A member of the notorious Partido Revolucionario Mexicano (PRM) prison gang and a co-conspirator have been handed significant prison sentences for their roles in a drug trafficking operation. In a federal court in Del Rio, Clinton Ritchie, 34, of Eagle Pass, was given a 235-month prison sentence, while Carlos Daniel Rodriguez-Urrabazo, 41, also from Eagle Pass, received 84 months for their dealings in narcotics between March 2019 and June 2021, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Working with other co-conspirators, Ritchie was involved in distributing narcotics throughout Eagle Pass, a duty which he presumably took seriously given the length of the sentence imposed by Chief Judge Alia Moses for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Sharing in the responsibility but not the sentence length, Rodriguez-Urrabazo was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. "The significant sentencing of these criminals reflects the united commitment of law enforcement to stop the importation of drugs from Mexico and the subsequent distribution of illicit substances throughout our communities," said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza.
The collaborative effort of federal, state, and local agencies—including the DEA, FBI, HSI, Border Patrol, Maverick County Sheriff’s Office, Eagle Pass Police Department and Texas Department of Public Safety—was pivotal in the investigation leading to the successful prosecution. Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the DEA Houston Division emphasized the ongoing efforts, remarking, "DEA will continue to work with our law enforcement to stop prison gang violence and drug trafficking from bleeding into our communities and devastating lives."
Threatening the peace of Texas communities, the criminals carried out actions that heightened drug-related violence. Residents of Eagle Pass were especially affected by the presence of such criminals. According to Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee for HSI San Antonio, "These individuals represented a significant threat to the residents of Eagle Pass." He continued to highlight, not only did Ritchie and his associates work for a "vicious criminal enterprise", but Ritchie also demonstrated a resolve to employ violence. For their efforts combating these threats, Larrabee extended thanks to the alliance of law enforcement agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Izaoh Bruce and Holly Pavlinski handled the prosecution of the case. This operation falls under the umbrella of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation, which aims to dismantle the most prominent drug traffickers and criminal organizations threatening the United States.
