Twenty-Three Arrested on Federal Charges as a Result of San Antonio Eastside Gang Violence Initiative

Six-Month-Long Operation Triple Beam Results in Approximately 700 Additional Arrests Based on State Charges

Twenty-three San Antonio gang members face federal charges in connection with a federal, state, and local law enforcement operation targeting Eastside gang violence.

That announcement was made jointly today by United States Attorney Robert Pitman, Bexar County District Attorney Susan Reed, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus, Bexar County Sheriff Amadeo Ortiz, United States Marshal Robert Almonte, ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Crisanto Perez, DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Manuel Fernandez, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Armando Fernandez.

The operation, initiated in response to community outcry, focused on narcotics trafficking and violent acts committed by members of rival gangs including the East Terrace Gangster Crips, Crockett Blocc Crips, Wheatly Courts Bloods, Blood Stixx, Denver Heights Bloods, as well as other San Antonio area gangs operating on the city’s Eastside. During this operation, authorities have seized more than 70 firearms, approximately 38 kilograms of narcotics, and an estimated $85,500 in U.S. currency.

The 23 defendants, all listed below, are charged by either a federal grand jury indictment or criminal complaint filed since March 7, 2012. Federal charges include felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, possession with intent to distribute “crack” cocaine, and maintaining a residence for the distribution of a controlled substance. State charges filed in connection with this investigation include: narcotics-related offenses, unlawful carrying of a firearm, and gang injunction violations.

This investigation was conducted by the San Antonio Police Department Gang Unit; Bexar County District Attorney’s Office; Bexar County Sheriff’s Office; Bexar County Adult Probation Office; United States Marshals Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; together with the Drug Enforcement Administration; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Texas Department of Public Safety-Narcotics Division; and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Operation Triple Beam arrests release:

Defendant—Age

Bal, Raja—27

Brock, Demetrius—35

Butler, Alvin—33

Farris, Robert—25

Fields, Tyronn—30

Fisher, Devonshae—18

Foster, Brian—27

Girela, Joshua—24

Hemphill, Emmanuel—26

Hemphill, Katherine—58

Johnson, Rodney—23

Johnson, Samuel—27

Losoya, Juan—28

Mackey, Antoine—29

Martinez, Michael—19

McHenry, Dominick—21

Miller, Glen—32

Minor, Milton—34

Molden, Travis—22

Phillips, Marcus—24

Robinson, Chris—34

Robinson-McClellan, Devon—22

Robinson-Tynes, Marcus—24

San Antonio Men Sentenced in Firearms Straw Purchasing/Trafficking Investigation

Firearms Were Destined for the Los Zetas Drug Trafficking Organization in Mexico

United States Attorney Robert Pitman, Special Agent in Charge Gary Orchowski, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Houston Division and Special Agent in Charge Jerry Robinette, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement–Homeland Security Investigations in San Antonio announced that two San Antonio men–23–year–old Keith Edwards and 22–year–old Ricky Gonzales–have been sentenced to 87 and 42 months in federal prison, respectively, for their roles in a firearms straw purchasing and trafficking investigation.

Edwards and Gonzalez, who were sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court in Del Rio, are two of 22 defendants who have pleaded guilty to federal firearms charges in connection with this investigation. The other defendants include San Antonio area residents Marino Castro, Jr., age 27; Edward Levar Davis, age 33; Jake Lee Cardenas, age 22; Ricky Castillo, age 23; Ronald Joseph Edwards, age 27; Samuel Antonio Escobar, age 23; Roxanne Bernal Guerra, age 32; Oralia Naranjo Ortega, age 45; Roxann Marie Rodriguez, age 24; Rosendo Rodriguez, Jr., age 37; Carlos Veliz, Jr., age 23; David Hance–Colon, age 25; Brittany Hernandez, age 20; Linda Luevanos Gonzalez, age 37; Joanna Elaine Flores, age 25; Crystal Marie Adame, age 20; Israel Cantu, age 31; Maria Montelongo Zavala, age 50; Jose Ytuarte, age 31; and, Antonia Naranjo Lopez, age 46.

According to court records, the defendants, under the direction of ringleaders Castro and Davis, conspired to illegally purchase firearms from San Antonio area firearms dealers. Once retrieved from straw purchasers, Castro and Davis admittedly arranged to transport the firearms to a staging location in Eagle Pass where they were to be smuggled into Mexico to members of the Los Zetas Drug Trafficking Organization. Between May 2010 and August 2010, authorities intercepted five different shipments attributed to this trafficking cell and seized over 200 firearms, including handguns, AK–47 and AR–15–style assault rifles and one .50 caliber Barrett sniper rifle.

“People who make false statements in connection with the purchase of firearms need to know two things: first, it is likely that those firearms are being used by those who eventually receive them to commit violent crimes, often against innocent victims; and two, that their role in facilitating the acquisition of firearms by criminals – even if that role is being paid a couple of hundred dollars for buying a firearm and passing it off to a middle man – will net them a federal prison sentence of up to ten years,” stated United States Attorney Robert Pitman.

To date, nine of the defendants have been sentenced to federal prison terms–14 years (Davis), 10 years (Castillo), 87 months (Edwards), 72 months (Cardenas), 57 months (Linda Gonzalez), 42 months (Ricky Gonzales), 37 months (Hance), 21 months (Ortega), and 12 months (Veliz). Marino Castro is scheduled to be sentenced at 11:00am on May 21, 2012, in Del Rio before United States District Judge Alia Moses. Antonia Lopez died of cancer prior to sentencing. Sentencings for the remaining defendants are scheduled throughout February, March and April.

“This is an example on how Federal and State agencies working together can deny the criminal element the tools of their violent trade. Lives were saved by denying the criminals hundreds of firearms,” stated Special Agent in Charge Gary Orchowski, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Houston Division.

“One of HSI’s top priorities is the dismantling of organizations involved in the smuggling of firearms to Mexican drug cartels,” said Jerry Robinette, special agent in charge for HSI in San Antonio. “The collective expertise and authorities of our law enforcement partners during this investigation significantly contributed to preventing hundreds of rifles and handguns from reaching violent criminal organizations and prosecuting those who were responsible.”

This case was investigated by agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE–HSI) with assistance from the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin Seal is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

Arrest of Carlos Mireles Jr.

San Antonio, TX – The Lone Star Fugitive Task Force sponsored by the United States Marshals Service is announcing the arrest of Carlos Mireles Jr.

Mireles was born 07/1966 and listed an address in the 700 block of Jennings Street, San Antonio, Texas.

Mireles has previous arrests for drug possession, resisting and evading arrest, burglary of a vehicle, family violence, assault causing bodily injury, injury to a child/elderly/disable with intent to cause bodily harm.

In October 2010, Carlos Mireles was arrested for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child. A bond was set in the amount of $75,000. Mireles was further ordered to house arrest and required to wear a Global Positioning System (GPS), commonly referred to in the justice system as an ankle monitor.

May 2011, Mireles decided that he did not have to abide by the court ordered requirements and cut the device off. Immediately a warrant was issued for the arrest of Mireles. The Lone Star Fugitive Task Force in San Antonio was asked to assist with locating and apprehending Mireles.

On Thursday, July 14, 2011 credible information was developed that lead task force members to the 700 block of S.W. 19th Street, San Antonio. Surveillance of the residence lead investigators to believe Mireles was using this location to hide from law enforcement authorities. At approximately 9 p.m. members of the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force made entry into the residence. Once inside Mireles was found hiding in a back room. Mireles was arrested without incident. Also arrested was Melanie Felan, the girlfriend of Mireles and another associate of his.

Inside the residence, task force members found drug paraphernalia and weapons.

Robert R. Almonte, United States Marshal for the Western District of Texas said, “The investigative efforts of the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force to protect the children of our community will always be tireless and unwavering.”

Participating agencies of the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force are as follows: Bexar County District Attorney’s Office, Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, Comal County Sheriff’s Office, Bexar County Fire Marshal’s Office, San Antonio Independent School District – Police Department, San Antonio Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Department of Criminal Justice – Office of Inspector General, Texas State Attorney General’s Office – Sex Offender Fugitive Unit and the United States Marshals Service.