Drug stash house operator heads to prison

McALLEN, Texas - A 47-year-old Pharr resident has been sentenced for his role in operating a drug stash house in north McAllen, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Ivan Garza pleaded guilty Dec. 20, 2023.

U.S. District Judge John D. Rainey has now ordered Garza to serve 87 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by four years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard arguments regarding the possession of firearms in connection to the protection of drugs and drug money. In handing down the sentence, Judge Rainey noted Garza was not merely present at a drug stash house.

On Feb. 23, 2021, law enforcement responded to gunfire at a residence located in a north McAllen neighborhood. Upon arrival at the scene, authorities determined armed masked men had pulled Garza out of a black Chevy SUV as he was leaving the residence.

Law enforcement also learned that others at the residence opened fire from a balcony at the masked men as they fled the scene in Garza's SUV.

In response, authorities made contact with Garza and other individuals staying at the residence. Following a search warrant, authorities seized three handguns, bundles of money totaling $268,000 and four kilograms of cocaine. Video from the residence's cameras revealed Garza and others moved several of the seized cocaine bundles just before the masked men struck.

The investigation also revealed the black Chevy SUV the masked men took from Garza contained cocaine.

Garza will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The McAllen Police Department and FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jesse Salazar prosecuted the case.