DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
Nothern District of Texas

For Immediate Release

Friday, January 9, 2015
John R. Parker
, United States Attorney
Contact: Kathy Colvin

Defendants Sentenced in Cocaine Distribution Conspiracy Case

LUBBOCK, Texas — Nine defendants convicted for their respective roles in a large cocaine distribution conspiracy that operated in Lubbock, Odessa, and Borger, Texas, have been sentenced, announced John Parker, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas.

The last defendant to be sentenced in the case, Javier Lopez Lujan, 47, most recently of Odessa, was sentenced this morning by U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings to 120 months in federal prison.

Other defendants were sentenced as follows:

  • Manuel Carrillo Ortiz, 38, 46 months
  • Martin Cardona Gutierrez, 46, 168 months
  • Refugio Navarrete Gutierrez, 34, 70 months
  • Efren Fabela Lopez, 34, 6 months
  • Jerardo Salcedo Garcia, 27, 37 months
  • Ismael Velasco, 36, 48 months
  • Israel Velasco, 36, 70 months

During the investigation, law enforcement seized approximately 15 kilograms of cocaine, $200,000.00 in drug proceeds, and 10 firearms in Lubbock, Odessa, and Borger.

The investigation was conducted by the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office, Ector County Sheriff’s Office, Midland Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Border Patrol.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Cunningham prosecuted.

Dallas Field Division