Five members of a Houston drug trafficking organization were sentenced to federal prison terms in the Eastern District of Texas, according to an April 29 announcement by U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
The sentencing follows an investigation into a drug distribution network involving methamphetamine and fentanyl, which authorities say spanned multiple states and resulted in significant quantities of drugs being distributed. The case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative aimed at combating criminal organizations operating within the United States.
Salvador Abraham Gomez, also known as Chop and Chief, received a sentence of 300 months after pleading guilty to conspiracy charges related to methamphetamine and fentanyl distribution. Da Neang was sentenced to 151 months for conspiracy involving fentanyl. Fernando Adalberto Vazquez-Pardo received 135 months, Guillermo Alfredo Sisnados was given 121 months, and Ebony Barber was sentenced to 120 months—all for similar drug-related offenses before U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone earlier this year.
Authorities began investigating the organization in 2021 after uncovering links between Louisiana and East Texas distribution operations that led them to Gomez as the main supplier. According to information presented in court, Gomez coordinated the distribution of more than 7 kilograms of methamphetamine and nearly 5 kilograms of substances containing fentanyl.
The Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative behind this prosecution was established by Executive Order 14159 with a focus on dismantling criminal cartels, gangs, transnational organizations, human smuggling rings, and crimes involving children across the United States. HSTF Houston includes agents from several federal agencies such as the FBI; Department of Homeland Security; Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations division; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations; U.S. Marshals Service Eastern District of Texas; with prosecution led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas.
This case involved cooperation among multiple law enforcement agencies including DEA offices in Houston and New Orleans as well as local police departments from Houston, Beaumont, Baytown along with county sheriff’s offices.
The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas supports victims through dedicated services according to its official website. The office has locations in Beaumont, Lufkin, Plano, Sherman, Texarkana and Tyler according to its official website, operates under the United States Department of Justice according to its official website, employs about 100 staff members including approximately fifty assistant attorneys according to its official website, prosecutes federal crimes while providing civil litigation services according to its official website, covers forty-three counties throughout East Texas according to its official website, supports victims and witnesses while collaborating with partner agencies on community safety initiatives according to its official website.
