Conference Speakers

ROBERT ALMONTE

Robert Almonte was appointed by President Barack Obama as the United States Marshal for the Western District of Texas in 2010 where he served for six years until 2016.  Under his leadership, the Western District of Texas was one of the top Districts in the United States Marshals Service in arrests of dangerous fugitives. He also implemented the first U.S. Marshals Citizens Academy in the history of the U.S. Marshals Service.

He had previously retired from the El Paso, Texas Police Department after 25 years of service. He spent most of his career in narcotics investigations and retired as a Deputy Chief in 2003.  As the Narcotics Commander with the EPPD, he championed innovative programs like the Hotel/Motel Narcotics Interdiction Unit and the West Texas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Stash House Task Force, both of which yielded successful apprehensions through community-policing initiatives.

The West Texas HIDTA Stash House Task Force earned the prestigious Task Force 2000 White House Office of the National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) award for “Outstanding HIDTA Interdiction Unit”.

Robert Almonte has received numerous awards, including the prestigious 2018 Frederic Milton Thrasher Award for Superior Accomplishments in Gang Investigations, the 1999 White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) award for National “Outstanding HIDTA Task Force Commander”, a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition in 2003 as well as an Award Citation from the United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico regarding his testimony on two major drug cases.

Throughout his career, he has collaborated with his colleagues across the nation on narcotics issues, holding leadership positions such as the Executive director of the Texas Narcotic Officers’ Association, where he once served three terms as President for the association and as Vice-President for the National Narcotic Officers’ Association Coalition. He is the author of two published books: The Evolution of Narcotics Investigations and Managing Covert Operations, as well as the creator and producer for the law enforcement training video: Patron Saints of the Mexican Drug Underworld.  He has traveled extensively throughout the United States training law enforcement officers on narcotics investigations.  Robert Almonte has been qualified as an expert witness in federal and state court and has testified regarding Santa Muerte and other “patron saints” related to criminal activities.