Two Plead Guilty in Heroin Case at Webb County Jail

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U.S. Attorney’s OfficeJanuary 09, 2012

Southern District of TexasLAREDO, TX—Norma Alicia Flores-Recio, 36, and Oscar Segura, 44, have pleaded guilty to providing and attempting to obtain heroin, respectively, in the Webb County Jail, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today. U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Scott Hacker accepted Flores-Recio and Segura’s guilty pleas and is expected to file a report and recommendation with Senior U.S. District Judge George P. Kazen recommending that the pleas be accepted and the defendants be convicted of the federal felony offense.

At today’s hearing, Flores-Recio admitted to packaging heroin in greeting cards and sending to Segura at his direction. Segura also admitted that he attempted to obtain heroin while in Webb County Jail. The cards were intercepted by Webb County Jail guards.

At the hearing today, the United States provided information regarding the overall investigation by the FBI and the Webb County Sheriff’s Office. The government contended that they could prove that guards of the Webb County jail intercepted three different greeting cards containing heroin and that these greeting cards were addressed to Segura. Based upon recorded conversations, Segura directed Flores-Recio to package the heroin in the cards and send them to Webb County jail.

Flores-Recio and Segura each face a maximum punishment of 10 years’ incarceration as well as a $250,000 fine at their sentencing hearings, which are expected in spring of this year. Each has been in custody where they will remain pending that sentencing hearing.

The investigation leading to the charges were conducted by the FBI and Webb County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys James Hepburn and Elizabeth R. Rabe are prosecuting the case.