Former Progreso mayor sentenced to nearly 4 years in prison for smuggling drugs

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Former Progreso Mayor Gerardo “Jerry” Alanis, who confessed to “financially investing” in cocaine shipments, was sentenced to nearly four years in prison Thursday.

Alanis — who served on the Progreso City Council from 2014 to 2024 — appeared before a judge in Brownsville on Thursday morning.

“I acknowledge that my actions were wrong,” Alanis said, adding that he took full responsibility for what happened.

Alanis participated in a conspiracy to ship large amounts of cocaine from Progreso to Houston.

Other people who participated in the conspiracy included his brother, former Progreso school board President Francisco “Frank” Alanis, and former Progreso Mayor Arturo Aleman.

Informants said they stored and packaged cocaine at Dorothy Thompson Middle School in Progreso, where Jerry worked.

Federal agents searched the school in October 2023.

“Information from a source stated that the narcotics were being held in one of the rooms that had a key,” U.S. Border Patrol Agent Pablo Barrera said during a hearing in March 2024. “And Mr. Alanis was one of the only ones to hold access to the key.”

When the agents showed up, Jerry wasn’t at work.

They did, however, find a locked room, Barrera said, and nobody could find the key.

“We were able to get the maintenance service from the school to forcefully enter that room, which took them approximately 30 to 45 minutes to get in,” Barrera said during the hearing. “When the room was open, there was nothing inside.”

While they didn’t find any drugs, Barrera said agents noticed signs of suspicious activity.

“We did not find any narcotics that day, but we did find two boxes of vacuum sealed bags used to repackage narcotics — commonly, very commonly used to repackage narcotics — inside the IT room,” Barrera said during the hearing.

Agents also searched a home owned by Jerry’s mother, Maria De La Luz Alanis.

During the search, agents discovered about $722,000 hidden in three black safes, Barrera said, adding that Maria claimed the money belonged to her son Frank.

Homeland Security Investigations, which is part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, arrested Frank in October 2023.

Agents returned to Progreso in March 2024 with a warrant for Jerry.

After hearing about the conspiracy to stash cocaine in a middle school, U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen Betancourt ordered Jerry held without bond.

“And so, therefore, I will find that you are a danger to the community, by clear and convincing evidence,” Betancourt said during the hearing. “Based on the conduct that has been presented of the use of a school — a public school in the United States — to traffic narcotics.”

Jerry appealed.

U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. set bond at $100,000 on the condition that Jerry resign as mayor and stop working for the school district.

Jerry resigned less than 48 hours later.

“I would like to thank you and the City of Progreso for the opportunity to have served in this position for the past 10 years,” Jerry wrote to City Manager Alfredo Espinosa on April 4, 2024.

His brother, Frank, resigned from the school board that May.

“Throughout the years, my only role has always been to give the very best of my abilities for the best interest of the students,” Frank wrote in his resignation letter. “I find my way in a position to move on apart from the School District.”

Faced with the prospect of life in prison, Frank and Jerry pleaded guilty.

Frank, who admitted to “financially backing” the drug trafficking organization, received 12 years and six months in prison.

Jerry, who confessed to “financially investing” in multiple cocaine shipments, returned to court Thursday for sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lance Watt, the federal prosecutor, said Jerry would “invest” in drug shipments, putting up money for 1 or 2 kilograms of cocaine.

Jerry also picked up drug money for other people who participated in the conspiracy, Watt said.

After working his way through several objections, Rodriguez, the federal judge, said guidelines published by the U.S. Sentencing Commission suggested 37 to 46 months in prison.

Watt requested 45 months.

Jerry Alanis was the mayor of Progreso when he smuggled drugs, Watt said, and stored the cocaine in a middle school.

Attorney O. Rene Flores of Edinburg, who represented Jerry, requested 37 months. In his arguments, Flores emphasized that Frank had convinced Jerry to join the conspiracy.

Rodriguez sentenced Jerry to 46 months and fined him $15,000.

“I have to impose a sentence that will deter not just you but others from engaging in similar conduct,” Rodriguez said.

Jerry must self-surrender by noon on Aug. 22.