Two Cotulla Drug Traffickers Head to Prison

LAREDO, Texas - Two local residents have been ordered to federal prison after having being caught for selling methamphetamine out of a Cotulla residence, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Francisco Flores, 44, and Fabian Cordova, 35, pleaded guilty in October 2018.

On Sept. 3, 2019, U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana ordered Flores to serve 151 months in prison for his four counts of trafficking methamphetamine. Flores was sentenced to 60 months for his one count of conspiracy to commit drug trafficking. The sentences will be immediately followed by five years of supervised release.

The investigation revealed Flores and Cordova had conducted several drug trafficking transactions. Authorities executed a search warrant March 8, 2018, at the residence of Flores in Cotulla. At that time, Flores and Cordova had attempted to flee but were ultimately arrested.  

During the search, authorities also found 10 weapons and narcotics packaged for sale which included nearly 70 grams each of cocaine and methamphetamine.  

Flores admitted he kept the weapons to protect himself and to selling narcotics for more than 25 years.

Both have been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Cotulla County Sheriff’s Office conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force operation dubbed Eagle Ford Shales. Assistant U.S. Attorney Graciella Lindberg prosecuted the case.