Mexican National Pleads Guilty To West Virginia Federal Drug Crime
Friday, February 14, 2025, 7:00 A.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
CHARLESTON, W.VA.- A 22-year-old Mexican national is facing up to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty on Thursday to transporting 22 pounds of methamphetamine from Houston, Texas, into the Southern District of West Virginia.
On Thursday, February 13, 2025, Israel Chaires-Villa, 22, of Mexico, appeared in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia and pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
According to U.S. Attorney Will Thompson and the charging information unsealed in the indictment, on October 6, 2024, Chaires-Villa drove into Cross Lanes, West Virginia, from Houston, Texas, with around 22 pounds of methamphetamine in his possession that he intended to deliver to another individual in Cross Lanes, West Virginia.
Investigation Uncovers Drug Trafficking Operation
Chaires-Villa was arrested as part of a joint investigation conducted by federal and local law enforcement agencies into a drug trafficking conspiracy that was responsible for delivering large amounts of methamphetamine to West Virginia and other areas from Houston, Texas.
Following entering his guilty plea, Judge Aboulhosn accepted the plea and scheduled sentencing for June 2, 2025. At that time, Chaires-Villa faces up to 20 years in federal prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine, or both. Upon completing his federal prison sentence, Chaires-Villa will face immediate deportation proceedings to be removed from the United States back to Mexico.
The joint investigation also resulted in the indictment of German Francisco Diaz, also known as “Trulio,” 40, Braulio Villa-Chairez, also known as “Raul,” 31, and Silvester Barcenas, 23, all of Mexico. The indictment alleges the three Mexican nationals conspired to distribute large quantities of Methamphetamine in the Charleston, West Virginia, area from around March 2024 through October 2024. The trial has been scheduled for the three defendants for April 15, 2025.
