Two Honduran brothers residing illegally in Houston have been convicted of conspiracy to commit armed robbery and related offenses. U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei announced the verdict, which came after a seven-day trial and approximately five hours of jury deliberation.
Edwin Olivares-Calderon, 51, and Marcos-Olivares Calderon, 42, were found guilty by a jury that heard testimony from two confidential informants and ten law enforcement officials. The trial also included about 100 exhibits.
“With today’s guilty verdict, there are two fewer violent criminals operating in Houston, and that means a safer community for everyone,” said Ganjei. “The Southern District of Texas thanks the jury for their service.”
The Olivares-Calderon brothers were part of Los Tumbadores rip crew, an armed robbery group targeting drug traffickers, alien smugglers, and illegal game room operators. They attempted to rob approximately 27 kilograms of cocaine between March 11 and March 21, 2016. The attempts occurred first at a tire shop on Crosstimbers and then from a BMW that had crossed the U.S.-Mexican border in Hidalgo.
Authorities discovered that the brothers used a tracker to surveil a vehicle suspected of transporting cocaine. On March 19, 2016, law enforcement recovered 27 kilograms of cocaine from underneath the center console of this vehicle. Marco Olivares-Calderon was later arrested with a loaded firearm hidden behind his car's glove compartment.
The defense argued insufficient evidence linked the brothers to the crime scenes or any criminal activity plans. However, the jury rejected these claims.
U.S. District Judge Alfred Bennett presided over the trial and scheduled sentencing for May 22. Edwin faces up to two additional years for illegal reentry after removal alongside up to 20 years for armed robbery conspiracy charges. Marcos could receive life imprisonment plus an additional 15 years for his convictions related to cocaine distribution conspiracy and firearm possession as an illegal alien.
Homeland Security Investigations collaborated with Houston Police Department in conducting this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation with support from Customs and Border Protection, Citizenship and Immigration Services, and Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Laurence Goldman and Anh-Khoa Tran prosecuted this case.