Robstown Career Offender Heads To Federal Prison For Cocaine Distribution

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Rene Olivarez, 45, of Robstown, has been sentenced as a career offender for more than 15 years for his involvement in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine in Kingsville, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today. Olivarez pleaded guilty Sept. 6, 2012.

Today, U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos handed Olivarez a 188-month sentence followed by five years of supervised release. Co-defendant Daniel Cano, 32, of Kingsville, previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced federal prison for 57 months.  

Authorities became aware of the activities of Olivarez and Cano when members of the United States Marshals Fugitive Apprehension Unit discovered 2.92 kilograms of cocaine, $37,521 and 164 live marijuana plants in Cano’s Kingsville residence while executing a fugitive arrest warrant on Jan. 24, 2012.    

In handing down the sentence, Judge Ramos noted that the career offender sentencing enhancement and the nearly 16-year sentence was appropriate based on the repetitive nature of Olivarez’s three prior drug trafficking offenses (which spanned approximately 20 years) and promotes respect for the law. Olivarez has been in custody where he will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey D. Preston.