How a barbershop chain helped move millions of dollars in heroin into the San Antonio area

The Gonzalez family owns about 9 barber shops and a barber college in San Antonio, Seguin and Floresville. The barber college (pictured) and six of those locations are among 10 properties that were forfeited to the feds as part of plea deals. Click forward to see the San Antonio-area properties seized and sold. Location: 364 Castroville Road, San Antonio, TX less The Gonzalez family owns about 9 barber shops and a barber college in San Antonio, Seguin and Floresville. The barber college (pictured) and six of those locations are among 10 properties that were forfeited to ... more Photo: Google Maps Photo: Google Maps Image 1 of / 42 Caption Close How a barbershop chain helped move millions of dollars in heroin into the San Antonio area 1 / 42 Back to Gallery

A drug ring moved millions of dollars of heroin into this area using barber shops in San Antonio, Seguin and Floresville, delivering the drugs to customers at the shops and laundering the proceeds with other cash generated by haircuts, federal authorities said.

The group moved at least $8 million worth of heroin between 2014 and 2015 alone, federal agents said.

Two members of the ring, Salvador Gonzalez, 52, and one of his sons, Adrian Gonzalez, 30, owned the Acapulco Barber Shop chain and were among eight people charged a year ago in the scheme. The pair pleaded guilty Monday to heroin-trafficking conspiracy and conspiracy to launder money.

RELATED: Map shows cartel drug smuggling routes into Texas

Video: Barbershop helped move millions of dollars of heroin

The shops were not necessarily “fronts” — they actually did cut customers’ hair, said John Convery, a lawyer for Adrian Gonzalez.

“These are legitimate, hardworking enterprises that serve a community purpose when run in a legitimate way,” he said.

Prosecutors contend proceeds from both the drug sales and haircuts were intermingled and used to buy numerous properties and business locations.

RELATED: Trio arrested in horrific child abuse case face up to life in prison

Agents said Salvador Gonzalez led the ring, while Adrian Gonzalez handled day-to-day operations. Sentencing was set for Jan. 19 before Chief U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia.

“We settled the case, perhaps not for the amounts or figures that were considered by the investigators, but certainly for some significant charges and amount that we could all agree on,” Convery said. “We’re just trying to accept responsbility and move toward a situation where we can … get back to legitimate activity of being barbers.”

During the investigation, agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation division tapped the phones of family members and listened to Salvador Gonzalez and his relatives discuss sales and movement of heroin, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joey Contreras said.

RELATED: United Airlines pilot gets prison for revenge porn against Texas girlfriend

Agents also seized 15 pounds of heroin, guns and ammunition, and $543,940 in cash and targeted 19 properties for forfeiture. Informants told agents that from 2014 to 2015, the ring moved 250 kilos of heroin and sold each kilo for $32,000 or more, Contreras said.

The ring moved so much heroin that it came to the attention of the Texas Mexican Mafia, which imposed a 10 percent street tax called “the dime,” which the group had to pay to continue to operate, Contreras said. Members of the gang also began getting their supply from the ring, he said.

As part of the Gonzalezes’ plea deals, they agreed to forfeit the guns and cash and 10 of the 19 properties, including four barber shops and one barber college in San Antonio, one barber shop in Seguin and one in Floresville.

Three other defendants, Raul “Boom Boom” Sanchez, Jose Lopez Grimaldo and Carlos “Charlie” De La Cruz Perez, have pleaded guilty to heroin-trafficking conspiracy or have signed plea deals to do so. Three await trial, court records show: Jose “Jay” Hernandez Jimenez, Eneveida Margarita Ruvalcaba and Hector Mario Ginez.

All could face up to life in prison.

The DEA said heroin addiction is the fastest growing drug abuse problem in the United States today. Those addicted to prescription painkillers often turn to heroin when they are cut off by doctors or can’t afford the prescriptions. Heroin is cheaper, but often mixed with substances that are lethal, leading to overdoses.

gcontreras@express-news.net

Twitter: @gmaninfedland