Ricardo Mujica-Calderon Gets 32-Year Federal Term for Meth, Firearms

Ricardo Mujica-Calderon, a 36-year-old Mexican national, received a 384-month federal prison sentence after pleading guilty to methamphetamine trafficking, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and illegal re-entry into the United States. The sentence, imposed in federal court in San Antonio, follows a multiagency investigation that recovered large quantities of drugs, multiple firearms, and a stolen pistol from Mujica-Calderon’s home.

Federal agents say Mujica-Calderon sold methamphetamine from his vehicle at a San Antonio motel in January 2022. A search warrant executed at his residence in April 2022 led to his attempting to flee through a backyard; officers located him about one block away. During processing he provided a Mexican identification card in another person’s name and, while being transported to jail, slipped his left handcuff and became violent with an officer before being re-secured.

Drug Enforcement Administration agents found 13 kilograms of methamphetamine in a guest bedroom closet and five firearms in the master bedroom, several of which were loaded with extended magazines. Agents also located a safe containing approximately 192.5 grams of methamphetamine, 227.7 grams of cocaine, $12,725 in cash, and a semi-automatic pistol that had been reported stolen. Mujica-Calderon was named in a six-count indictment on May 4, 2022, and on Oct. 17, 2025, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 500 kilograms of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of illegal re-entry. U.S. District Court Judge Jason K. Pulliam presided.

Prosecutors and federal law enforcement emphasized collaboration across agencies in the case. “This successful prosecution of a felon with multiple convictions for illegal re-entry, assault of a family member, and a DWI with a child under 15 years of age is a great example of the level of collaboration that can be achieved between federal, state, and local law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. DEA Special Agent in Charge Miguel Madrigal added, “Mujica-Calderon profited from peddling poison in our San Antonio neighborhoods. When DEA agents searched his home, they found not only lethal drugs but also numerous firearms, some of which were stolen. We've seen time and time again that when drugs and guns are together, violence is always looming. There will never be a place for those who bring about devastation to our communities.” ICE San Antonio Enforcement and Removal Operations Field Office Director Miguel Vergara said, “ICE will continue working with our law enforcement partners to identify illegal aliens who are not only illegally present in this country, but also commit crimes and endanger our communities. ICE placed a detainer on this criminal illegal alien. Upon his release from custody, he will be transferred to ICE and deported to his home country.”

The case was investigated by the DEA, ICE, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Devine Police Department, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Yuen as part of Operation Take Back America, a national initiative targeting transnational criminal organizations and violent crime tied to illegal immigration and trafficking.

For Val Verde County residents, the sentence is a reminder of the cross-border dynamics that shape public safety in the region. Large seizures of methamphetamine and a cache of firearms in one house highlight the risks that drug markets bring to neighborhoods and the importance of federal, state, and local cooperation. Mujica-Calderon faces eventual transfer to ICE and deportation upon release, and law enforcement officials say the case will remain part of broader efforts to disrupt networks that link narcotics and weapons in border communities.