A notorious drug dealer from Edinburg is set to spend the next 12 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to drug charges and the possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Lauro Gonzalez Jr., 26, saw an end to his criminal career that boasted the consistent evasion of law enforcement.

Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane handed down the sentence, followed by a stringent four-year supervised release. The court underscored Gonzalez's rap sheet, marked by the long-term drug distribution within his community and aggravated by his boastful recounting of past escapes from police grasp. The judge took special note of the methamphetamine's dangers, highlighting its cheapness and high risk of addiction. Gonzalez's history of extensive drug use and distribution was a significant factor in the court's decision.

The initial unraveling of Gonzalez’s illegal enterprise happened following a vehicle accident on Oct. 13, 2021. Gonzalez's blue BMW rear-ended another vehicle, after which he attempted to flee the scene on foot. Law enforcement, acting on witness reports, apprehended the fleeing Gonzalez. A subsequent search of the vehicle unearthed a trove of illicit substances: 250 grams of meth, psilocybin mushrooms, marijuana, alongside cash, a digital scale, and a 9mm pistol equipped with an extended magazine. In a candid admission, Gonzalez not only confessed to selling the drugs found in his vehicle but also revealed he would not have hesitated to use his gun on authorities during his escape attempt.

Currently held in custody, Gonzalez awaits transfer to an as-yet-determined federal prison facility. The Drug Enforcement Administration spearheaded the investigation, receiving key support from the Edinburg Police Department. The case fell under the prosecutorial jurisdiction of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lee Fry and Devin V. Walker. The convictions and subsequent sentencing intend on delivering a clear message to those embedded in the narcotics trade: repercussions are inevitable.