Drug trafficking couple imprisoned for attempting to store and transport over 30 kilos of cocaine

McALLEN, Texas - Two Hidalgo residents have been sentenced for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Jose Alfonso Trevino Jr., 46, and Rita Eva Moreno-Tinoco, 40, pleaded guilty March 23, 2023.

Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now imposed a 120-month-term of imprisonment for Trevino followed by five years of supervised release while Moreno-Tinoco received 37 months and a three-year-term of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence explaining how agents located four firearms including an AR-15 style rifle inside the narcotics stash house. Judge Crane also heard how Trevino threatened arresting authorities when they transported him.

On Jan. 19, 2021, Trevino was driving a pickup truck and failed to signal a turn, at which time law enforcement conducted a traffic stop. They searched the truck and found 10 kilograms of cocaine inside reusable grocery bags on the back seat and took him into custody.

At the time of his arrest, Trevino requested to call his wife, Moreno-Tinoco. Law enforcement overheard him ask his wife to tell his son to "clean out the garage." They then observed Moreno-Tinoco arrive at the couple's residence and load two plastic storage bins from the garage into her vehicle.

After departing the home, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on Moreno-Tinoco's vehicle and found 31 kilograms of cocaine within the bins previously removed from the garage.

Both Trevino and Moreno-Tinoco will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office and the Hidalgo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Fry prosecuted the case.