Skip to main content
January 29, 2025McAllen, TX, United StatesNarcotics

HSI RGV, multi-agency investigation results in the sentencing of a former deputy sheriff for drug trafficking

MCALLEN, Texas — A former deputy with the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office was ordered to prison following his conviction of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Rio Grande Valley (RGV), in coordination with the FBI, conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces investigation with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office and Mission Police Department.

Baldemar Cardenas, 39, from McAllen, was sentenced Jan. 28 by Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane to serve 46 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted his position as a deputy at the time of the offense and the serious issues with law enforcement authorities assisting drug traffickers. Cardenas pleaded guilty April 1, 2022. At the time of his plea, Cardenas admitted that in January 2020, he conspired with a drug trafficking organization.

According to court documents, members of the group would receive kilogram quantities of highly pure cocaine. They would then utilize small portions of the drugs to create sham cocaine with very low purity.

Cardenas ensured authorities seized the fake bundles by providing information to local law enforcement agencies. The information would enable authorities to conduct the seizure of the low purity cocaine, allow co-conspirators to avoid responsibility for stealing the cocaine from their source of supply and the distribution of the stolen cocaine for profit.

In order to further the scheme and in exchange for compensation, Cardenas provided information to local law enforcement in January 2020 in order to effectuate the seizure of approximately 33 kilograms of sham cocaine bundles. Cardenas falsely claimed a confidential source provided the information. Based on the information he gave, law enforcement seized the multi-kilogram sham bundles of cocaine in Mission.

Laboratory testing on the bundles revealed a cocaine purity level of only 1.5%.

Cardenas was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Roberto Lopez Jr. from the Southern District of Texas prosecuted the case.

Updated:

You have been selected to participate in a brief survey about your experience today with ICE.gov.