A Roma man got a federal bond in a big drug case from Georgia. His name is Eduardo Luis Moreno Jr. A grand jury in Atlanta charged him with 12 counts. Agents arrested him on September 15.

The indictment also lists him as "a/k/a Short." That means also known as Short. The indictment is stamped "Under Seal" and was filed July 28. That means it was kept quiet.

The papers say the case runs from about May 2020 to about December 2024. It names Georgia "and elsewhere." The indictment does not say the case has any tie to Roma or South Texas.

Count one is a conspiracy. That means an agreement to break the law. The grand jury says Moreno agreed with others to possess cocaine and sell it. The papers say the deal involved at least five kilograms of a cocaine mix.

Counts two through eleven are ten separate days. The grand jury says Moreno had at least five kilograms of a cocaine mix on each day. It says he planned to sell it. They say he had help from others, and helped others too. The papers say the days are, on or about:

February 25, 2022. April 11, 2022. June 12, 2022. June 18, 2022. October 14, 2022. October 30, 2022. November 5, 2022. December 2, 2022. February 23, 2023. April 22, 2023.

Count twelve is money laundering conspiracy. The grand jury says Moreno agreed with others to move drug money. It says the goal was to hide where the money came from and who owned it. It also says the goal was to avoid a reporting rule under state and federal law.

Prosecutors also want the money. If Moreno is convicted, the indictment asks for a money judgment. That is a court order to pay the amount the government says came from the crimes. The papers do not say how much. They also want any property tied to the crimes.

If he is convicted, the law sets 10 years to life in prison for cocaine counts this size. Money laundering conspiracy can mean up to 20 years.

The indictment names other defendants. Boxes cover their names on the public copy. It also says "others known and unknown" to the grand jury. That means more arrests could follow.

The court papers do not say how the case began. They do not say whether undercover agents or informants were used. More details could come out as the case moves through federal court in Georgia.

Moreno first went before a federal magistrate judge in McAllen on September 16. Judge Nadia S. Medrano heard the case. Attorney John Pope stood with him for the hearings in McAllen. The court told Moreno he must hire a lawyer once his case moves to Georgia.

Moreno gave up his right to an identity hearing. That is a hearing where a person can say the government got the wrong man. He asked for a bond hearing in McAllen. Prosecutors first asked the judge to keep him in jail.

On September 17, prosecutors did not oppose bond. Judge Medrano set it at $75,000. She required a $5,000 cash deposit. The docket shows it was paid that day.

The judge ordered home detention with a GPS monitor. He can leave home only for work, school, church, medical care, lawyers, court and a few other approved trips. He cannot get a passport. He cannot go to Mexico. He can travel to Georgia only for court, with permission.

He cannot have a gun. He cannot drink alcohol. He cannot use illegal drugs, and he cannot use CBD. He must take drug tests and join a treatment program if his probation officer says so. He must stay away from the other defendants, witnesses and possible victims. He must also tell his officer within 72 hours about any contact with police.

The judge also ordered him to keep up with his court duties in Hidalgo County. The docket does not say what those duties are.

The case now moves to federal court in Atlanta. The docket does not list his next court date in Georgia. El Tejano will keep following the case.

Everyone is presumed innocent until proved otherwise.