Businessman with links to Rio Grande Valley politicians pleads not guilty to drug trafficking, money laundering

McALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A businessman with links to Rio Grande Valley politicians pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking and money laundering charges on Monday.

Armando Adan Aguilar Jr., 45, of Mission smuggled “thousands of kilograms of cocaine” through South Texas from 2022 to 2025, according to the criminal complaint against him, and laundered money through businesses with links to local politicians.

“Not guilty,” Aguilar said Monday afternoon, when he appeared before a federal judge for arraignment.

Aguilar spent the past 25 years smuggling cocaine and serving prison sentences.

In 2001, a law enforcement task force caught Aguilar with 10 kilograms — about 22 pounds — of cocaine.

A federal judge sentenced him to 5 years and 10 months in prison. In 2004, however, Aguilar was released after serving just 2 years and 26 days.

Documents that explain the decision remain sealed.

Less than five years later, the Texas Department of Public Safety caught Aguilar selling cocaine.

Aguilar met with an informant “several times to discuss the details of the purchase of fifteen kilograms of cocaine,” according to a criminal complaint filed in the case.

The informant agreed to buy 1 kilogram.

“If that transaction went well,” according to the criminal complaint, “then the additional fourteen kilograms would be purchased a short time later.”

Aguilar pleaded guilty to a federal drug trafficking charge. A judge sentenced him to 5 years.

The U.S. Bureau of Prisons released Aguilar in February 2017.

After his second conviction, Aguilar attempted to reinvent himself.

Aguilar created more than a dozen corporations, according to documents filed with the Texas Secretary of State’s Office, and partnered with local politicians on business deals.

He started AGM Enterprises LLC in March 2017, just a month after being released from prison.

AGM Enterprises purchased a house from Pharr Deputy City Manager Edward M. Wylie in August 2019, according to a deed filed with the Hidalgo County Clerk’s Office.

“I don’t know the guy,” Wylie said in a text message.

Wylie said he “asked a bunch of people if they knew anyone who wanted to buy it” because he’d already purchased a new home.

“I don’t remember who said they had someone who wanted to buy it as an investment (it was 2019),” Wylie said, adding that a title company handled all the paperwork and he never met the buyer.

Wylie hasn’t been accused of any wrongdoing.

Aguilar changed the company’s name to A3 Acquisitions in May 2022.

Five months later, A3 Acquisitions partnered with Brownstone Consultants LLC to buy part of a commercial development in McAllen.

Juan Carlos Del Angel, who serves on the Hidalgo County Regional Mobility Authority board, is the managing partner at Brownstone, according to his LinkedIn page. Albert Cardenas, who serves on the McAllen Public Utility board and the Hidalgo County Appraisal District board, also works for the company.

Brownstone posted a photo of Del Angel, Cardenas and Aguilar on the company’s Facebook page during mid-September. In the photo, they’re all wearing polo shirts with the Brownstone logo.

It’s unclear whether Aguilar worked for Brownstone.

In 2022, when Brownstone submitted a proposal to Hidalgo County, the company listed someone named “Armando Aguilar” as Brownstone’s safety coordinator, according to documents released under the Texas Public Information Act.

Cardenas and Del Angel didn’t respond to requests for comment. They haven’t been accused of any wrongdoing.

Aguilar, Cardenas and Del Angel created BStone Group LLC in December 2021.

It’s unclear what, if any, connection exists between BStone Group and Brownstone Consultants.

Aguilar and Cardenas created another corporation, Anderson Heights LLC, in June 2023.

Documents filed with the Texas Secretary of State’s Office don’t reveal any details about the company, which doesn’t appear to own any property in Hidalgo County or Cameron County.

Aguilar, Cardenas and McAllen City Commissioner Tony Aguirre Jr. created Los Prados Harlingen LLC in August 2024.

“I had no idea this guy had a past,” Aguirre said. “Or was currently doing things — if he did. And I don’t know. He seemed like an awfully nice guy.”

Aguilar, Aguirre and Del Angel also worked together on Camino de Verdad, a subdivision in Mercedes.

Apparently flush with cash, Aguilar donated more than $42,000 to Rio Grande Valley politicians, including:

* More than $16,000 to Hidalgo County Precinct 3 Commissioner Everardo “Ever” Villarreal.

“That name doesn’t ring a bell,” Villarreal told CBS 4 in September, adding that it’s possible he met Aguilar in passing at a campaign fundraiser but didn’t remember him.

* $7,500 to Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez.

“It must have been pooled by Albert,” Cortez told CBS 4 in September. “I just don’t remember or know him.”

* $6,500 to Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr.

“I don’t know or ever remember meeting Mr. Aguilar,” Treviño said in a text message. “As far as him donating to my campaign, I can only presume that he was supporting my campaign and candidacy.”

* $5,000 to Pharr Forward, a political action committee that supports Pharr Mayor Ambrosio 

“Amos” Hernandez and candidates for Pharr City Commission.

Pharr Forward reported the donation in January 2022, when former San Benito school board President Michael Anthony Vargas served as treasurer. Vargas died in 2024.

The current treasurer, Eliza Alvarado of McAllen, said that she wasn’t familiar with the donation and would follow up.

* $5,000 to Hidalgo County Precinct 2 Commissioner Eduardo “Eddie” Cantu.

“I didn’t know he’d been in jail,” Cantu told CBS 4 in September. “If you ever see him, he looks like a — I guess you can’t judge a book by its cover, right — but he looks like a normal, everyday guy.”

* $1,500 to Hidalgo County District Attorney Toribio “Terry” Palacios.

“I know who you’re talking about because that’s been the talk of the town, right?” Palacios said. “But I don’t remember him.”

* $1,000 to state District Judge Nereida Lopez-Singleterry, who ran against Palacios in 2022.

Lopez-Singleterry didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Homeland Security Investigations, which is part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, arrested Aguilar in mid-September, when he traveled to Las Vegas for a boxing match.

Agents “received information” that Aguilar distributed thousands of kilograms of cocaine from 2022 to 2025, according to the criminal complaint against him.

Other people arrested during the investigation told federal agents that Aguilar laundered money through business deals.

“A review of records showed that AGUILAR, through his company A3 Acquisitions (‘A3’), purchased a property with Business 1 for $776,891.00,” according to the criminal complaint. “According to records received by HSI, the purchase was funded by a $576,391.86 cashier’s check provided by A3.”

Agents also caught Aguilar meeting with another suspect at a home owned by Business 1.

“On the evening of March 27, 2024, Agents observed Defendant 3 meet with AGUILAR at a residence near Mission, Texas,” according to the criminal complaint. “Records obtained by HSI showed that AGUILAR met with Defendant 3 to obtain ‘paper.’”

Homeland Security Investigations believed “paper” was code for drug money.

Information posted on the internet listed Aguilar as the “Supervisor of Real Estate Development” for Business 1, according to the criminal complaint, which doesn’t identify Business 1 by name.

The criminal complaint also summarized messages between Aguilar and someone described as “the current owner of Business 2.”

“Bank records show that AGUILAR, either personally or through his business entities, paid Business 2 over $100,000.00 between approximately November 2021 through September 2023,” according to the criminal complaint. “Business 1 notably paid over $440,000 to Business 2 during the same period.”

Documents filed in the case don’t identify Business 2 by name.

Aguilar appeared before a judge Monday afternoon wearing an orange sweatshirt and black pants. During a brief hearing, he waived a formal reading of the indictment and pleaded not guilty.

Attorney Rick Salinas of Mission, who represents Aguilar, said he couldn’t comment on the case.

“I can’t say anything,” Salinas said. “But history tends to repeat itself, especially in Hidalgo County.”

Aguilar is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess 5 kilograms or more of cocaine with intent to distribute; two counts of possession of 5 kilograms or more of cocaine with intent to distribute; two counts of possession of 500 grams or more of cocaine with intent to distribute; and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

If convicted on the drug conspiracy charge, Aguilar faces 10 years to life in federal prison.