TEXARKANA, Texas - Flashy jewelry, real estate, guns, cars and cash are among the items defendants in a drug trafficking case are forfeiting as part of plea agreements with federal prosecutors in Texarkana.
Jose Armando Rosales-Bernal, 27, of Dallas appeared Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Caroline Craven in Texarkana's downtown federal building and entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, cocaine. Rosales-Bernal admits in a factual basis document filed Tuesday that he was a leader and manager of an operation that moved drugs from Mexico into the U.S. for distribution.
Federal and state law enforcement targeted the group in an investigation dubbed Operation Dirty Bird that resulted in multiple defendants being indicted in the Texarkana Division of the Eastern District of Texas.
During a period from at least in 2018 to October 2019, Rosales-Bernal was responsible for distributing at least 150 kilograms of cocaine that he sold for at least $4 million. Rosales-Bernal's factual basis notes that two houses in Dallas were hubs for the drug trafficking activity.
Rosales-Bernal has agreed to forfeit his interest in the real estate, several cars including a red Dodge Charger Hellcat, and multiple firearms. Also forfeited by Rosales-Bernal is a jewel-encrusted necklace with a rooster pendant, a silver Rolex watch and a watch covered in jewels that were seized Oct. 31, 2019.
Rosales-Bernal will return to court for sentencing before U.S. District Judge Robert Schroeder III once the court has received a report including a recommendation for sentencing under federal guidelines.
Rodolfo Javier Falcon, 36, of Titus County, pleaded guilty Aug. 20 and is awaiting sentencing. He agreed to forfeit $5 million in drug proceeds.
Another defendant in the case, Armando Moreno Jr., was sentenced in June to 108 months in federal prison for his role in the conspiracy. Gerardo Cabrera Ramirez, Julio Villareal and Elezar Reyes pleaded guilty this summer and await sentencing.
Charges remain pending against some defendants while, others charged in a separate but related indictment have been sentenced as well.