Two Corpus Christi residents, Jesse Martinez and Gabriel Galindo, have been sentenced to federal prison for their involvement in a drug trafficking conspiracy. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Both men, members of the Texas Syndicate gang, pleaded guilty on January 2. U.S. District Judge David S. Morales sentenced Martinez to 360 months and Galindo to 288 months in prison. Each will also serve five years of supervised release after completing their sentences.
The court found Martinez responsible for over two kilograms of heroin and nearly eight kilograms of methamphetamine. Galindo was held accountable for almost 10 kilograms of methamphetamine and over a kilogram of heroin. The investigation revealed that the Texas Syndicate distributed about two kilograms each of heroin and methamphetamine monthly from September 2020 to May 2024.
Martinez's criminal record includes theft, burglary, weapons, and drug charges. Galindo's history began at age 14 with offenses such as burglary, cocaine convictions, a federal drug distribution conviction, and possession of a stabbing weapon while incarcerated.
While incarcerated for this offense, Galindo was found with a shank, methamphetamine, suboxone strips, and evidence suggested he dealt suboxone within the prison.
The investigation into the Texas Syndicate’s drug activities started in 2020 when authorities discovered Martinez receiving large quantities of methamphetamine and heroin. Galindo acted as one of his main distributors in Corpus Christi.
A search warrant executed on May 21, 2024, at Martinez's residence uncovered cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana, synthetic marijuana, three unsecured firearms, and several children living there. At his arrest time, Galindo possessed nearly a kilogram each of methamphetamine and heroin along with four firearms.
Both individuals remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility.
The operation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), FBI, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Immigration Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), along with local police departments from Corpus Christi and Robstown under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program which targets major criminal networks through collaborative law enforcement efforts.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Barbara J. De Pena and Brittany Jensen prosecuted the case.