A Mexican national has been sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for drug trafficking and firearms offenses in the Eastern District of Texas, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Victor Manuel Navarette Roman, 28, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan handed down the sentence of 216 months on February 26, 2026.
Court documents revealed that Roman was a significant supplier of illegal drugs, including fentanyl and methamphetamine, which were brought into the United States from Mexico for distribution. Authorities searching his residence found an AR-15 pistol along with quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine.
The case is connected to the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF operates as a coordinated effort among various government agencies to dismantle criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking operations both within the United States and internationally. According to officials: “Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders.” The task force prioritizes cases involving child trafficking or other crimes against children and aims to prosecute and remove violent criminal aliens from the country.
The FBI led the investigation into this case, while Assistant U.S. Attorney William R. Tatum handled prosecution.
