SAN ANTONIO: A member of a ring that smuggled up to 400 kilos of hydroponic-grown marijuana to San Antonio was sentenced Monday to 28 months in federal prison.
James Palmer of California was the only one of seven members of the conspiracy to be sentenced after most of the others, including the ringleader, Ramsey A. Cadena of San Antonio, were granted delays until January.
The case largely targeted Cadena, who managed businesses that include Joint Venture Sandwich & Smoke Shop, a Corpus Christi restaurant that features hemp in its food. The business’ menu said the shop offers “sand-weed-ches” and “burr-weed-os.” He had previously been investigated by the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office.
Court records said Cadena, Palmer and their co-defendants distributed 100 to 400 kilograms, or 220 to 800 pounds, of marijuana between 2009 and 2014 in South Texas, with the defendants making more than $2 million from the deals, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the IRS’ Criminal Investigation division found.
Agents also found that the ring used an “interstate funnel account” as a way to help launder the money.
Palmer worked for one of Cadena’s drug suppliers in California and delivered marijuana loads to Cadena in San Antonio, court records said. Some of the marijuana was delivered to a home in Helotes owned by Cadena’s parents. Cadena lived there for a period.
“I’m definitely regretful,” Palmer told Senior U.S. District Judge David Alan Ezra during sentencing. “My family suffered. … I want the suffering to stop.”
Palmer cooperated, and as a reward, his punishment exposure was cut almost in half. The government recommended to the judge that Palmer be sentenced to 32 months in prison, which is below the recommended guidelines. The judge gave him 28 months.
Last week, the judge sentenced co-defendant Edward Brouchard of California to 30 months in prison for his role in delivering marijuana to Cadena.
Cadena pleaded guilty to trafficking conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy, and he agreed to give up interest in the home in Helotes, which he reportedly made mortgage payments on in cash. But his parents filed a claim for the property, saying it’s theirs. The $300,000 home is now tied up in civil forfeiture proceedings.
