In a move highlighting the ongoing battle against organized crime, a San Antonio man with ties to the Puro Tango Blast gang has been sentenced to a lengthy stay behind bars. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas delivered news that the gang member in question, Daniel Ortiz, age 34, has been handed a 20-year sentence for his role in drug trafficking and firearms violations. According to the official announcement by Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy E. Larson, Ortiz’s guilty plea in February 2025 was for one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, among other charges.
Documents reveal Ortiz admitted to participating in a January 2024 burglary at MedPlus Pharmacy in his hometown. Ortiz and his associates reportedly used the Zello app to communicate swiftly and to bluff law enforcement with false 911 calls, all to secure their illegal haul. These actions are part of a string of crimes that Ortiz was involved in, as he also faced the law for a March 30 incident involving a high-speed pursuit with police in a stolen vehicle. It was during this episode that he attempted to quickly dispose of evidence, leaving behind a .22 caliber handgun as he fled on foot.
The investigation that led to Ortiz’s arrest was a cooperative effort between the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Dallas Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The collaboration underscores an aggressive approach to combating not just local gang activity, but the broader issue of organized crime that spans across state lines and national borders…