Case 7:197cr-00517 Document 1 Filed on 03/06/19 in TXSD. Page 1 of 2 A0 91 (Rev. 11/11) Criminal Complaint UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT forthe . MAR 6' 2019 Southern District of Texas . Southem District of Texas David Bradley, Clerk United States of America 1 v. 1. Joan Alejandro ARMENDAth-Fuentes . case No 0 537144 2. Claudia Vanessa 3. Mario Gerardo Garcia 4. Karla Yuliana uez 5. Alfonso TORRES Jr. (199 IUS) Defendant?s) CRIMINAL COMPLAINT I, the complainant in this case, state that the following is true to the best of my knowledge and belief. 'On or'about the March 5; 2019 in the county of - Hidalgo in the Southern District of Texas the defendant(s) violated: Code Section IO?ense Description 21 USC 846 Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance/ Approximately 5.04 Kilograms of Cocaine, a Schedule II Controlled Substance. This criminal complaint is based on these facts: See Attachment A if Continued on the attached sheet. Mam Complainant? signature Nicholas C. Stott, HSI Special Agent Printed name and title Date: 03/06/2019 a. 1 I. i Judge?s signature - City and state: 'McAllen, Texas . U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Printed name and title Case 7:19-cr-00517 Document 1 Filed on 03/06/19 - Page 2 of 2 Attachment A I, NiCholas C. Stott, am a Special Agent of the United States Homelandsecurity Investigations (HSI) and have knowledge of the folloWing facts. The facts related in this attachment do not re?ect the totality of information known to me or other agents/of?cers, merely the amount needed to establish probable cause. . I do not rely upon facts not set forth herein in reaching my conclusion that a complaint should be issued, nor do I request that this Court rely upon any facts not set forth herein in reviewing this attachment in support of the complaint. - 1. (On March 5, 2019, Joan Alejandro (hereinafter ARMENDARIZ) and Claudia Vanessa ARIAS -Torres (hereinafter ARIAS) entered the United States from Mexico at the Pharr Port of Entry 111 Pharr, Texas, driving a vehicle. ARMENDARIZ- drove, with ARIAS as the passenger, to the Walmart in Mission, Texas where he parked the Caliber After ARMENDARIZ parked the Caliber, Mario Gerardo ELLIARD- Garcia (hereinafter ELLIARD) -was dropped off at Walma?rt by Karla Yuliana Dominguez (hereinafter HERNANDEZ). ELLIARD took possession of the Caliber and drove the Caliber to a residence in McAllen, Texas. . Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agents and Task Force Of?cers went to the residence, where a search was later conducted. During the search of the residence, a bag containing approximately 5.04 kilograms of a white powdery substance which ?eld tested presumptive positive for Cocaine were discovered in the Caliber. . After cocaine was discovered in the Caliber, HSI Task Force Of?cers located and detained ARMENDARIZ and ARIAS at Walmart. HSI Special Agents and Task Force Of?cers conducted a controlled delivery of cocaine to a business in McAllen, Texas, where Alfonso TORRES Jr. (hereinafter TORRES) took possession of the bag containing cocaine. TORRES was subsequently arres.ted HSI Special Agents interviewedARMENDARIZ and ARIAS who stated they suspected the Caliber contained drugs and that an individual was to pick up their vehicle while they shopped. HSI Special Agents interviewed HERNANDEZ who gave a false statement about where she dropped - ELLIARD off to pick up the Caliber, gave evasive answers and then terminated the, interview. HSI Special Agents interviewed ELLIARD who stated he knew the Caliber contained what he suspected to be cocaine and admitted to prior cocaine smuggling events. HSI Special Agents-had observed the prior drug smuggling events referenced by ELLIARD within the past few weeks while on surveillance and observed HERNANDEZ transporting ELLIARD to pick up load vehicles and assisting him in the prior drug smuggling events. HSI Special Agents interViewed TORRES who stated he knew he was picking up cocaine on behalf of another individual.