El Paso Drug-Trafficking Organization Discovered By Feds Nets 12 Arrests

Posted: 4:12 pm MDT August 12, 2011
Updated: 4:56 pm MDT August 12, 2011

EL PASO, Texas -- A drug-trafficking organization based out of El Paso that's been around for more than six years was discovered, announced federal officials Friday afternoon.

The U.S. attorney's office, the Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI officials announced the arrests of 29-year-old Rogelio Macias of Clint, Texas, and 45-year-old Luis Serrano of El Paso, along with 10 other alleged members of the drug trafficking organization, on charges of conspiring to import and possess with intent to distribute marijuana.

Also arrested Thursday were: 34-year-old Rene Octavio Macias of El Paso; 41-year-old Horacio Licano Pacheco of El Paso; 34-year-old Cesar Cardoza of El Paso; 41-year-old Ruby Ceniceros of El Paso; 32-year-old Antonio Espindola III of El Paso; 30-year-old Victor Manuel Castillo of El Paso; 34-year-old Rene Pena-Esparza of El Paso; 36-year-old Andres Vasquez of El Paso; and 38-year-old Avilio Roberto Alonso-Gracia of El Paso.

Three co-defendants -- Williams, 55-year-old Manuel Steele and 43-year-old Armando Garcia Lopez of El Paso -- were already in state custody prior to the roundup.

The two-count indictment alleges that since 2004, Macias, Serrano, 29-year-old Alberto Benavidez of San Elizario, Texas, Rene Macias and 57-year-old Jimmie Williams conspired to import from Mexico more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana for distribution in the United States; the remaining defendants are accused of conspiring to import more that 100 kilograms of marijuana for distribution in the United States.

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