HOUSTON – A federal jury in Houston has convicted a 45 year-old Houston woman on two counts of drug trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
The jury deliberated for approximately two hours before convicting Priscilla Yvette Cervantes of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute cocaine following a five day trial.
During trial, the jury heard that in 2020, Cervantes assisted her former boyfriend/fiancé in transporting drug proceeds and escorting cocaine through the Houston area with police vehicles. Her boyfriend was Alexander S. Reyes – a former constable deputy for the Harris County Precinct One Constable’s Office.
Testimony revealed that authorities discovered text messages between the co-conspirators, undercover recordings and camera footage taken from Reyes’s constable vehicle.
The investigation revealed in that August and September 2020, they took two trips to Lake Charles, Louisiana, to transport drug proceeds into Houston. In December 2020, they used police vehicles to escort a tractor trailer containing six kilograms of cocaine and four “dummy” kilograms from Houston to Louisiana.
Reyes pleaded guilty Jan. 6 and remains in custody pending sentencing.
U.S. District Judge David Hittner presided over the trial and will set sentencing for Cervantes at a later date. At that time, Cervantes faces a mandatory minimum 10-year-term of imprisonment for both counts and a possible $10 million maximum fine.
Previously released on bond, Cervantes was taken into custody following the conviction today where she will remain pending that hearing.
The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Texas Department of Public Safety and Harris County Precinct One Constable’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carolyn Ferko and Heather Winter are prosecuting the case. HOUSTON – A federal jury in Houston has convicted a 45 year-old Houston woman on two counts of drug trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
The jury deliberated for approximately two hours before convicting Priscilla Yvette Cervantes of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute cocaine following a five day trial.
During trial, the jury heard that in 2020, Cervantes assisted her former boyfriend/fiancé in transporting drug proceeds and escorting cocaine through the Houston area with police vehicles. Her boyfriend was Alexander S. Reyes – a former constable deputy for the Harris County Precinct One Constable’s Office.
Testimony revealed that authorities discovered text messages between the co-conspirators, undercover recordings and camera footage taken from Reyes’s constable vehicle.
The investigation revealed in that August and September 2020, they took two trips to Lake Charles, Louisiana, to transport drug proceeds into Houston. In December 2020, they used police vehicles to escort a tractor trailer containing six kilograms of cocaine and four “dummy” kilograms from Houston to Louisiana.
Reyes pleaded guilty Jan. 6 and remains in custody pending sentencing.
U.S. District Judge David Hittner presided over the trial and will set sentencing for Cervantes at a later date. At that time, Cervantes faces a mandatory minimum 10-year-term of imprisonment for both counts and a possible $10 million maximum fine.
Previously released on bond, Cervantes was taken into custody following the conviction today where she will remain pending that hearing.
The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Texas Department of Public Safety and Harris County Precinct One Constable’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carolyn Ferko and Heather Winter are prosecuting the case.