After the FBI arrested her father-in-law on federal drug charges, Alondra de Leon took aggressive action.
De Leon texted someone who bought drugs from her husband’s family and is still in debt. They set up a meeting.
Less than a month later, the FBI arrested De Leon red-handed with drug money of about $30,000.
De León appeared in court on June 15 for sentencing and said he was “neither wrong nor wrong.” “It’s just a bad decision.”
De Leon pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy. Instead, her prosecution dropped the firearms charges against her.
“I learned from it. It’s a tough road,” said De Leon. “it was not supposed to be like this.”
U.S. District Judge Mikaela Alvarez has sentenced Alondra Jacqueline de Leon, 27, of rural Edinburgh, to two years in prison, followed by three years in the case of supervised release.
Alondra Jacqueline de Leon was sentenced to two years in federal prison. (Photo credit: Dave Hendricks/The Progress Times)
“I think a young woman could have made a completely different choice,” Alvarez said.
Alvarez said drug trafficking is a family business for some people and they don’t hesitate to break the law. But de Leon chose to get involved.
“Because of the children, you are now bound to this family no matter what,” Alvarez said. “But going forward, I have some options as to what I do and whether I stay involved with my family.”
The FBI arrested De Leon during an investigation into his father-in-law Pablo Talavera Sr. and his brother Elias Talavera.
They allegedly smuggled methamphetamine from Texas to Tennessee in oxygen tanks with fake bottoms. documents submitted by the public prosecutor Located in the Western District of Tennessee.
In May 2021, the FBI arranged for an informant to purchase one kilogram of heroin and two kilograms of methamphetamine from Elias Talavera.
The informant promised Elias Talavera to pay for the drugs later.
But in June, border guards arrested Elias Talavera.
The informant began paying Pablo Talavera Sr. instead, under the supervision of an FBI agent.
When Pablo Talavera Sr. was arrested on federal drug charges in August, an informant received a text message from De Leon.
The two met in person on August 20th.
“During the meeting, De Leon explained that he had contacted E. Talavera and was asking him to give her the money he owed E. Talavera,” the paper reported. criminal complaint Against De Leon.
They met again on September 2nd, when an informant handed her $2,000, and on September 16th, an informant handed her a red bag full of cash. De Leon knew about her drug dealings and she recorded all payments on her ledger, she said.
The FBI arrested De Leon minutes after the Sept. 16 meeting.
“This is a very serious case,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Jesse Salazar. “A comprehensive investigation resulted in the family being sent to prison. very long term“
Along with De Leon, the FBI arrested her brother-in-law Pablo Talavera Jr., a Texas Department of Public Safety officer.
Pablo Talavera Sr. and De Leon plead guilty. Charges against Elias Talavera and Pablo Talavera Jr. are still pending.
According to Mission attorney Rick Salinas, De Leon didn’t know members of the Talavera family were drug smugglers when they first met.
“I don’t think she knew anything about her family. I think she found out over time,” Salinas said. “But she thinks she couldn’t do anything about it for her. She already had a baby.”
