A Corpus Christi gang member has been sentenced to 228 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to drug trafficking charges, U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani announced yesterday. Arturo Bazan, 28, faces a lengthy sentence following his November 14, 2023, guilty plea and subsequent court hearing where U.S. District Judge David S. Morales reviewed evidence of Bazan's involvement in the narcotics trade and his gang-related activities on social media, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas.
During the sentencing, Judge Morales pointed out the seriousness of the crime and its negative impact on the community. This path eventually led to Bazan, who was arrested at his Corpus Christi residence where authorities discovered not just heroin but also meth, cocaine, alprazolam pills, Xanax, and marijuana, along with over $20,000 in cash.
The cracking down of Bazan's operation surfaced a trove of narcotics, with law enforcement seizing over three kilograms of cocaine and one kilogram of meth in addition to the heroin stash. In the course of the search, multiple firearms were found, including a loaded Ruger 5.7 handgun and an Anderson Arms AM-15 in Bazan’s bedroom, throwing light on the firepower that often accompanies such illicit enterprises.
Investigations further established Bazan's gang affiliations, with his role being pivotal in distributing narcotics both individually, and on a larger scale. His sentence also includes five years of supervised release after the completion of his prison term. Currently in custody, Bazan will be transferred to a federal prison, where he will start to serve his sentence, with the exact facility yet to be determined, according to the Department of Justice report.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and Corpus Christi Police Department spearheaded the investigation that resulted in Bazan's capture and conviction, with Assistant U.S. Attorney John Lamont leading the prosecution.
