VICTORIA, Texas – The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani have announced that two Sinton residents have been sentenced for their involvement in narcotics trafficking on local streets. With this sentencing, almost a dozen criminals have been brought to justice.
Jonathan "John Bear" Olbera, 37, pleaded guilty on March 8, 2022, for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, while Lisza Marie Vera, 44, entered her plea on October 5, 2020, for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute meth.
Today, Senior U.S. District Judge John D. Rainey sentenced Olbera to 78 months in federal prison, while Vera was ordered to serve a 60-month term of imprisonment. After serving their sentences, both individuals will be under supervision for three years.
During 2019, law enforcement agencies at the local, state, and federal levels launched investigations to combat drug trafficking and gang-related activities in small towns across San Patricio County, including Sinton. Despite its small population of less than 6,000 residents, drug trafficking and gang violence pose a serious threat to the safety and well-being of Sinton's residents.
The investigations revealed that the Garcia drug trafficking organization was operating in the area. The group included members and associates of various gangs, such as the Calaveras Outlaw motorcycle gang, Texas Syndicate, 59 Bounty Hunters, and the Bloods. They were found to be operating out of a multi-family residence known as "The Compound," situated in the heart of Sinton. Shockingly, this location was located within 1000 feet of a public park and an elementary school.
Hamdani, a concerned resident of Sinton, expressed his outrage at the situation, stating that these gangs cared nothing about the safety of Sinton's children and families when they distributed cocaine and meth. He hopes that the sentences handed down to these individuals will send a strong message to anyone else who might consider putting their neighbors at risk.
Olbera and Vera were involved in a group that distributed cocaine and large amounts of meth to residents in Sinton, Odem, and Aransas Pass. The organization was known to sell about a kilogram of meth every week. The leader of the group, Jacob Eli Garcia, 31, received a 300-month sentence in federal prison. The total sentences imposed in this case amount to approximately 1100 months in federal prison. Due to the criminal convictions in this case, “The Compound” was auctioned off. Olbera will remain in custody until transfer to a US Bureau of Prisons facility, while Vera was granted bond and will surrender voluntarily at a later date.
Aransas Pass Police Department Chief Eric Blanchard stated that the achievement showcased in this instance is a notable illustration of how community and public safety collaborations can work together for the welfare of everyone involved. He further acknowledged the significant role played by their federal associates in achieving this remarkable outcome.