Wife of Former U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer in El Paso extradited to the United States from Mexico
Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Https

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

United States Drug Enforcement Administration

  • Get Updates
  • Scam Alert
  • Full Menu
  • English
  • Español

Main Menu

Explore DEA
  • Who We Are
    • About
    • Mission
    • History
    • Divisions
    • DEA Museum
    • Foreign Divisions
    • Operational Divisions
    • Wall of Honor
    • Contact Us
  • What We Do
    • Forensic Sciences
    • Law Enforcement
    • Education and Prevention
    • Drug Information
    • News
    • Campaigns
  • Careers
    • Special Agent
    • Diversion Investigator
    • Intelligence Research Specialist
    • Forensic Sciences Careers
    • Professional & Administrative Careers
    • Student & Entry Level Careers
    • Employment Eligibility
    • How to Apply
  • Resources
    • Illegal Online Pharmacies
    • OD Justice
    • Fentanyl Supply Chain
    • Pill Press Resources
    • Recovery Resources
    • Together for Families
    • Data and Statistics
    • FOIA
    • Publications
    • Media Galleries
    • Victim Witness Assistance Program
  • Submit A Tip

Breadcrumb

  • Home
  • Wife of Former U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer in El Paso extradited to the United States from Mexico

Wife of Former U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer in El Paso extradited to the United States from Mexico

October 04, 2018
|
Share Article
|
Download Press Release
For Immediate Release
Contact: Carlos A. Briano
Phone Number: 571-324-7093

EL PASO, Texas -- An El Paso woman who fled the country prior to sentencing on federal drug trafficking and bribery charges in 2010 has been extradited to the United States from Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas John F. Bash; Drug Enforcement Administration El Paso Division Special Agent in Charge Kyle Williamson, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Emmerson Buie, Jr., and Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General El Paso Special Agent in Charge Javy Pedroza.

On June 21, 2010, 41-year-old Ana Marie Hernandez, a legal permanent resident in the U.S., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to import a controlled substance and one count of aiding and abetting the bribery of a public official. By pleading guilty, Hernandez admitted that between June 2005 and October 2005, she conspired with others, including her husband, former DHS Customs and Border Protection Officer Daniel Ledezma, to allow hundreds of kilograms of cocaine into the U.S. without inspection through the Paso de Norte Port of Entry. For their actions, Hernandez and Ledezma received more than $100,000 in U.S. Currency.

An arrest warrant was issued for Hernandez when she failed to appear for sentencing on Jan. 24, 2011. Yesterday, Hernandez was extradited from Mexico to El Paso. Hernandez, who remains in federal custody, faces between ten years and life in federal prison on the drug trafficking charge and up to ten years in federal prison on the bribery charge.

“Through close and sustained cooperation with our partners in Mexico, we continue to bring fugitives, like Hernandez, to justice,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Williamson. “This extradition shows the tenacity of our law enforcement agents who, for years, continued to pursue Hernandez and sends a message to all who engage in this criminal activity: DEA will relentlessly pursue them, no matter where they are or how long it takes.”

“Starting in 2007, the FBI began aggressively investigating Ana Marie Hernandez, alias Ana Marie Ledezma, alias Lily, due to her efforts to corrupt U.S. law enforcement officials and import drugs from Mexico into the U.S. This extradition once again demonstrates the FBI's commitment to ensuring criminals are brought to justice, whether it takes one month or 10 years,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Buie.

On Jan. 20, 2011, Ledezma was sentenced to 110 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the same charges in June 2010.

The DEA, FBI, and DHS OIG investigated this case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Marshals Service provided significant assistance in the extradition. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys of the Western District of Texas.

                                                                                              #####

Download Press Release
###
US Department of Justice - Drug Enforcement Administration

Drug Enforcement Administration

Towanda Thorne-James Special Agent in Charge - El Paso
@DEAElPasoDiv
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Email

SAMHSA Behavioral Health Treatment Locator

  • Who We Are
    • About
    • Domestic Divisions
    • Foreign Offices
    • Contact Us
    • DEA Museum
  • What We Do
    • Forensic Sciences
    • Law Enforcement
    • Drug Prevention
    • Diversion Control Division
    • News
  • Careers
    • Special Agent
    • Diversion Investigator
    • Forensic Sciences
    • Intelligence Research Specialist
    • How to Apply
  • Resources
    • Drug Information
    • Employee Assistance Program
    • FOIA
    • Publications
    • Media Galleries
    • VWAP
  • Doing Business
    with the DEA
    • Overview
    • Current Vendors
    • Prospective Vendors
    • Security Clauses
    • Security Forms
    • Small Business Program
    • Vendor Engagement Request
  • Policies
    • Accessibility & Policy
    • Legal Policies & Disclaimers
    • No FEAR Act
    • Privacy Policy
    • U.S. Department of Justice EEO Policy
    • USA.gov
    • Whistleblower Protection
    • Your Rights as a Federal Employee

United States Drug Enforcement Administration

DEA.gov is an official site of the U.S. Department of Justice
Facebook X LinkedIn Instagram

DEA Contact Center

(202) 307-1000 info@dea.gov
Contact the Webmaster

United States Drug Enforcement Administration

Back
  • Who We Are
  • What We Do
  • Careers
  • Resources
Back
  • About
  • Mission
  • History
  • Divisions
  • DEA Museum
  • Foreign Divisions
  • Operational Divisions
  • Wall of Honor
  • Contact Us
Back
  • Atlanta
  • Caribbean
  • Chicago
  • Dallas
  • Detroit
  • El Paso
  • Headquarters
  • Houston
  • Los Angeles
  • Louisville
  • Miami
  • New England
  • New Jersey
  • New Orleans
  • New York
  • Omaha
  • Philadelphia
  • Phoenix
  • Rocky Mountain
  • San Diego
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • St. Louis
  • Washington, DC
Back
  • Atlanta Leadership
  • Atlanta Contacts
Back
  • Caribbean Leadership
  • Caribbean Contacts
Back
  • Chicago Leadership
  • Chicago Contacts
Back
  • Dallas Leadership
  • Dallas Contacts
Back
  • Detroit Contacts
Back
  • El Paso Contacts
  • El Paso Leadership
Back
  • Houston Leadership
  • Houston Contacts
Back
  • Los Angeles Contacts
Back
  • Louisville Leadership
  • Louisville Contacts
Back
  • Miami Leadership
  • Miami Contacts
Back
  • New England Leadership
  • New England Contacts
Back
  • New Jersey Leadership
  • New Jersey Contacts
Back
  • New Orleans Leadership
  • New Orleans Contacts
Back
  • New York Leadership
  • New York Contacts
Back
  • Omaha Leadership
  • Omaha Contacts
Back
  • Philadelphia Leadership
  • Philadelphia Contacts
Back
  • Phoenix Leadership
  • Phoenix Contacts
Back
  • Rocky Mountain Contacts
Back
  • San Diego Leadership
  • San Diego Contacts
Back
  • San Francisco Leadership
  • San Francisco Contacts
Back
  • Seattle Leadership
  • Seattle Contacts
Back
  • St. Louis Leadership
  • St. Louis Contacts
Back
  • Washington Leadership
  • Washington Contacts
Back
  • Andean
  • Caribbean
  • Europe
  • Asia Pacific
  • Middle East & Africa
  • North and Central America
  • Southern Cone
Back
  • Asia Pacific Leadership
Back
  • Aviation Division
  • Diversion Control Division
Back
  • Submit a Tip
  • Extortion Scam
  • Public Affairs
  • Social Media Directory
Back
  • Forensic Sciences
  • Law Enforcement
  • Education and Prevention
  • Drug Information
  • News
  • Campaigns
Back
  • GUARDS
  • Forensic Sciences Policy
  • Forensic Science Organizations
  • Forensic Science Contact
Back
  • DEA Office of Training
  • El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC)
  • Intelligence
  • Operations
Back
  • Office of Training Programs
Back
  • Administrative Law Judges
  • DEA Asset Forfeiture
  • Domestic Cannabis Suppression / Eradication Program
  • HIDTA
  • OCDETF
Back
  • Family Summit
  • Red Ribbon
  • Kiki and the History of Red Ribbon Week
  • Red Ribbon Toolkit - Resources For Your Community
  • DEA’s Family Summit
  • Operation Engage
  • Community Outreach
  • Just Think Twice
  • Campus Drug Prevention
  • Get Smart About Drugs
  • Operation Prevention
Back
  • Drug Policy
  • Drug Scheduling
  • The Controlled Substances Act
Back
  • Alerts
  • Press Releases
  • Most Wanted Fugitives
  • Stories
  • Events
  • Speeches
  • Testimony
Back
  • All Fugitives
Back
  • One Pill Can Kill
  • DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
Back
  • Senior Citizens
  • Partner Toolbox
  • Social Media Campaign
Back
  • Special Agent
  • Diversion Investigator
  • Intelligence Research Specialist
  • Forensic Sciences Careers
  • Professional & Administrative Careers
  • Student & Entry Level Careers
  • Employment Eligibility
  • How to Apply
Back
  • Special Agent FAQs
Back
  • Diversion Investigator Job Announcement
Back
  • Intelligence Research Specialist Job Announcements
  • Intelligence Research Specialists FAQs
  • Schedule A Hiring Authority: Intelligence Research Specialist
Back
  • How To Claim Veterans' Preference
  • Priority Consideration
  • Benefits
  • Veterans and People With Disabilities
  • Operation Warfighter
Back
  • Illegal Online Pharmacies
  • OD Justice
  • Fentanyl Supply Chain
  • Pill Press Resources
  • Recovery Resources
  • Together for Families
  • Data and Statistics
  • FOIA
  • Publications
  • Media Galleries
  • Victim Witness Assistance Program
Back
  • Domestic Arrests
  • Staffing and Budget
Back
  • About FOIA
  • Contact DEA FOIA
  • Make a Request
  • What Happens After Making a Request
  • Requester Categories
  • Fees Charged
  • Fee Waiver
  • FOIA FAQ
  • FOIA Logs and Reports
  • FOIA Library
  • Additional FOIA Links
  • FOIA Exemptions
  • What Are Exclusions?
  • Privacy Act
  • Privacy Act Exemptions
  • Privacy Impact Assessment and Management Information Systems
Back
  • Victim Witness Assistance Program Resources
  • Human Trafficking Prevention
  • Submit A Tip +
  • Get Updates
  • Scam Alert
    • English
    • Español