Date: 11-21-2024

Case Style:

United States of America v. Adriana Melendez-Calvillo

Case Number: 3:23-CR-82

Judge: Brantley Starr

Court: The United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas (Dallas County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: The States United Attorney’s Office in Dallas

Defendant's Attorney:

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Description:

Dallas, Texas criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with Meth Trafficking
Cartel-Linked Meth Trafficker Sentenced to 40 Years in Federal Prison

Adriana Melendez-Calvillo, a 43-year-old citizen and national of Mexico illegally present in the United States, was charged via criminal complaint in February 2023 and pleaded guilty in November 2023 to a criminal information charging conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and money laundering in violation of 21 U.S.C. 841, etc.

In September 2022, agents intercepted a call between Ms. Melendez and a co-conspirator during which they discussed logistics for a drug transaction. Agents then followed Ms. Melendez’s vehicle to a fast food restaurant, where she met with coconspirators David Garcia and Omar Gilliam, who appeared to transfer something from Ms. Melendez’s back seat to the trunk of their vehicle. Agents then followed Mr. Gilliam’s vehicle to a gas station, where he removed a grey duffle bag from his trunk and placed it into a third vehicle. Police subsequently pulled over that vehicle for traffic violations; inside the duffel, they found plastic baggies containing 4,886 grams of methamphetamine.

In plea papers, Ms. Melendez admitted that she arranged for the transfer of that meth.

An agent testified that Ms. Melendez had ties to Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), a notorious transnational drug trafficking organization. Text messages introduced into evidence at sentencing suggest Ms. Melendez received shipments of meth, cocaine, and other drugs directly from sources of supply in Mexico, and prosecutors noted she electronically transferred $828,094 in proceeds to individuals in Mexico. Ms. Melendez also admitted to attempting to transfer bulk amounts of U.S. currency to Mexico, including $104,750 that was seized by law enforcement.

Evidence further revealed that Ms. Melendez was involved in the trafficking at least 1,000 pounds of cocaine, 41 kilograms of methamphetamine, and 7.8 kilograms of ice methamphetamine.

Mr. Garcia pleaded guilty in November 2023 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and is slated to be sentenced in January. Mr. Gilliam was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and awaits trial. Three other defendants in the case, Juan Pablo Guerra, Gerardo Campos Garcia, and Fatima Garcia, have entered guilty pleas; three more, Hilario Zamago, Ignacio Manzo-Cardenas, and Luis Manuel Abarca Torres, are also awaiting trial. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Division conducted the investigation with the Richardson Police Department, the Hickory Creek Police Department, the Dallas Police Department, the Greenville Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the U. S. Postal Inspection Service, the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office, and the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations Section. Assistant U.S. Attorney George Leal is prosecuting the case.

Outcome:

Defendant was found guilty and sentenced to 40 years in federal prison

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

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