Drug dealers admit plot to murder Dallas DEA task force officer

Two drug traffickers admitted Tuesday in Dallas federal court docket they plotted to homicide federal process pressure officer, the U.S. lawyer’s workplace stated.

Manuel Garcia Gomez, 35, and Jorge Humberto Velazco Larios, 29, tried to rearrange a success on the DEA process pressure officer assigned to their drug case, authorities stated. The agent was not recognized in court docket information.

The pair are believed to be affiliated with Cartel Jalisco Nueva Era, which officers known as “one among Mexico’s most violent and highly effective drug cartels.”

Gomez pleaded responsible to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in September 2020 and to conspiracy to make use of interstate commerce within the fee of murder-for-hire in March 2022.

Larios pleaded responsible to conspiracy to own with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, and conspiracy to make use of interstate commerce within the fee of murder-for-hire.

They now withstand life in jail when they’re sentenced. Gomez is scheduled to be sentenced in August. No date has been set for Larios.

Their attorneys couldn’t be reached for remark.

“These defendants plotted to homicide an officer who routinely dangers his personal security to rid our streets of harmful medication,” U.S. Lawyer Chad Meacham stated in a press release. “The Justice Division won’t tolerate retaliatory violence in opposition to its personal. We’re ready to maneuver mountains to guard the women and men who defend us.”

Gomez informed somebody in jail that he wished to “off” the officer for $20,000, court docket information present. He made a telephone name to a different individual outdoors the jail in regards to the assassination plot, information present.

Authorities say Gomez then known as his girlfriend and his sister in Mexico to rearrange for the cash to be delivered. He informed the ladies his co-defendant within the drug case, Larios, would additionally contribute cash for the hit, information present.

Larios, who additionally was in federal custody on the time, known as an unindicted co-conspirator, often called “Roberto,” and requested him to ship cash to a workshop “so we are able to handle one thing,” court docket information stated.

Roberto in June 2020 made a $3,000 “down cost” for the homicide of the agent. He contributed one other $2,000 5 days in a while behalf of the 2 defendants, authorities stated.

Gomez known as his contact again to explain the DEA agent and informed the individual to get in contact together with his girlfriend and sister, who he stated had paperwork that might determine the goal.

His sister acquired a photograph of the DEA agent on WhatsApp and “flashed the picture throughout a jailhouse video name with Mr. Gomez,” authorities stated.

“Sure, that’s him,” Gomez informed her, smiling, court docket information allege.

Eduardo A. Chávez, who heads the DEA’s Dallas workplace, stated in a press release that drug-related violence impacts extra than simply these promoting narcotics.

“DEA Particular Brokers and Process Power Officers know the inherent dangers they face once they exit to implement our mission, disrupt prison networks, and curb the circulation of medicine from reaching our neighborhoods,” he stated.