PRM Prison Gang Member Sentenced to 19 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking

DEL RIO, Texas - A member of the Partido Revolucionario Mexicano (PRM) prison gang and a drug dealer for the gang were sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio for drug trafficking charges.

According to court documents, Clinton Ritchie, 34, of Eagle Pass, worked with other indicted co-conspirators to distribute narcotics in Eagle Pass from March 2019 to June 2021.

Chief Judge Alia Moses sentenced Ritchie to 235 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Co-defendant Carlos Daniel Rodriguez-Urrabazo, 41, of Eagle Pass, was also sentenced to 84 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.

"The significant sentencing of these criminals reflects the united commitment of law enforcement to stop the importation of drugs from Mexico and the subsequent distribution of illicit substances throughout our communities," said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. "Our successful prosecution is a testament to the hard work of the partnerships across federal, state and local levels."

"DEA will continue to work with our law enforcement to stop prison gang violence and drug trafficking from bleeding into our communities and devastating lives," said Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the DEA Houston Division.

"Our Texas communities deserve to live without the constant threat of drug violence," said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp of the FBI's San Antonio Field Office. "I want to thank our partners at Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Maverick County Sheriff's Office, Eagle Pass Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, and Homeland Security Investigations for their continued assistance in keeping our communities safe."

"These individuals represented a significant threat to the residents of Eagle Pass," said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee for HSI San Antonio. "Not only did they work for a vicious criminal enterprise, but Clinton Ritchie displayed a willingness to commit violence in furtherance of that enterprise. HSI and our partners stand united in ensuring that those who engage in violence and intimidation will face the full force of the law, sending a clear message that these acts will never be tolerated."

The DEA, FBI, HSI, Border Patrol, Maverick County Sheriff's Office, Eagle Pass Police Department and Texas Department of Public Safety investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Izaak Bruce and Holly Pavlinski prosecuted the case.

This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

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