in federal prison for masterminding a drug trafficking operation from inside his prison cell. His extensive network moved methamphetamine and heroin across San Antonio and South Texas, even while incarcerated. Morales-Perez, alongside accomplice Pablo Torres-Zaragoza, used contraband cell phones to coordinate intricate drug deliveries. This case highlights the relentless fight against drug trafficking, with five additional co-defendants also receiving sentences for their involvement.
In a major drug trafficking case, 51-year-old Marco Antonio Morales-Perez has been sentenced to a hefty 21 years—equivalent to 262 months—in federal prison after being found guilty of masterminding a sophisticated drug trafficking operation right from inside his prison cell. Morales-Perez, a Honduran national, was no ordinary inmate; he led an extensive network shuffling methamphetamine and heroin across San Antonio and other parts of South Texas.
Morales-Perez was already behind bars at the Great Plains Correctional Institution in Hinton, Oklahoma, after facing prior federal charges when he continued to orchestrate his illicit activities. You might think being locked away in prison would stop someone from continuing their criminal ways, but Morales-Perez, along with accomplice Pablo Torres-Zaragoza—a 42-year-old man from Mexico—found ways around the restrictions. With the help of contraband cell phones that were flown in by drones, these inmates coordinated and facilitated drug deliveries without a hitch.
While it sounds like a plot straight out of a thriller movie, the reality is that they relied on a web of contacts, acquaintances, and intermediaries to ensure their drugs made it to the streets. Throughout the extensive investigation, authorities seized over 352 pounds of methamphetamine and more than 26 pounds of heroin. These staggering figures highlight the scale of the operations they were running.
The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Jaime Esparza, emphasized that these sentences aim to send a strong message: even the most complex drug trafficking organizations are vulnerable, and their leaders can and will be held accountable for their actions. Morales-Perez’s cohort, Torres-Zaragoza, received a matching 21-year sentence on December 4, putting them both behind bars for a significant period.
Morales-Perez and Torres-Zaragoza weren’t the only ones caught in this tangled web of drug trafficking. Five additional co-defendants also faced justice for their roles in the operation. The sentences handed out were as follows:
The comprehensive investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), with valuable support from several local, state, and federal agencies. This law enforcement coalition included the San Antonio Police Department and the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, working tirelessly to dismantle the organization that had caused so much chaos in the community.
Thanks to the hard work of these dedicated officers, more than 160 kilograms of methamphetamine and 12 kilograms of heroin were seized during the course of the operation, translating to a serious dent in the drug supply and ultimately contributing to the safety of the streets.
As these sentences unfold, they remind us of the relentless efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat drug trafficking. Morales-Perez and his associates thought they could run their criminal empire from prison, but this case serves as a potent reminder that the long arm of the law can, and will, reach them wherever they might be hiding.
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