Three people were arrested and face multiple drug and weapons-related charges after investigators executing a search warrant in League City uncovered thousands of dollars’ worth of narcotics and dozens of firearms, authorities said.
The arrests stem from a probe that began in July when the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children flagged online activity to investigators. The Galveston County Sheriff’s Office said the inquiry involved its Major Crimes Unit, members of the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and FBI agents from Texas City.
Officers served a warrant Oct. 1 at a home in the 2000 block of Island Manor Lane. Investigators removed several electronic devices for forensic review and then called in the Galveston County Organized Crime Task Force for a narcotics-focused search.
During that follow-up operation, authorities reported seizing:
The sheriff’s office identified those arrested as Sebastian Ruiz, Eric Zavala and Kelly Zavala.
Ruiz was booked on counts that include possession of child pornography involving fewer than 10 visual depictions; delivery of a controlled substance (Penalty Group 2) of more than 400 grams; possession of marijuana between 5 and 50 pounds; and possession of a controlled substance (PG‑2) between 4 and 400 grams. His bond was set at $410,000.
Eric Zavala faces charges of delivery of a controlled substance (PG‑2) of more than 400 grams, possession of marijuana between 5 and 50 pounds, and possession of a controlled substance (PG‑2) between 4 and 400 grams. His bond was listed at $330,000.
Kelly Zavala was charged with delivery of a controlled substance (PG‑2) of more than 400 grams and possession of marijuana between 5 and 50 pounds; her bond was set at $230,000.
The Galveston County Sheriff’s Office thanked local and state partners for assisting in the operation, including the Pearland, La Porte, Dickinson and League City police departments, the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division in Texas City, the FBI’s Texas City office and Homeland Security Investigations in Galveston.
The sheriff’s office said forensic analysis of the seized devices is ongoing and described the outcome as the result of coordinated work between child-exploitation and organized-crime investigators.
