HSI, federal partner investigation results in former Texas trooper’s sentencing for lying to federal agents

McALLEN, Texas — A former Texas trooper was sentenced to federal prison for lying to federal agents during a drug investigation following Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI and the Department of Public Safety’s Texas Rangers.

Pablo Talavera Jr., 36, of Pharr, was sentenced Dec. 14 by a federal judge to serve 18 months in federal prison immediately followed by two years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard opposing arguments regarding the appropriate sentence. U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez imposed a greater sentence due to Talavera’s position as a law enforcement officer when he committed the offense. Talavera pleaded guilty Aug. 28.

“Using a law enforcement position to commit a crime poses a serious threat to the community. This case highlights the fact that the law enforcement community will not tolerate crime, especially when committed by those sworn to oppose it,” said HSI San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee. “It should serve as a warning that local, state and federal agencies are working together to root out those that would hide behind a position of authority to break the law and bring them to justice.”

According to court documents, in 2019, law enforcement officials initiated an investigation targeting an organization responsible for transporting drugs from the Rio Grande Valley to Tennessee. Talavera’s father was the organization’s leader. The investigation revealed Talavera had used his position as a Department of Public Safety trooper to assist his father by running license plates of vehicles believed to belong to law enforcement officials. Talavera originally denied knowledge of his father’s participation in drug trafficking. However, he ultimately admitted it and that he had assisted his father by checking the license plates.

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

Talavera’s father was previously convicted of drug trafficking and is now serving a 21-year federal sentence.

HSI and the FBI conducted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation with the assistance of the Texas Rangers. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multiagency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.

Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas Jesse Salazar is prosecuting the case.

HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel and finance move. HSI’s workforce of more than 8,700 employees consists of more than 6,000 special agents assigned to 237 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’ largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.

Source: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE.gov)