A Mexican national, who illegally resided in Texas, has been given a life sentence in federal prison for leading a drug trafficking organization linked to a formidable Mexican cartel. Jose Ramon Castillo-Lopez, fondly known within his nefarious circles as "Pepo," has been charged with directing a significant drug distribution network flowing with methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl-laced "M30" pills, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office.
In a report by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas, Castillo-Lopez used a garage in Midland to strip stolen vehicles, which were then later employed to smuggle illegal drugs and cash. This revealing information came to light after his arrest on October 1, 2022, when he faced charges for the attempted capital murder of a police officer in Seminole, Texas.
It was during his time in the Gaines County Jail that DEA agents verified his high-ranking position within the drug trafficking operation. Recordings of his phone calls exposed not only his significant role but also implicated his girlfriend, Myra Mendez, and her brother, Aaron Mendez, as the successors of his criminal enterprise stateside.
Officials found Castillo-Lopez accountable for the trafficking of substantial quantities of illicit substances. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy on September 23, 2024, the offense directly linked to intent to distribute large amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine. "This federal life sentence is a significant victory for the United States in combatting the Mexican cartels and their drug trafficking organizations," as detailed by the U.S. Attorney's Office, illustrating the gravity of Castillo-Lopez's criminal impact.
DEA's El Paso Division Special Agent in Charge Towanda R. Thorne-James underscored the threat posed by Castillo-Lopez, stating, "Mr. Castillo-Lopez now has a lifetime to contemplate the terrible choices he made. He willingly put the lives of Texans and Mississippians at risk and now he's facing the consequences." The investigation was a joint effort, including the DEA, Texas Department of Public Safety, Midland Sheriff's Office, Odessa Police Department, and the Midland Police Department, pointing towards a collaborative crackdown on drug trafficking, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Sloane spearheaded the prosecution, bringing to a close a critical chapter in the broader narrative of the U.S. government's fight against narcotics distribution networks.
