Paralegal with U.S. Attorney's Office arrested, accused of tipping off Mexican drug cartel

 A paralegal specialist in the U.S. Attorney’s Office has been arrested and accused of helping out the Mexican drug cartel.

Jennifer Loya, who has worked with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas in San Antonio since March 2017, is facing multiple federal charges. Loya is accused of using electronic surveillance made available to her through her job to tip off various investigations.

According to federal court documents, Loya’s sister, Kimberley, is married to Roland Gustamante, an associate of Israel Fernandez-Vasquez, who is a leader in the Cartel del Noreste (CDN).

Although Fernandez-Vasquez was deported in May 2018, he allegedly still operates in San Antonio out of Monterrey, Mexico. From Monterrey, Fernandez-Vasquez allegedly smuggles large amounts of cocaine, heroin and meth into the U.S., specifically in San Antonio.

Gustamante and his wife Kimberley operate in San Antonio, and take money back to Fernandez-Vasquez.

According to court documents, Kimberley Loya would use a vehicle registered to her sister to take drug money to and from Mexico.

FBI agents say the vehicle crossed the U.S. border into Mexico 21 times from May 2019 to Jan. 2020.

FBI San Antonio agents say they believe Jennifer Loya has been helping out Gustamante and his associates, who allegedly run drugs through San Antonio, with inside information regarding federal investigations in which they are named.

FBI agents became particularly interested in Jennifer Loya when they would go to make arrests on specific drug trafficking operations (DTO) in San Antonio. At one point, a member of one DTO said he knew the agent was coming for him and it ‘appeared the drugs had been moved overnight,’ according to court records.

Other members of the operation agents say they interviewed didn't specifically name Loya, but did say Gustamante knew someone working for the U.S. government who provided him with information pertaining to the investigations.

Loya allegedly also printed out documents relating to these investigations while at work, according to the court records.

Loya is facing charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing meth, obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice.

We have reached out to Loya's attorney, who did not respond.

This is a developing story and we will update it. You can read the full account from the FBI below.