DPS Arrests Gang Member, Seizes 200 Pounds of Marijuana After Chase in Brownsville

A Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) traffic stop led to the arrest of a confirmed gang member and the seizure of 200 pounds of marijuana during an Operation Lone Star enforcement effort in Cameron County.

On Monday, March 17, 2025, a DPS Trooper attempted to stop a black 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee on State Highway 48 in Brownsville. The driver refused to pull over, leading the Trooper on a pursuit before crashing at the intersection of Crockett Street and SH 48.

A search of the vehicle uncovered eight plastic-wrapped bundles of marijuana in the rear seat and cargo area. The seized drugs have an estimated street value of nearly $160,000.

The driver, identified as 35-year-old Michael Anthony Montoya Jr. of San Juan, Texas, is a confirmed member of the Valluco gang. He was arrested and charged with Evading Arrest and Felony Possession of Marijuana. Montoya was booked into the Cameron County Jail.