Southeast Texas man pleads guilty to drug trafficking charges following HSI Corpus Christi investigation

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A southeast Texas man admitted to drug trafficking charges Nov. 1, following an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Corpus Christi with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Corpus Christi Police Department.

Jose Adame Jr., a 44-year-old resident of Corpus Christi, pleaded guilty Tuesday in the Southern District of Texas to possession with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin.

On April 1, authorities executed a search warrant at Adame’s residence and discovered approximately 389 grams of black tar heroin, crack cocaine, a digital scale and $4,000 in a kitchen cabinet. They also found several bags of marijuana in a Ms. Pac-Man arcade gaming cabinet.

U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos is scheduled to impose sentencing Feb. 14, 2023. At that time, Adame faces up to 40 years in federal prison and a possible $5 million maximum fine.

Adame will remain in custody pending the sentencing hearing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Overman is prosecuting the case.

HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of over 10,400 employees consists of more than 6,800 special agents assigned to 225 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.

For more news and information on HSI Houston’s efforts to aggressively investigate narcotics smuggling and trafficking in Southeast Texas follow us on Twitter @HSIHouston.