Armed Drug Trafficking on Kickapoo Tribal Land Leads to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Eagle Pass Man

DEL RIO, Texas - An Eagle Pass man was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 360 months in prison for trafficking methamphetamine, heroin, and marijuana on Kickapoo Tribal Land while possessing two firearms, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons.

According to court documents, in 2019, Drug Enforcement Administration and ICE Homeland Security Investigations agents began investigating Rolando Oyervides Jr. aka "Roly," 40, for distribution of methamphetamine. A search warrant for a social media account belonging to Oyervides Jr. led to the discovery of photos depicting cocaine, heroin, marijuana, methamphetamine, Farmapram, small plastic bags and scales. The search also revealed that Oyervides Jr., as a fugitive, was illegally in possession of multiple firearms. Messages pertaining to the distribution of controlled substances were also found.

Further investigation revealed Oyervides Jr. was selling narcotics out of various residences with children present and used females as drug mules to traffic three to four ounces of narcotics per person, three to four times per week.

On Jan. 29, 2020, DEA and HSI agents executed a search warrant at an Eagle Pass residence, where they encountered Oyervides Jr. and two other individuals, one being a juvenile. Oyervides Jr. was arrested and agents seized marijuana, methamphetamine, scales, and a drug ledger, as well as two .380 caliber semi-automatic pistols, nearly 200 rounds of .380 ammunition, and three 12-gauge shotgun shells.

Oyervides Jr. was indicted on charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm during and in relation to and in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On June 24, 2021, he pleaded guilty to counts one and two in the indictment. He was additionally found guilty of the third count in a bench trial on Oct. 29, 2021.

In 2004, Oyervides Jr. was convicted of possession with intent of distributing cocaine and sentenced to 40 months in prison. His supervised release was revoked in 2009, resulting in an additional 11-month imprisonment.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nallely Duarte and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Rivera prosecuted the case.

This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

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