Former Texas State Trooper, Pablo Talavera Jr., 35, accused of assisting his father’s drug trafficking organization pleaded guilty on Monday. According to a court document filed US District Court Southern District of Texas, Talavera knowingly and willfully lied during an interview with FBI agents in April 2019, when drug smugglers kidnapped his father. Although the former trooper wasn’t involved with drug trafficking, he knew for years about his father’s side gig.
“Talavera lied to the FBI during a critical moment — betraying his badge and breaching the public trust,” U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani said in a statement. “In doing so, Pablo Talavera chose his father’s criminal organization over the people he was sworn to protect. Now, this office will hold him to account for his corruption.”
A grand jury indicted Talavera Jr. in November 2021. The indictment charged him with participating in a conspiracy to possess methamphetamine and heroin with intent to distribute.
Faced with a minimum of 10 years in prison, Talavera Jr. struck a deal with prosecutors.Talavera Jr. agreed to plead guilty to making a false statement to FBI agents, which is punishable by a maximum of 5 years in prison.
In exchange, prosecutors agreed to drop the drug charge. Sentencing is scheduled for November 7, 2023.
