{"id":1079,"date":"2026-02-14T19:02:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-14T19:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/2026\/02\/drug-smuggler-who-allegedly-planned-to-html\/"},"modified":"2026-02-14T19:02:00","modified_gmt":"2026-02-14T19:02:00","slug":"drug-smuggler-who-allegedly-planned-to-html","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/2026\/02\/drug-smuggler-who-allegedly-planned-to-html\/","title":{"rendered":"Drug Smuggler Who Allegedly Planned to Sacrifice 5-Week-Old Jaguar Avoids Prison"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<p>\u201cSol Prendido\u201d for Borderland Beat\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" webkitallowfullscreen=\"webkitallowfullscreen\" mozallowfullscreen=\"mozallowfullscreen\" width=\"320\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/video.g?token=AD6v5dyXxCvLjn_h67z9P4IgViS83Icms_O2xcIdi1Cy11V7qrqsW1H3P5GjnRozD4GI-sfO84EyH5ZmdR73dUMeEw\" class=\"b-hbp-video b-uploaded\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>A drug smuggler who allegedly planned to sacrifice a jaguar during a religious ritual avoided prison on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Hector Reyes, 39, of Mission shipped cocaine from South Texas to New Jersey. To protect his drug shipments, Reyes conducted religious rituals that involved animal sacrifice.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>\u201cIs there anything you want to say before I sentence you?\u201d Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane asked Reyes on Tuesday morning.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo, your honor,\u201d Reyes said.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEidMOchqgi77eiprnVWiVUVUgU0AqMXIYKXPDORi8HMbWH8-Q39-7bebFDydX72B1yVfbckF8g2UWOKSmlVT4Z74Rvna5YKoNQnUUD1Zrr3kVtSXS1T9SMhKOtLKNPadX9ofsWpPq3M6iyqaQOMA-Eq63ty3Y3Uc0ND65ZINJQynuyDKhPd4-cOdHCFMB7u\/s2048\/IMG_2457.webp\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1536\" data-original-width=\"2048\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2457.webp\" width=\"320\"><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"text-align: left;\">Hector Reyes left the federal courthouse in McAllen on Feb. 10, 2026.<\/span><\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Reyes was arrested during Operation Ice River, which targeted drug smugglers in Starr County.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration arrested more than 30 people, including Ignacio \u201cNacho\u201d Garza, 54, of Rio Grande City, who headed a drug trafficking organization with links to the Gulf Cartel.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Reyes recruited drivers for the organization and used FedEx to ship cocaine across the country, DEA Special Agent Patrick Zaruba said during a hearing in May 2023.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe was also responsible for conducting these religious-type ceremonies,\u201d Zaruba said, which involved animal sacrifice.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Smugglers believed the sacrifices would protect drug shipments from law enforcement.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey would do these rituals, I guess, to give luck,\u201d Zaruba said, and keep the DEA away.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>In September 2022, when prosecutors secured an indictment against Reyes, federal agents knocked on his door.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>His girlfriend, Liliana Resendez, 38, of Mission, said Reyes \u201chad left the house in the middle of the night,\u201d according to a criminal complaint filed in the case, \u201cand was in a panic when he departed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Agents searched the house anyway.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>They didn\u2019t find Reyes, but agents stumbled across a monkey skull, a panther hide and signs of animal sacrifice.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj7kME5nMyaPFS0z14jmheT5gkG-IZeVYczmOJlSw2Tn-bc_pbE_QZvGhyphenhyphenr9SX5_1PnB0vL2HxqpKXl2UWUxMryjgFNR_EYROBh7nkEYQL-otd998X6Qtf5glNq3Rd9UQObS7k2bu_8VU1Ca6TP5cKkWtnU8LhE6dTyokBohxOSGPXUr8CzoyVpBkKBnTHO\/s1192\/IMG_2458.webp\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"892\" data-original-width=\"1192\" height=\"239\" src=\"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2458.webp\" width=\"320\"><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"text-align: left;\">An agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration described Operation Ice River in a criminal complaint.<\/span><\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>The U.S. Marshals Service called Reyes to inform him about the indictment.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Reyes \u201cstated he was in Miami, Florida,\u201d according to the criminal complaint, \u201cand would turn himself in.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>After that, he stopped returning phone calls.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>The Marshals Service tracked Reyes to Monterrey, Mexico, where deputy marshals spent months conducting surveillance. Members of the Gulf Cartel noticed.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>\u201cStand down while you still have time,\u201d Hugo Armando Cortinas Salinas, who served as the plaza boss for Miguel Aleman, allegedly said in a message broadcast over Gulf Cartel radios, according to the criminal complaint.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>His son, Hector Jr., recorded the broadcast and posted the video on Snapchat with the caption: \u201cA message for those that are searching up there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>About two weeks after his son posted the message, Reyes and Resendez traveled from Cancun to Monterrey. The Marshals Service obtained photos of them at the airport.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>With assistance from the United States government, immigration officials in Mexico arrested Reyes in April 2023 and sent him back to South Texas.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Reyes pleaded guilty to a federal drug trafficking charge in 2024. As part of his plea, Reyes confessed to shipping about 15.4 pounds of cocaine to New Jersey.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>In exchange, prosecutors agreed to drop four other charges against him.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg-ZqwHDqyyuMR5QT1OcMPpuK8iq73M9q1nm-cGC_7cQX5MaonJ7e8-JVfMPOWWWlmzpJ3WO4oNWTAJq-UIiNDYkqxGDIDCpnQxAOymAJdbGCEGBcQcM4_3-T5ivPou79Ox5qQ6nmM7ci8u3i5dDzjcS-_ZnmpANmB9akVnts8Rfb7l6VKSzg5RRx5dWw1q\/s1536\/IMG_2459.webp\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1536\" data-original-width=\"1187\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2459.webp\" width=\"247\"><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"text-align: left;\">The indictment against Hector Reyes accused him of acquiring a 5-week-old jaguar \u201cintended for sacrifice.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Reyes also pleaded guilty to violating the federal Endangered Species Act.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>In April 2021, about 18 months before he fled the country, Reyes acquired a 5-week-old jaguar cub.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>The cub was \u201cintended for sacrifice,\u201d according to the indictment against him. Reyes, though, claimed he declawed the cub and planned to keep her as a pet.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Dressed in gray sweatpants and a gray sweatshirt, Reyes returned to court Tuesday morning for sentencing.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Attorney Jose Maria \u201cChema\u201d Garza Jr., who represented Reyes, asked to speak with the judge and the prosecutor at the bench.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>What they discussed remains sealed.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>\u201cMr. Reyes, you\u2019ve done some good things,\u201d Crane, the federal judge, said after the bench conference. \u201cYour lawyer\u2019s spoken well of you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Guidelines published by the U.S. Sentencing Commission suggested 46 to 57 months in prison.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>The government, however, had filed a sealed motion. Crane granted the motion and sentenced Reyes to 34 months \u2014 the time he\u2019d already spent in jail.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>\u201cGood luck to you, sir,\u201d Crane said. \u201cYou\u2019re excused at this time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj2s_6mNvjB1VQ1y6OhVODCQrWtYMFnOr4QA7jQm4rEEQr-EMlQ83XMvvEmZ0S7HbocaGe2_XPOhbc44Zedk0IAj92UWpdIL-Cx2WYAtCmwPzOKjNlasCuMHvPCRJdPjhyphenhyphenPct_MDp8mzMe7BIc9yN1u4yRzl61hEB918IiZBqDVne4c6xNeTzbByWuv2Mex\/s2482\/IMG_2461.jpeg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1654\" data-original-width=\"2482\" height=\"213\" src=\"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2461.jpeg\" width=\"320\"><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"text-align: left;\">Mission, Texas<\/span><\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Source:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.valleycentral.com\/news\/local-news\/drug-smuggler-who-allegedly-planned-to-sacrifice-5-week-old-jaguar-avoids-prison\/\">Valley Central<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cSol Prendido\u201d for Borderland Beat\u00a0 A drug smuggler who allegedly planned to sacrifice a jaguar during a religious ritual avoided&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29805,"featured_media":1686,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,6],"tags":[24,21,20,22,27,23,25,19,28,26],"class_list":["post-1079","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-rss","tag-cartel","tag-el-chapo","tag-el-mayo","tag-el-mencho","tag-los-angeles","tag-los-zetas","tag-mexico","tag-narco-news","tag-san-diego","tag-west-coast"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1079","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29805"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1079"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1079\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1686"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1079"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1079"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1079"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}