Hector Omar Segura-Lara and Joseantonio Ortega-Silva, both residents of Dallas, Texas, have been sentenced for their involvement in a cocaine distribution and possession conspiracy. The sentencing took place on November 19, 2024, under United States District Judge Susie E. Morgan.
Segura-Lara received a sentence of 108 months imprisonment while Ortega-Silva was sentenced to 37 months. Both had previously pleaded guilty to the charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, violating Title 21 of the United States Code.
The case dates back to August 25, 2021, when Louisiana State Troopers stopped a Chrysler 200 on Interstate 12 near milepost 56. Segura-Lara and Ortega-Silva were occupants of the vehicle. After providing conflicting statements about their travel plans, troopers conducted a consensual search which revealed four kilograms of cocaine hidden in an additional car battery under the hood.
Both individuals admitted they were en route to Virginia for drug delivery. Ortega-Silva disclosed that he acquired the vehicle in Dallas and drove it to Houston where it was loaded with drugs by another person. Their task was to drive to Virginia for offloading and then return to Texas with $152,000 concealed in the car’s battery as payment.
For their offenses, both men faced potential penalties including up to twenty years imprisonment and fines up to $1 million each.
The investigation was carried out by Homeland Security Investigations alongside the Louisiana State Police. Assistant United States Attorney André Jones from the Narcotics Unit is handling prosecution duties.
U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced these developments following court proceedings.