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Mexican National Admits Guilt To Drug Crime

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Mexican Man Pleads Guilty To West Virginia Federal Drug Trafficking Crime

Monday, August 18, 2025, 9:15 A.M. ET. 3 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

CHARLESTON, W.VA.- A 31-year-old Mexican national, illegally residing in the United States, will be facing up to 20 years in federal prison when sentenced later this year, after pleading guilty last Monday, to a federal drug trafficking conspiracy.

     According to Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa G. Johnston, on Monday, August 11, 2025, Braulio Villa-Chairez, also known as “Raul,” 31, 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 Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance, Methamphetamine.

Judge Aboulhosn Schedules Sentencing For December

     After entering his guilty plea, Judge Aboulhosn accepted the plea and scheduled sentencing for December 8, 2025. At that time, Villa-Chairez faces a mandatory minimum of ten years and up to 20 years in federal prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million. At sentencing, a U.S. District Court Judge would determine the term of imprisonment based on the seriousness of the offense and Villa-Chairez’s prior criminal history.

     Upon completion of any sentence imposed, Villa-Chairez will face immediate deportation proceedings and be removed from the United States back to Mexico.

According To Charging Documents Filed With The District Court

     According to charging documents and statements made in the District Court,  beginning in March 2024 and lasting through October 2024, Villa-Chairez conspired with other individuals to distribute methamphetamine. During his plea allocution, Villa-Chairez admitted that he assisted the conspiracy by shipping methamphetamine to West Virginia and elsewhere.

     In July 2024, Villa-Chairez shipped two separate packages containing a total of 1.97 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine commonly known as“ice” from Houston, Texas, to a customer in West Virginia after receiving instructions from a co-conspirator. On or about July 18, 2024, Villa-Chairez picked up a package containing $4,800 sent by the customer, notified a co-conspirator that he had obtained the package, and re-shipped it to Washington State.

     In August 2024, Villa-Chairez shipped a package containing approximately 963.8 grams of methamphetamine to Alabama. In October 2024, Villa-Chairez assisted a co-conspirator who was delivering approximately 5.905 kilograms of methamphetamine “ice” and approximately 4.402 kilograms of methamphetamine by vehicle to West Virginia by providing him with directions to a hotel and a casino in Kanawha County.

     Further, last Monday, Villa-Chairez also admitted that he has lived illegally in the United States under the name “Jose Jesus Villa-Chairez” and has been convicted of two federal felony offenses under that name.

     Villa-Chairez and two other Mexican nationals living illegally in the United States were indicted by a federal grand jury as a result of a joint investigation by federal and local law enforcement Investigators into a conspiracy that was responsible for delivering large quantities of methamphetamine to West Virginia and elsewhere from Houston, Texas. 

     Co-defendant Silvester Barcenas, 23, pleaded guilty on March 4, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 20, 2025. Co-defendant German Francisco Diaz, also known as “Trulio,” 41, remains at large and has been listed as a fugitive from justice.

     Israel Chaires-Villa, 23, a Mexican national, pleaded guilty on February 13, 2025, to possession with intent to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine as a result of the joint investigation and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 4, 2025.

     Acting U.S. Attorney Johnston commended the investigative work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team, which resulted in the Villa-Chairez’s arrest and guilty plea.

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Art Fletcher
Art Fletcher
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