Source: Office of United States Attorneys
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 45-year-old Brownsville resident has admitted to his role in the distribution of dozens of kilograms of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Raul Dominguez-Vega, 45, was set to begin trial March 4. He has now entered a plea of guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to do so.
Dominguez-Vega was part of an on-going drug conspiracy involving several individuals packaging and distributing cocaine coming from Mexico. Cocaine would arrive from Mexico and be stored, re-packaged and wrapped in “shrink-wrap” in a shed located in Dominguez-Vega’s residence. It was then distributed to northern locations such as Houston, Ohio and Louisiana.
Law enforcement conducted surveillance and made several seizures during the course of the investigation. Two of those occurred Jan. 25 and 31, 2020, when they successfully seized nearly 10 and 23 kilograms of cocaine, respectively. Prior to the second seizure, bags of cocaine had been loaded into a vehicle at Dominguez-Vega’s residence. It was on its way to Houston before authorities at the Sarita Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint discovered the bundles inside a tractor trailer.
U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera will impose sentencing May 22. At that time, Dominguez-Vega faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison as well as a possible $5 million fine.
He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.
T0 date, six others have been convicted in relation to the conspiracy.
Homeland Security Investigations, Cameron County District Attorney’s Investigation Unit and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of BP, Combes and Brownsville Police Departments and the Victoria County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Oscar Ponce is prosecuting the case.