Six arrested during sweep in Atlantic Co.

Saturday, September 1, 2007

By JAMES P. QUARANTA
Gannett New Jersey

Immigration officers and federal, county and local police arrested six men on outstanding traffic and criminal warrants during a sweep this week.

One of the suspects, Jose Cortez, 24, of the 700 block of West Summer Avenue, is a reputed member of a Mexican street gang known as Surenos 13, according to authorities.

Cortez and two others were held on immigration detainers following Wednesday's raid when they failed to produce documents showing they were in the country legally. Two other unidentified men were taken into custody Wednesday for failure to provide proper identification.

Arrest teams included Buena police and officers from the Immigration Customs Enforcement, FBI, U.S. Marshal's Fugitive Task Force and the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office.

"The initiative was part of Operation Shield and was in no way related to the recent Attorney General directive on immigration," Chief Douglas Adams said.

Operation Shield is a federal initiative that targets gang and criminal activity and people in the country illegally.

The state attorney general issued a recent directive requiring police to report people suspected of being in the country illegally who are arrested for serious crimes and drunken driving.

Cortez and Gonzalo Guadarrama, 23, of Summer Avenue, were held on immigration detainers. Authorities said they found equipment related to the manufacture of false U.S. and Mexican driver's licenses in the Summer Avenue home.

"There were multiple copies," said Detective Lt. David Sherma. "The seizure resulted in a separate investigation being conducted by Buena police and the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office into possible manufacture and distribution of illegal government documents."

Adams said all of the suspects were taken into custody without incident.

Cortez was held on $2,400 bail on a total of four traffic warrants from Hamilton Township and Buena Borough. Guadarrama was held on four traffic warrants from Vineland and warrants for failure to appear in Buena on charges of drunken driving, refusing to take a breath test, no insurance, no license, driving an unregistered vehicle and failure to keep right. The charges were initially filed in 2003.

Three men were arrested at a home in the 300 block of Wheat Road.

Gullermo Tinoco, 23, was jailed on an obstruction warrant from Hamilton Township and served a Buena warrant for violation of a noise ordinance.

Christian Tinoco, 19, was charged with disorderly conduct after officers recognized him as one of several people involved in a disturbance two months ago. He was released on a summons.

Arturo Tinoco, 18, was held on $778 bail on a warrant from Atlantic City and a traffic warrant from Buena.

Adams said the Wheat Road site has been the subject of police activity for some time.

"Our department responded to this location more than 30 times since 2006 and 10 times since June," the chief said. "There have been incidents where beer cans were thrown at police vehicles, officers assaulted and persons charged with resisting arrest and obstruction."

Eduardo Rosas Villa, 25, of the 200 block of South West Boulevard, was served a warrant for failure to appear in Buena court on a motor vehicle charge and held on an immigration detainer.

"Residents at the Boulevard location have been involved in various criminal activities, including three recent sexual assaults," Adams said.

Reach James P. Quaranta at jquaranta@thedailyjournal.com

send a letter to the editor.

http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/p ... 006/NEWS01