GANG
TASK FORCE SWEEP NETS 26
Gangs Involved Include the Southside Locos, East Side Vario Segundo
and Grand Barrio Centrale
Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma - Starting at 6:30 a.m., yesterday morning, more than 100 federal,
state, and local law enforcement officers fanned out across the Oklahoma
City metropolitan area and Altus, Oklahoma to execute sealed arrest
and search warrants against Southside Locos, East Side Vario Segundo,
Grand Barrio Centrale, and 98 Main Street Mafia Crip gang members, associates,
and others stemming from their involvement in significant drug trafficking,
announced John C. Richter, United States Attorney for the Western District
of Oklahoma; John Wampler, District Attorney for the Third Judicial
District; David Prater, Oklahoma County District Attorney; Michael B.
Ward, FBI Special Agent-In-Charge; R. Darrell Weaver, Director of the
Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs; Bill Citty, Chief,
Oklahoma City Police Department; Jim Delia, Immigration and Customs
Enforcement Resident Agent in Charge, and John Whetsel, Oklahoma County
Sheriff.
As alleged in the
affidavits unsealed late yesterday, this investigation targeted drug
traffickers who used their gang memberships and associations to facilitate
the distribution of significant quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine,
and marijuana across the Oklahoma City metropolitan area and southwestern
Oklahoma.
"We will continue
to coordinate our efforts and to use all available law enforcement tools
to incapacitate and dismantle violent gangs and drug trafficking organizations,"
stated United States Attorney John C. Richter. "I want to commend
the dedicated law enforcement personnel from the FBI, OBN, OCPD, Oklahoma
County Sheriff's Office, District 3 Task Force, IRS and ICE for their
investigations and their relentless efforts together to make our communities
safe."
"Crime, particularly
the flow of illegal drugs, does not stop at county or city borders,"
stated District Attorney for the Third Judicial District John Wampler.
"That is why the ability of federal, state and local law enforcement
agencies and prosecutors to work in a cooperative manner, as in this
case, is so important. This investigation, and the arrests from it,
will significantly impact a major source of illegal drugs for the Southwest
area of Oklahoma. I am pleased with the efforts of all the agencies
involved, and particularly the District Three DA Drug Task Force."
"We must continue
to lace up our gloves to fight yet one more round against these economic
based drug traffickers who are responsible for pain and suffering for
our state, stated R. Darrell Weaver, Director, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics
and Dangerous Drugs. "The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics has great
resolve when battling for our citizens and most importantly our children's
future. Our greatest successes will come when we partner with law enforcement
and prosecutors at all levels and this is a prime example of such an
investigative effort."
These arrests,
which are the result of a cooperative and coordinated law enforcement
effort by the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Gang Task Force, the Oklahoma
Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, and the Oklahoma District 3
Drug Task Force, has led to arrest and charge in federal court of the
following defendants:
As of this time,
federal complaints have been unsealed charging the following 19 individuals
on federal drug trafficking charges:
No. Name Age Hometown
(Currently in custody)
1. 1. Joaquin Chavira 26 OKC
2. Paul Duran, Jr. 20 OKC
3. Waylon Adam Eddy 19 OKC
4. Douglas John Harris 27 OKC
5. Jeffrey Ray Hart 22 OKC
6. Erik Martinez 31 OKC
7. Won Miguel Medina 26 OKC
8. Ivan Vasquez-Olmos 32 McCloud
9. Armando Salcido 30 OKC
10. Javier Castro 20 OKC
11. Carlos Omar Lujan-Gomez 25 OKC
12. Enrique Ortiz Salas-Ever 23 OKC
13. Jackie Joseph Thomas 25 OKC
14. Gabriel Rico 19 OKC
15. Samuel Samaniego Perez 22 OKC
16. Jose M. Montalvo 33 OKC
17. Adrian Borrego 30 Altus
18. Jeffrey Jones Shepherd 19 Altus
(The following individual is not in custody and now considered a federal
fugitive)
19. Adrian Ismael Soltero 31 OKC
Also as part of
this operation, there are currently 7 individuals in state custody.
The Oklahoma City
Metropolitan Gang Task Force ("OCMGTF") was formed in early
2006 as "all for one and one for all" effort by federal, state,
and local law enforcement to combat the violent criminal gangs. United
States Attorney Richter praised OBN and the District 3 Drug Task Force
for the cooperation, coordination, and work with the OCMGTF that made
this joint operation possible.
The federal cases are being prosecuted by Mikeal Clayton, Chief of the
United States Attorney's Office's Organized Crime and Narcotics Section,
and Jeb Boatman, Assistant U.S. Attorney.
Depending on the
charges alleged in the criminal complaints, these defendants face either
5 to 40 years or 10 years to life in prison. Reference is made to the
criminal complaints, supporting affidavits, and criminal coversheets
for further information as to the specific charges and potential sentence
for each defendant.
The public is reminded
that these criminal complaints are merely accusations and that the defendants
are each presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
