TEXARKANA, Texas - A convicted drug trafficker from Chicago testified Thursday in a federal trial here that he accepted delivery of kilos of cocaine and heroin from a New Boston, Texas, man in 2017 and 2018.
The man testified that Armando Moya, 47, was clearly in charge when Armando Moya and his brother-in-law drove from Texas to Chicago with large quantities of cocaine and heroin.
The testimony was a result of questioning by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Hornok. The Chicago man has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing in the Northern District of Illinois.
The Chicago man testified that his business dealings with Armando Moya ended after Moya and his brother-in-law used a set of just-purchased screwdrivers to remove kilos of drugs from the door panel of a rental car in the parking lot of an auto parts store in the Archer Heights area of Chicago. The Chicago man said he complained to his "bosses" about Armando Moya's lack of discretion and that he no longer accepted deliveries from him after that.
"I was freaking out. It was a crazy thing to do with cameras and people around. I was surprised they were doing this in plain sight," the Chicago man testified.
The Chicago man testified that the quality of cocaine he received from Armando Moya was high as evidenced by its "shiny, fish scale" appearance and that the quality of heroin Armando Moya brought was good as well. The Chicago man testified that he is a Mexican national who has lived in the United States as a legal resident since his teen years and that he expects to be deported after serving a federal sentence for drug trafficking.
The Chicago man said his duties as an employee of a Mexican drug cartel included working security at parties on ranches in remote areas of Mexico. The Chicago man said the parties often included as entertainment the presence of exotic animals such as baby tigers, baby crocodiles, women, weapons, liquor and drugs. The Chicago man testified that his cartel bosses lived lavish lifestyles and drove cars such as Bentleys and Ferraris. He described a boss' purchase of a horse "directly from Spain" for $300,000 "just to show off" at parties.
The Chicago man testified that working security with him at cartel parties would be members of the Mexican army and Mexican police.
Special Agent Max Mella of the DEA testified Thursday that his investigation determined that Armando Moya and his brother-in-law, who is currently serving a federal prison sentence negotiated through a plea bargain, delivered at least 109 kilos and as many as 150 of heroin, cocaine and fentanyl to individuals in Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and New York beginning in late 2017 until Armando Moya's arrest June 7, 2018.
Witnesses who testified for the government beginning Tuesday describe a pattern of drug trafficking by Armando Moya, his brother -Mexican national Jose Moya -and Armando Moya's brother-in-law, who routinely acted as a driver.
Jose Moya, who is currently serving time in a federal prison, used two women to get kilos of drugs past a checkpoint in Falfurrias, Texas. One of the women testified that she wore long, billowing skirts to hide packages of drugs which were stuffed in leggings she wore underneath.
Jose Moya routinely rented cars from an Avis at the McAllen, Texas, airport which he would then drive to Dallas or New Boston with the women and drugs. Jose Moya would allegedly hand the drugs over to Armando Moya and Armando Moya would allegedly hand over cash he had collected for transport by his brother back south.
Armando Moya took the stand Thursday afternoon and denied any participation in drug trafficking under questioning by Texarkana lawyer Jeff Harrelson.
Armando Moya testified that he can't explain how cell phone tower records place his phone on various trips and claimed that nearly $200,000 in U.S. currency discovered in his New Boston home June 7, 2018, did not come from anything illegal.
Under cross examination from Hornok, Armando Moya testified that some of the cash found in his home was an adult daughter's "grant money" and that some of the cash had mysteriously appeared in boxes on his front porch along with a cell phone. Armando Moya claimed he took the SIM card from the phone he was using and placed it in the phone left on his porch, to explain the digital trail Hornok and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Locker claim are powerful evidence.
When asked by Hornok to explain "narco-themed" searches and websites his phone browser shows, Armando Moya replied, "Because I love to read."
Hornok also pointed out that all of the money found in Armando Moya's house was bundled with the same black rubber bands and asked Armando Moya to explain how money left on his porch was wrapped identically to that he claimed he earned legitimately and bundled himself.
"I guess they went to Walmart like I did," Armando Moya testified, referring to the black rubber bands.
Armando Moya denied that a Raven Arms .25 caliber semi-automatic pistol found in a lock box with stacks of cash in his closet was used to protect himself while moving drugs and currency. Armando Moya said the gun was a gift from his father.
Both the government and defense rested their cases Thursday afternoon. U.S. District Judge Robert Schroeder III placed the jury in an evening recess with instructions to return to Texarkana's downtown federal building to hear closing arguments Friday morning.
Armando Moya is charged with conspiracy to traffic cocaine, heroin and fentanyl and with carrying a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. If convicted, Armando Moya will be scheduled for sentencing at a later date before Schroeder. Armando Moya is facing 35 years to life in federal prison.