Federal sweep nets suspects from El Paso to Columbus

Ashley Meeks / ameeks@lcsun-news.com
Posted: 03/10/2011 09:54:00 AM MST

LAS CRUCES - Federal and local law enforcement conducted another sweep in Las Cruces, Chaparral and Columbus beginning just after midnight.

In El Paso, U.S. authorities indicted 35 alleged leaders, members and associates of the Barrio Azteca gang on Wednesday, including 10 men charged in connection with the killing of three people linked to the U.S. Consulate in Juárez last year. The FBI-led a multi-agency strike against the binational gang and arrested 12 people during raids Wednesday morning in El Paso and southern New Mexico.

Officers are still in the field finishing up today's New Mexico operation, according to sources who were not authorized to speak publicly about the details of the operation or the suspects they might have picked up.

The indictment from a federal grand jury held several days ago is expected to be unsealed today. Until then, the U.S. Attorney's Office, which is heading up the release of information on this morning's raids, has not been authorized to confirm any of the information about the alleged crimes and the people now in custody.

"I don't have any public-record information at this time," said Elizabeth Martinez, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Mexico. Martinez said more information would be made available later today.

Check back for more details as they are made available.

Ashley Meeks can be reached at (575) 541-5462

http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_17582280