Federal Case Alleges Narcotics and Firearms Violations Against 22 Southside Indio Gang Members and Associates Operating in Riverside County

Law enforcement authorities this morning arrested 14 of 22 federal defendants linked to a

Riverside street

gang engaged in the trafficking of methamphetamine and other federal offenses that include firearms violations. The defendants are charged in a federal criminal complaint and single indictments filed in United States District Court in Riverside and Los Angeles and unsealed this morning.

Three of the defendants charged in the federal cases were already in custody on unrelated charges and five of the defendants are currently being sought by authorities.

The investigation of the Southside Indio (SSI) gang began in mid-2009 in an area beset by gang violence, drug sales, and related crime. Today’s operation, known as “Eastern Encore,” culminated a multi-faceted approach in targeting the gang, considered to be the largest and most prolific gang in and around Indio, California. In addition to the federal charges, state prosecutors charged and arrested several defendants with various state violations. State search warrants and civil actions were also brought by the state. In addition, eleven federal search warrants were executed during this morning’s operation. During the searches, approximately $159,000 in cash was seized, as well as a variety of firearms.

The federal charges name twenty-two members and associates of the gang with federal narcotics and firearms violations. According to the federal charges, the defendants played multiple roles in a coordinated methamphetamine trafficking enterprise, including sales, distribution and transportation.

Those charged federally are listed as follows:

Manuel Sauceda, of Coachella, arrested.

Miguel Sauceda, of Coachella, in federal custody.

Jose Fuentes-Sauceda, of Coachella, arrested.

Osiel Pantaleon, of Indio, arrested.

Michael Ramirez, of Coachella, arrested.

Silviano Franco, already in state custody.

Samuel Parra Barnachia, of Coachella, currently being sought.

Carlos Grando Barnachia, of Coachella, currently being sought.

Eduardo Flores Corral, of Indio, arrested.

Delila Minique Flores, of Indio, arrested.

Arturo Vega, already in state custody.

Robert Perez, of Indio, currently being sought.

Raymond Villagomez, of Indio, arrested.

Robert Luis Gaeta, of Indio, arrested.

Rogelio Sanchez Carranza, of Coachella, arrested.

Francisco Romero, arrested.

David Gaeta, of Indio, arrested.

Rolando Garza, of Indio, arrested.

Telly Chakalis, of La Quinta, currently being sought.

Juanita Katrina Perez, of Coachella, arrested.

Christina Rocha, of Indio, arrested.

Robert Luna, of Bermuda Dunes, currently being sought.

The investigation into SSI was conducted by the Gang Impact Team (GIT), which is comprised of special agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol Tobbacco and Firearms; United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and investigators with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office and the Indio Police Department. Significant assistance was provided throughout today’s operation by special agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Marshals Service.

The defendants arrested today are expected to make their initial court appearances this afternoon in United States District Court in Riverside. As for the defendants currently in state custody, the United States Attorney’s Office expects to file writs to have them brought into federal custody. Authorities continue to search for the remaining defendants named in the federal cases.

If convicted, each of the defendants charged federally faces a mandatory minimum of five years in federal prison. Some of the defendants face a manditory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.

A criminal complaint or indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty.