ICE Detains Mexican Man With Thousands of Dollars in His Car: Not Just Traffic Violations, He Led a “La Familia Michoacana” Network

La Familia Michoacana Leader Sentenced

Network Linked to Cartel

Federal Operation Dismantles Organization

An undocumented immigrant with a criminal history has been sentenced to nearly 20 years in federal prison for leading a drug trafficking operation linked to a cartel.

The sentence follows an investigation led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a division of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Authorities said the case is part of a broader effort to dismantle transnational criminal organizations.

The convicted individual was identified as Baldemar Navarro-Jaimes.

He is 36 years old and had been living illegally in Houston.

Authorities stated that he led an organization tied to the La Familia Michoacana cartel.

Federal Sentence After HSI Investigation

ICE

Criminal illegal alien sentenced to nearly 20 years for leading cartel-linked drug trafficking operation

March 5, 2026

|Narcotics, Organized Crime, Transnational Gangs

Baldemar Navarro-Jaimes, 36, illegally residing in Houston, was sentenced Febhttps://t.co/0Nm6tdCdye

— Williams Kris (@kris_willi28289) March 9, 2026

Navarro-Jaimes was sentenced on February 18 by U.S. District Judge David S. Morales.

The court imposed a sentence of 234 months in federal prison.

The sentence amounts to 19 years and six months behind bars.

He must also serve five years of supervised release after completing his prison term.

The defendant pleaded guilty on July 1, 2025.

He accepted responsibility for conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.

Authorities indicated that the case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security and HSI Corpus Christi.

The investigation was part of an operation known as Operation EEYORE.

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According to authorities, this operation targeted a criminal network linked to the upper ranks of a cartel based in Michoacán, Mexico.

ICE Deputy Director Charles Wall spoke about the significance of the case.

“Navarro-Jaimes was not a simple street-level dealer, but a leader who helped flood U.S. communities with large quantities of narcotics,” he said.

The official also stated that the defendant facilitated the illegal trafficking of firearms to cartel members in Mexico.

Drug Network Operated Across Multiple States

La Familia Michoacana drug trafficking case – PHOTO: ICE.GOV

According to investigators, Navarro-Jaimes coordinated the smuggling of narcotics into various cities across the United States.

Authorities said drugs were shipped from Mexican cartels to Houston and Dallas.

They were then distributed to other states.

These included Illinois, New York, Georgia, and North Carolina.

Investigators directly linked Navarro-Jaimes to large quantities of narcotics.

According to court records, he was associated with approximately nine kilograms of cocaine.

He was also linked to 23 kilograms of methamphetamine.

Authorities also stated that the case involved more than 10 firearms.

The organization facilitated the illegal export of weapons to Mexico.

According to investigators, those weapons were intended for cartel members.

During the investigation, a search warrant was executed at a residence in Dallas.

Authorities said the property was used to store drugs and support trafficking operations.

The operation resulted in the seizure of four firearms.

Authorities also confiscated ammunition and several cell phones.

The scope of the La Familia Michoacana drug trafficking case revealed a highly organized network.

Navarro-Jaimes’ Criminal History and Scope of the Investigation

Authorities stated that Navarro-Jaimes had previously worked as a hitman for a cartel in Mexico.

According to the investigation, he served approximately seven years in prison there.

He later entered the United States illegally.

Once in the country, he resumed criminal activity.

Over time, he rose to a leadership position within the drug trafficking organization.

The investigation that led to his arrest began in April 2023.

The case originated after a traffic stop in the Southern District of Texas.

That initial incident led to a broader investigation.

Authorities said multiple individuals were charged as part of the case.

The crimes investigated included drug trafficking, firearms trafficking, and cash smuggling.

Immigration violations were also part of the case.

According to authorities, the organization used tractor-trailers equipped with hidden compartments.

These vehicles were used to transport narcotics across different parts of the United States.

Navarro-Jaimes remains in federal custody.

Authorities stated that he will remain detained while being transferred to a federal prison facility yet to be determined.

The investigation was conducted by HSI Corpus Christi.

It also involved collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and local law enforcement agencies.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tyler Foster, Leisel Roscher, and Ashley Martin prosecuted the case.

Authorities indicated that the case is part of a broader Homeland Security Task Force initiative.

The goal of this effort is to identify and dismantle transnational criminal organizations linked to cartels and criminal networks operating both within and outside the United States.