Thread: Arrests, seizures, drug busts, etc. for 8/14/12

Local News for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Philadelphia CBP Officers Seize Nearly $53k in Underreported Currency
08/14/2012 12:05 PM EDT
Philadelphia - Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized nearly $53,000 from a Las Vegas-bound Israeli man Sunday after the man violated federal currency reporting regulations.The man, who was not arrested, declared possessing only $5,000, but allegedly showed the CBP officer a wallet with visibly more currency than $5,000. (more)

CBP Air Crew Rescues Missing Mountain Biker
08/14/2012 12:05 PM EDT
Tucson, Ariz. - A male U.S. citizen in his late 50s, reported missing Saturday in the Huachuca Mountains south of Fort Huachuca, was rescued by a Black Hawk helicopter crew from CBP's Office of Air and Marine (OAM).OAM's Tucson Air Branch received a call for assistance from the Naco Border Patrol Station stating they had been contacted by Fort Huachuca's military police asking for assistance in locating the missing man somewhere in the mountains south of the Army base. (more)

www.cbp.gov

FBI E-Mail Updates

Gary Douglas Perdue Named Special Agent in Charge of Pittsburgh Division Aug. 14, 2012 - Pittsburgh; Washington, D.C. Owner of Miami Home Health Company Pleads Guilty in $60 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme Aug. 14, 2012 - Miami Miami-Area Patient Broker Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Role in $200 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme Aug. 13, 2012 - Miami Two Sentenced for Involvement in a Carlisle Cocaine Distribution Operation Aug. 13, 2012 - Philadelphia Plainville Man Admits Receiving and Distributing Child Pornography Aug. 13, 2012 - New Haven Barren County Man Convicted of Transporting Minor Across State Lines for Illegal Sexual Activity and Brandishing a Firearm During a Crime of Violence Aug. 13, 2012 - Louisville Eureka Man Arrested for Embezzling Federal Funds from Indian Tribal Organizations Aug. 13, 2012 - San Francisco www.fbi.gov

News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: August 9, 2012

Twenty-five Charged with Federal Narcotics Trafficking Offenses
as a Result of DEA led Investigation in San Miguel County

Special Agent in Charge Joseph Arabit addressing the media at the Press Conference.

August 9 (ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.) - On August 7, 2012, a federal grand jury returned indictments charging 25 individuals with narcotics trafficking offenses based on a Drug
Enforcement Administration (DEA) led investigation into drug trafficking in San Miguel County, NM. Yesterday, teams of federal, state and local law enforcement officers arrested 18 of the 25 defendants charged, and executed 14 federal search warrants at residences in Las Vegas, NM
and three federal search warrants at residences in Albuquerque, NM.
In addition to those arrested based on federal indictments, another two individuals were arrested on state charges. Four individuals who are facing federal charges are currently in state custody on state charges; they will be transferred to federal custody to face the federal charges. Another federal defendant surrendered himself this morning. Two federal defendants have yet to be apprehended and are considered fugitives.

The charges against the 25 federal defendants and two state defendants are the result of “Operation Smack City,” a ten month multi-agency investigation led by the DEA that targeted
drug traffickers in San Miguel County, a part of the state that has the country’s highest heroin overdose death rate and a history of significant drug abuse. The investigation involved a series
of undercover hand-to-hand drug transactions by undercover officers, including numerous transactions that occurred in the vicinity of an elementary school and a public university.

During the investigation, officers seized a kilogram of cocaine and $29,000 in addition to the narcotics obtained during the undercover drug transactions. During the course of yesterday’s law enforcement operation, officers seized approximately $9,000, a handgun, 14 vehicles, two motorcycles and an ATV, which the United States will seek to forfeit. The United States is also seeking to forfeit residences located at 702 Pinon Street, Las Vegas, NM; 510 9 th Street, Las Vegas, NM; 2701 N. 7 th Street, #74, Las Vegas, NM; and 715 Taos Street, Las Vegas, NM.

“This investigation targeted the heroin and crack cocaine distribution network of a drug trafficking organization operating in Las Vegas, New Mexico, and surrounding areas. The resulting arrests, which strike a significant blow to this organization, will have an immediate, positive impact in local neighborhoods where the abuse of these drugs takes a tremendous toll,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Arabit. “We will continue to work closely with our local law enforcement partners to hold drug dealers responsible for the harm they cause and, in turn, to improve the overall quality
of life for residents of Las Vegas and New Mexico as a whole.”

The results of the investigation and yesterday’s law enforcement operation were announced by Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Arabit of DEA’s El Paso Division, U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales, 4 th Judicial District Attorney Richard D. Flores, San Miguel County Sheriff Benjie D. Vigil, and Las Vegas Police Chief Christian Montaño during a press conference in Las Vegas, NM.

In announcing the results of the investigation, U.S. Attorney Gonzales said, “There are many very sad and tragic consequences from drug trafficking and addiction. And it is especially sad when good law-abiding people who have lived in homes and neighborhoods for decades cannot leave their front porches without fear of violence or intimidation from crack and heroin dealers who have moved in.

The operation this week is one important step toward restoring beautiful and historic Las Vegas.”

District Attorney Flores said, “Today is definitely a good day for law enforcement and for our community! Approximately ten to twelve months ago, my office sought, in conjunction with the local HIDTA Region IV Narcotics Drug Task Force, the assistance of the federal agencies, in our attempt to rid our community of this scourge known as drug addiction and drug trafficking. Numerous meetings were held with our local agents tasked with the responsibility of arresting and removing these drug traffickers from our streets. In November 2011, I met with U.S. Attorney Ken Gonzales and asked for his help. Today, with these arrests, we are seeing the fruits of these meetings and of their labor. The success of this operation is a prime example of how local communities benefit from the coordinated efforts involving local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. I can’t thank enough the men and women involved in this operation.”

“The San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office is proud to be part of the cooperative regional law enforcement response that the residents of San Miguel County deserve and have come to expect,” said San Miguel County Sheriff Vigil. “The success of this joint operation is an example of how local communities benefit from coordinated efforts involving local, county, state and federal law enforcement. I want to thank the officers who participated in this operation for helping to make the citizens of San Miguel County safer.”

Las Vegas Police Chief Montaño added, “This operation struck a major blow to the Las Vegas area drug traffickers which will affect overall crime in general. We shall continue to actively seek out drug dealers for the betterment of our community. This endeavor was prompted through the need being identified by our local District Attorney Richard D. Flores and members of the Las Vegas Police Department assigned to the Region IV Narcotics Task Force to U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales. This operation was successful due to the good collaboration between local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and in particular the level of professionalism displayed by each and every individual involved in this lengthy and arduous operation. I would like to personally and sincerely thank everybody involved.”

The cases resulting from this investigation were investigated by the DEA, the HIDTA Region IV Narcotics Task Force, the New Mexico State Police and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. The following agencies participated in yesterday’s law enforcement operation: the San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office, the Las Vegas Police Department, the Albuquerque Police Department, the Rio Rancho Police Department, the Corrales Police Department, Homeland Securities Investigations, the U.S. Marshal’s Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and U.S. Border Patrol.

The federal cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samuel A. Hurtado,
Kimberly A. Brawley and Shammara H. Henderson. The state cases are being prosecuted by
the 4 th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
Operation Smack City was designated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program, a nationwide Department of Justice program that combines the resources and unique expertise of federal agencies, along with their local counterparts, in a coordinated effort to disrupt and dismantle major drug trafficking organizations. HIDTA, the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program, is funded by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Charges in indictments are only accusations. All criminal defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.


Smack City Defendants Chart

Operation Smack City

DEFENDANT AGE RESIDENCE CHARGES STATUS

Derek Andrade 33 Las Vegas, N.M. Conspiracy; Distribution of Heroin Arrested 08/08/12

Gilbert Aragon 37 Las Vegas, N.M. Three Distributions of Cocaine Base; Three Distribution of
Cocaine Base within 1000 Feet of University; Maintaining
Place for Distribution of Narcotics
Arrested 08/08/12

Ruby Aragon 62 Las Vegas, N.M. Distribution of Cocaine Base Arrested 08/08/12

Willie Bachicha 55 Las Vegas, N.M. Two Distributions of Cocaine Arrested 08/08/12

George Barela 46 Las Vegas, N.M. Distribution of Cocaine Base within 1000 Feet of
University
State custody pending
transfer to federal

Nicole Chavez 26 Las Vegas, N.M. Distribution of Cocaine Base; Distribution of Heroin
within 1000 Feet of School
Arrested 08/08/12

Charles Gallegos 34 Rio Rancho, N.M. Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute;
Manufacturing Marijuana
Arrested 08/08/12

Ernestina Gallegos 32 Las Vegas, N.M. Distribution of Cocaine Base Fugitive
Amy J. Gonzales 28 Las Vegas, N.M. Conspiracy; Attempted Possession of Cocaine with Intent
to Distribute; Use of Communications Device
Arrested 08/08/12

Federico Gonzales 19 Albuquerque, N.M. Conspiracy; Possession of Heroin and Marijuana with
Intent to Distribute; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance
of Drug Trafficking Crime
Arrested 08/08/12

Josie Gonzales 52 Las Vegas, N.M. Two Distributions of Heroin within 1000 Feet of School;
Maintaining Place for Distribution of Narcotics
Arrested 08/08/12

Sylvia Gonzales 23 Las Vegas, N.M. Two Distributions of Heroin within 1000 Feet of School Arrested 08/08/12

Anthony Greenier 31 Las Vegas, N.M. Conspiracy; Distribution of Heroin Arrested 08/08/12

The DEA El Paso Division encourages parents, and their children to visit the following interactive websites at www.justthinktwice.com, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com and www.dea.gov.

News from DEA, Domestic Field Divisions, El Paso News Releases, 08/09/12

Gunmen kill 8 in hail of bullets at Mexican strip bar

Reuters 2:33 p.m. CDT, August 14, 2012

MONTERREY, Mexico (Reuters) - Suspected drug cartel gunmen stormed a strip bar and shot dead eight men in the northern Mexican city of Monterrey late on Monday in an apparent dispute over drug dealing.

Four victims died on site in the Matehuala bar, a well-known drinking and topless dancing venue in the city center, and four more died later in the hospital, officials said on Tuesday.

Six gunmen arrived in three vehicles, entered the bar and began shooting in the latest brutal incident in a wave of recent violence across Mexico that have been blamed on drug gangs.

Witnesses said the attackers identified themselves as members of the Gulf cartel, which operates in northeast Mexico, before they opened fire, Nuevo Leon public security spokesman Jorge Domene told local radio.

"These are dives, illegal bars where there could be some drug dealing, that's one of our main lines of investigation," he said on Milenio television.

Mexico's most affluent city, Monterrey is the capital of Nuevo Leon state and was long been seen as a model of economic development in Latin America. But it has been ravaged by drug warfare over the last three years.

In May, 49 headless bodies were dumped near the city and 52 people died in an arson attack on a casino in August last year.

Both attacks were blamed on the notorious Zetas drug gang, which is waging a war against rival groups for control of smuggling routes into the United States, the world's biggest market for illicit drugs.

All the bar victims were male and six were identified as employees of the bar. Domene said the attack seemed similar to a massacre last year in Monterrey where 21 people were gunned down in a bar where employees were allegedly selling drugs.

The Zetas, who are blamed for many of the most brutal attacks seen in Mexico's drug conflict, were founded by Mexican army deserters who became enforcers for the Gulf cartel, which once dominated the drug trade in northeastern Mexico.

Leaders of the Zetas later split from their employers and have since fought their former bosses as well as other groups, such as the Sinaloa cartel.

There has been a rash of deaths and violence since last week in central and northern Mexico, prompting the government to send in extra troops and armored vehicles to the states of San Luis Potosi, which borders Nuevo Leon, and Michoacan.

A mayor elected in Mexico's July 1 election and his campaign manager were found shot dead in a truck Sunday morning in San Luis Potosi and a family of seven, including three young children, were found dead in their home that day.

A running battle between federal troops and suspected drug gang members on Friday in Michoacan killed nine.

More than 55,000 gangland murders and execution-style hits have occurred since President Felipe Calderon took power in December 2006 and declared a national crackdown on drug cartels.

(Reporting by Gabriela Lopez; Additional reporting by Lizbeth Diaz and Anahi Rama in Mexico City; Writing by Michael O'Boyle and Krista Hughes)

Gunmen kill 8 in hail of bullets at Mexican strip bar - chicagotribune.com

I.C.E.News Release

August 14, 2012
Norfolk, VA
Hampton Roads Border Enforcement Security Task Force makes third drug bust in 3 weeks

** B-roll of BEST is available at: DVIDS - Video - BEST Norfolk B-roll **

NORFOLK, Va. — The Hampton Roads-based multi-agency Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST) seized another two kilograms of cocaine, plus two kilograms of heroin, concealed within the ceiling of a vessel arriving at the Port of Norfolk this weekend.

Late Sunday night, special agents and officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the U.S. Coast Guard's Investigative Service, Chesapeake Region – all members of the Hampton Roads BEST, boarded the vessel, which originated from Asia.

During the search, special agents and officers discovered approximately the two kilograms of cocaine and two kilograms of heroin concealed within the ceiling of a common lavatory.

The narcotics were seized by CBP. No arrests have been made and no crew members are suspected of being involved. The investigation, which is being conducted by BEST, is ongoing.

In the two weeks prior, BEST seized approximately 35 kilograms of cocaine at the Port of Norfolk in separate drug smuggling ventures. On July 27, the task force seized 32 kilograms of cocaine off of a vessel arriving into the Port of Norfolk. On Aug. 4, the task force seized three kilograms of cocaine from a container vessel that was due into Hampton Roads.

The Hampton Roads BEST was formed in July 2011 and is comprised of special agents and officers from ten federal, state and local agencies who are responsible for identifying, interdicting and investigating a wide variety of maritime-related crime including trade fraud, cargo theft, and the illegal smuggling of drugs, persons, currency and weapons.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.

ICE is a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities. For more information, visit www.ICE.gov. To report suspicious activity, call 1-866-347-2423 or complete our tip form.

• U.S. Dept of Homeland Security

Hampton Roads Border Enforcement Security Task Force makes third drug bust in 3 weeks

Local News for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Seize Over $627,000 in Cocaine at Brownsville Port of Entry
08/14/2012 05:06 PM EDT
Brownsville, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge discovered cocaine valued at $627,200 hidden within a Chevrolet pickup.On Friday, at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge, CBP officers encountered a blue 1999 Chevrolet pickup being driven by a 20-year-old man, identified as a United States citizen and resident of Brownsville. (more)

Douglas CBP Officers Seize $11,160 in Unreported Cash, Suspect Arrested
08/14/2012 05:06 PM EDT
Douglas, Ariz. - A 24-year-old female Mexican national was arrested Friday for attempting to smuggle $11,160 in unreported U.S. currency into Mexico through the Douglas Port. Officers conducting outbound inspections referred Natalie Dorame for a secondary inspection when she attempted to enter Mexico through a pedestrian lane. (more)

U.S. Border Patrol Agents in West Texas Rescue Migrant from Dangerous Canal
08/14/2012 05:06 PM EDT
El Paso, TX. - U.S. Border Patrol Agents assigned to the Ysleta Border Patrol Station conducted a successful swift-water rescue Saturday night in an incident that nearly claimed the life of one migrant in the American Canal.In the late evening hours on August 11, 2012, U. (more)

U.S. Border Patrol Agents Seize More Than 4,112 Pounds of Marijuana
08/14/2012 05:06 PM EDT
Laredo, Texas - Laredo Sector Border Patrol Agents seized more than 4,112 pounds of marijuana in five cases that occurred over the weekend.Agents assigned to the Laredo North station are credited with making the larger of the seizures. The case occurred as agents were working at the Interstate Highway 35 checkpoint. (more)

www.cbp.gov

17 pounds of cocaine found hidden in truck

By Daniel Borunda / El Paso Timeselpasotimes.com
Posted: 08/14/2012 03:51:18 PM MDT


U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized 17 pounds of cocaine found hidden in the engine area of a GMC Sonoma at the border crossing in Santa Teresa. A man from Chihuahua City was arrested. (Courtesy U.S. Customs and Border Protection.)

A Chihuahua City man was arrested at the Santa Teresa border crossing after 17 pounds of cocaine were found hidden in a truck, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said Tuesda
y.
CBP officials said Carlos Arnoldo Jurado Garcia, 40, was arrested Saturday after a drug-sniffing dog helped CBP officers find the cocaine in the truck's engine area. Jurado faces federal drug charges.

The cocaine seizure was one of several drug busts during the weekend by CBP in the El Paso area. CBP officers seized more than 1,000 pounds of marijuana in 10 cases and seized a small amount of heroin in one case.

17 pounds of cocaine found hidden in truck - El Paso Times