Laredo men sentenced for multiyear cocaine trafficking conspiracy

LAREDO, Texas - Two Laredo residents have been sentenced for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Juan Jose Castaneda, 44, and Juan Enrique Villanueva, 52, pleaded guilty March 4 and Dec. 12, 2024, respectively.

U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison has now imposed a 168-month-term of imprisonment for Castaneda, while Villanueva received 63 months. Both must also serve five years of supervised release following their sentences.

At the hearing, the court heard Castaneda managed a cocaine trafficking organization for several years that included Villanueva and others. Judge Ellison considered the scope of the organization, which included trafficking tens of thousands of dollars' worth of cocaine each month, and the substantial profits Castaneda personally earned. Castaneda also fled from law enforcement and threatened a man with a knife in an attempt to avoid arrest.

On Sept. 16 and 26, 2024, authorities observed Castaneda and Villanueva transporting cocaine that was later sold. Law enforcement seized the drugs on these occasions along with additional cocaine at his residence weighing over 11 kilograms. They also found over $40,000 in cash from cocaine trafficking that was seized and forfeited as part of the sentencing.

The investigation revealed Castaneda and Villanueva were involved in this conspiracy for multiple years. This scheme included numerous co-conspirators and showed that Castaneda was making tens of thousands of dollars a month trafficking in cocaine that he used to make purchases of property, jewelry, vehicles and other possessions. Castaneda was held accountable for 43 kilograms of cocaine he was known to have distributed as part of this conspiracy.

Both will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice's OCDETF webpage.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Scott Bowling is prosecuting the case.