Israel Chaires-Villa, a 22-year-old Mexican national, entered a guilty plea for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in Charleston, West Virginia. On October 6, 2024, Chaires-Villa traveled from Houston, Texas, to Cross Lanes, West Virginia, carrying approximately 22 pounds of methamphetamine intended for delivery. His arrest was part of a federal and local law enforcement investigation into a conspiracy transporting large amounts of methamphetamine from Houston to West Virginia.
Chaires-Villa is set for sentencing on June 2, 2025. He faces up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a potential $1 million fine. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has placed an administrative detainer on him for deportation proceedings following his sentence.
The investigation also led to the indictment of three other Mexican nationals: German Francisco Diaz (known as “Trulio”), Braulio Villa-Chairez (known as “Raul”), and Silvester Barcenas. The indictment accuses them of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine in Charleston between March and October 2024. Their trial is scheduled for April 15, 2025. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Will Thompson acknowledged the efforts of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT) in this case. MDENT includes several police departments from Charleston and surrounding areas.
United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn oversaw the hearing while Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe leads the prosecution.
Court documents can be accessed through PACER under Case No. 2:24-cr-175.