SAN ANGELO, Texas — Twelve defendants have been charged in a federal indictment, unsealed today, with felony offenses stemming from their role in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy that operated in the San Angelo, Texas, area, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.
Eleven defendants, mostly from the San Angelo area, were arrested earlier today in a joint Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the San Angelo Police Department. The United States Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations, and the Tom Green County Sheriff’s Office provided invaluable assistance with the operation. One defendant, Daniel Roy Lombrana, is a fugitive.
Those arrested made their initial appearances this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge E. Scott Frost, and most remain in federal custody. Detention hearings for those arrested will be scheduled within the next few days.
In connection with today’s takedown, law enforcement seized about $30,000 in cash.
The 15-count indictment charges each of the following defendants with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine:
- Rudolfo Ledesma Castaneda, Jr., 30, of San Angelo
- Nancy Ann Flores, 41, of San Angelo
- Silvia Prado, 35, Austin, Texas
- Adam Gabriel Castaneda, 29, of San Angelo
- Daniel Roy Lombrana, 29, of San Angelo
- Jesse Huerra, 31, of San Angelo
- Antonio N. Flores, 51, of San Angelo
- Bruno Rudolfo Velasquez, 32, of San Angelo
- Joe Lopez, III, 32, of San Angelo
- Richard Jasso, 39, of San Angelo
- Jose G. Montez, 37, of San Angelo
- Shayna Kaye McCann, 24, of Great Falls, Montana
In addition, many of the defendants are charged with at least one substantive count of distribution and/or possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and aiding and abetting. Defendant Castaneda is charged with one count of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Defendant Huerra is charged with one count of being a convicted felon in possession of firearm as well as one count of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Velasquez is also charged with one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
A federal indictment is an accusation by a grand jury. A defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty. If convicted, however, the conspiracy count carries a maximum statutory penalty ranging from 20 years to life in federal prison and a $1 million to $10 million dollar fine. The other drug counts carry a maximum statutory penalty ranging from 20 years to life imprisonment. One firearm count carries a statutory penalty of not less than five years nor more than life in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. The other firearm count carries a statutory penalty of not more than 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Haag is in charge of the prosecution.
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