Mexican Illegal Alien Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Prison for Federal Drug Crime

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Braulio Villa-Chairez, also known as "Raul," 32, a Mexican national living illegally in the United States, was sentenced today to 12 years and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has an immigration detainer on Villa-Chairez and he will be subject to deportation proceedings upon the completion of his prison sentence.

According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning in March 2024 until in or around about October 2024, Villa-Chairez conspired with other individuals to distribute methamphetamine. As part of his guilty plea, Villa-Chairez admitted that he assisted the conspiracy by shipping methamphetamine to West Virginia and elsewhere.

In July 2024, Villa-Chairez shipped two separate packages containing a total of 1.97 kilograms of methamphetamine "ice" from Houston, Texas, to a customer in West Virginia after receiving instructions from a co-conspirator. On or about July 18, 2024, Villa-Chairez picked up a package containing $4,800 sent by the customer, notified a co-conspirator that he had obtained the package, and re-shipped it to Washington state.

In August 2024, Villa-Chairez shipped a package containing approximately 963.8 grams of methamphetamine to Alabama. In October 2024, Villa-Chairez assisted a co-conspirator who was delivering approximately 5.905 kilograms of methamphetamine "ice" and approximately 4.402 kilograms of methamphetamine by vehicle to West Virginia by providing him with directions to a hotel and a casino in Kanawha County.

As part of his guilty plea, Villa-Chairez also admitted that he has lived illegally in the United States under the name "Jose Jesus Villa-Chairez" and has been convicted of two federal felony offenses under that name. Villa-Chairez has been previously deported from the United States three times and illegally re-entered the country a fourth time prior to his current offense.

Villa-Chairez and two other Mexican nationals living illegally in the United States were indicted by a federal grand jury as the result of a joint investigation by federal and local law enforcement into a conspiracy that was responsible for delivering large quantities of methamphetamine to West Virginia and elsewhere from Houston. Co-defendant Silvester Barcenas, 24, was sentenced on February 11, 2026, to four years and nine months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine. Lead defendant German Francisco Diaz, also known as "Trulio," 41, remains a fugitive. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Israel Chaires-Villa, 24, a Mexican national, was sentenced on November 20, 2025, to three years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for to possession with intent to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine. Chaires-Villa pleaded guilty in a separate indictment resulting from the joint investigation.

ICE has immigration detainers on Barcenas and Chaires-Villa, and each will be transferred to ICE administrative custody for removal proceedings upon the completion of his prison sentence.

"This case is a stark example of what happens when our immigration laws are ignored," said United States Attorney Moore Capito. "This defendant was deported three times, illegally returned to the United States, and then trafficked nearly 60 pounds of methamphetamine into our communities. Our country cannot tolerate a revolving door where individuals repeatedly violate our border, return illegally, and profit from poisoning Americans. If you come into this country illegally and deal deadly drugs, expect federal law enforcement to find you, prosecute you, and put you behind bars."

Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff's Office, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department.

Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACERLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-176.

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