Arturo Bazan, a 28-year-old resident of Corpus Christi, has been sentenced to 228 months in federal prison following his conviction for drug trafficking. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Bazan had pleaded guilty on November 14, 2023. U.S. District Judge David S. Morales, presiding over the case, ordered Bazan to serve the lengthy prison term immediately, followed by five years of supervised release. The decision came after the court considered evidence from the crime scene and reviewed Bazan's gang activities on social media. The court emphasized the severity of the crime and its detrimental impact on the community.
The investigation into Bazan began in 2023 when authorities were looking into a local heroin distribution network. This led them to Bazan and his associates operating from a residence in Corpus Christi.
On August 9, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Bazan's residence. During the operation, they uncovered a significant amount of illegal substances, including over a kilogram of meth, three kilograms of cocaine, and over 900 grams of heroin. Additionally, more than $20,000 in cash was seized. Controlled substances such as alprazolam pills, Xanax, and marijuana were also found.
Multiple firearms, including a Ruger 5.7 handgun and an Anderson Arms AM-15 in Bazan's bedroom, were recovered. Both firearms were loaded with a full magazine. Further investigation revealed Bazan's involvement as a local gang member engaged in the distribution of narcotics on both an individual and large-scale basis.
Arturo Bazan will remain in custody until his transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility, which will be determined in the near future. The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Corpus Christi Police Department.
