Locked Inside Trap Houses, Forced to Sell Through Holes in the Doors: 19 Charged in Alice, Texas, Cocaine Ring Prosecutors Say Bought From Sources in Mexico
Workers in an alleged cocaine and crack ring in Alice, Texas, west of Corpus Christi, were locked inside trap houses and forced to sell drugs “through small openings in the doors,” federal prosecutors said on Oct. 8, 2026. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas announced that 19 people have been arrested and charged, and said the group’s leaders pooled money to buy kilograms of cocaine from outside suppliers, “including sources in Mexico.” Prosecutors did not name a cartel. All 19 are presumed innocent.
What prosecutors allege
According to the Oct. 8 release, the investigation began in March 2024 and identified members of the Villagran family and their associates as running several drug locations in and around Alice. Those arrested include David Villagran Sr., 51, known as “Big Tinko”; David Villagran Jr., 34, “Little Tinko”; Rene Villagran, 36, “Chucho”; and Jose Romeo Sanchez, 37, “Baby Joe.” All 19 are charged with conspiracy to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine and more than 280 grams of crack cocaine, and each faces 10 years to life if convicted.
Prosecutors say senior members “used violence to control workers.” Agents served 11 search warrants across Alice and found more than 35 firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition, cocaine, crack, nearly $100,000 in cash and drug ledgers, the release says. All defendants have made initial court appearances. The case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force effort.
The raids outside Alice
KRIS 6 News reported on Sept. 24 that DEA agents and Jim Wells County deputies raided homes in the Rancho Alegre community outside Alice that week. A federal grand jury in Corpus Christi had returned the indictment under seal on Sept. 9, the station said, and prosecutors are seeking forfeiture of a home on Elvira Street in Alice.
The dates differ: Sheriff Joseph “Guy” Baker said the joint investigation, which his office calls the Villagran-Sanchez Drug Trafficking Organization, began in June 2025, KRIS 6 reported. Federal prosecutors say March 2024.
What is not known
Neither the release nor KRIS 6 identifies the Mexico-based suppliers, ties the group to a specific cartel, or says how many workers were allegedly locked inside. For other federal cases in the state, see our Texas cartel cases page.
Sources
- U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas: “Homeland Security Task Force investigation leads to 19 arrests in Alice cocaine conspiracy” (Oct. 8, 2026)
- KRIS 6 News: “Indictment behind Rancho Alegre raids charges 19 in federal drug conspiracy” (Sept. 24, 2026)
- KRIS 6 News: “New details after 19 arrested on federal drug charges” (Oct. 8, 2026)
- Photos: U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas (seizure photo); KRIS 6 News, via this article (raid image).
Reported Oct. 8, 2026, from the federal press release and KRIS 6 News coverage. Charges are allegations, not findings; no defendant has been convicted in this case.