A former Guatemalan congressman has been sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for his involvement in an international drug trafficking conspiracy, as announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr. of the Eastern District of Texas.
Jose Armando Ubico Aguilar, 45, who previously held a senior position in the Republic of Guatemala, pleaded guilty to participating in the conspiracy and received a 216-month sentence from U.S. District Judge Michael Truncale on February 11, 2025.
Court records reveal that Ubico Aguilar served as a member of the Congress of the Republic of Guatemala from 2016 to 2024. He was also an elected Deputy and chaired the National Defense Committee from 2018 to 2023.
"The sentencing of this corrupt Guatemalan official who brokered and facilitated cocaine shipments into the United States while betraying his country through his partnerships with known drug traffickers and other corrupt officials shows the commitment of the Eastern District of Texas United States Attorney’s Office to identify, disrupt, and dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations," said Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr. "I am grateful to our law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to ensure that Ubico Aguilar will no longer be allowed to hide behind his position of power."
Dallas DEA Special Agent in Charge Eduardo A. Chávez commented: "The sentencing of this corrupt official who brokered and facilitated cocaine shipments into the United States sends a message to Transnational Criminal Organizations across the world that they will be held responsible for the poison they distribute into the United States. This sentence reflects our continued resolve to partner with our international law-enforcement counterparts to fight greed, violence, and public corruption."
Ubico Aguilar was indicted by a federal grand jury in Texas on March 3, 2021. He arrived in the United States in May 2024 and admitted guilt during his plea hearing. His actions involved relaying drug-related information and U.S. currency on behalf of an international drug trafficker, facilitating at least 450 kilograms of cocaine through Guatemala destined for distribution in the United States.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation aimed at identifying and dismantling high-level criminal organizations threatening the U.S., using a prosecutor-led approach.
Investigations were conducted by multiple agencies including North Texas OCDETF Strike Force Group Two; DEA’s Dallas Division; DEA’s offices in Guatemala City and San Jose; FBI’s Dallas Field Office; Homeland Security Investigation's Dallas and Guatemala Field Offices; U.S. Marshals Service’s Dallas Field Office; Customs and Border Protection’s San Diego Field Office; with significant assistance from Justice Department's Office of International Affairs.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Eason prosecuted this case.