HOUSTON – A 26-year-old Mexican national who illegally resided in Houston has been sentenced for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.Andres Reyes-Morales pleaded guilty Oct. 31, 2024.U.S. District Judge Alfred H.
Bennett has now ordered Reyes-Morales to serve 144 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.The investigation began in November 2022 when authorities identified Reyes-Morales as a member of a transnational criminal organization. The organization was responsible for smuggling and distributing methamphetamine from Mexico into South Texas and on to Houston. Reyes-Morales was a conversion lab operator, courier and facilitator.As part of an undercover operation, authorities purchased approximately five kilograms of methamphetamine from Reyes-Morales.
He then coordinated with Moices Moreno-Marin and Franciso Reyes Solorzano-Duarte to complete the deliveries.On April 14, 2023, authorities executed a search warrant at Reyes-Morales’ residence and seized approximately one kilogram of methamphetamine concealed in a shoe box in a bedroom closet.Reyes-Morales admitted the narcotics belonged to him.Moreno-Marin, 38, and Solorzano-Duarte, 27, also Mexican nationals, pleaded guilty for their roles and were sentenced to 36 and 54 months in prison, respectively. Reyes-Morales will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S.
Attorney Michael Day prosecuted the case.