Edmond Man Gets 22 Years In Oklahoma Drug Ring Bust

Antonio Ortiz Herrera, 46, of Edmond, Oklahoma, has been sentenced to serve 22 years in federal prison after being convicted for his involvement in a major drug trafficking organization that distributed significant amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine across the United States. This sentencing marks the end of a comprehensive two-year investigation spearheaded by federal and local law enforcement agencies.

U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester announced the sentencing and emphasized the extensive nature of the narcotics operation and the coordinated effort required to dismantle it. The investigation was led by the Oklahoma City Field Office of the FBI and the Oklahoma City Police Department, with critical support from the IRS Criminal Investigation unit.

The organization, responsible for smuggling drugs from Mexico into Texas and Oklahoma, used sophisticated methods to evade detection, including using hidden compartments in camper shells attached to pick-up trucks. The indictment detailed how large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine were regularly shipped across the border as part of this extensive criminal enterprise. After reaching Oklahoma the drugs were then distributed far beyond, reaching places like North Carolina and Kentucky.

A federal grand jury charged Ortiz and several others in a 14-count indictment on June 8, 2022. Among the co-defendants, Victoriano Neri Hernandez, 37, was identified as the head of the Oklahoma faction of this sprawling underworld network. According to court documents, Ortiz played a key role in facilitating the nationwide distribution of these illicit substances.

Ortiz pleaded guilty on July 25, 2023, to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. During his plea, Ortiz admitted his knowing participation in the international conspiracy.

At his sentencing on April 24, 2024, U.S. District Judge Scott L. Palk highlighted the gravity of the offenses, noting both the geographic breadth of the drug trafficking operation and the substantial quantities of narcotics involved. Following his prison term, Ortiz will undergo an additional five years of supervised release.

The collective punishment for all involved in the organization exceeds 91 years in federal prison. Sentences for the co-defendants vary, with Hernandez receiving 24 years for his role as the organization’s leader. Others, including Cesar Cecilio Perez Rubio, David Gandara, Jorge Luis Becerra, Ruby Jackson, Yoelmmi Franco Sandoval, Arturo Alberto Gonsen Romo, and Ivan Chanax Aguilar, have received sentences ranging from six to nine years.

This successful prosecution is part of the broader efforts under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program, which aims to disrupt and dismantle major drug trafficking and criminal networks across the country. This multi-agency, intelligence-driven approach is crucial in the fight against organized crime and drug trafficking, using a coordinated strategy that includes federal, state, and local law enforcement resources.