Four men from Corpus Christi, Texas, United States have admitted to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute meth, heroin and cocaine. They are Fernando Martinez, 44, Carlos Acosta, 38, Ricky Reyna, 34, and Jayden Wandell Coleman, 18.

On January 27, 2022, Martinez pleaded guilty to the conspiracy, which spanned from September 6, 2020 to August 26, 2021, while Acosta, Reyna and Coleman previously admitted to the their roles in the conspiracy. The four men are identified members of the La Quarenta gang.

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In September 2020, authorities started investigating Martinez, Acosta, Reyna and Coleman and observed them entering and exiting a drug stash house in Corpus Christi at various times and directing people to the residence. Investigators found that for the duration of the conspiracy, the four men were in communication with each other about the purchase and sale of various narcotics.

In August 2021, search warrants were executed at four residences and a storage yard. Authorities found a drug ledger, ammunition, loaded firearms, digital scales, over a hundred thousand dollars, 13kg of marijuana, over 5kg of cocaine, over 4kg of meth, over 2kg of heroin and approximately 200g of crack.

Martinez, Acosta, Reyna and Coleman face a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison and a possible $10 million maximum fine. On April 20, 2022, they will appear in court before U.S. District Judge David S. Morales for their sentencing.

In other news, Zachary Taylor Blood, 33, of Galveston, Texas recently pleaded guilty to human smuggling in federal court in Corpus Christi. His sentencing will be on May 11, 2022.

Corpus Christi is the county seat and the largest city of Nueces County, Texas. The city’s incumbent mayor Paulette Guajardo assumed office on January 12, 2021.