DPS Arrests Gang Member in Criminal Investigation

EL PASO, TX – (DPS Press Release) On Wednesday, Texas Department of Public Safety Special Agents in collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Administration  El Paso Field Division arrested 17 defendants on state drug charges and other crimes resulting from a two-year investigation. An additional five defendants were already in custody on unrelated criminal charges. The investigation is ongoing and additional suspects are at-large.

The DPS investigation initially targeted members and associates of the Barrio Azteca gang and their alleged involvement in trafficking narcotics.  The DEA assisted in the criminal enterprise investigation focusing on Barrio Azteca gang members and criminal associates, including subjects who had renounced their allegiance to the gang.  Significant seizures during the course of the ongoing investigation include:  

·       $292,079 in cash

·       Five pounds of heroin

·       Three pounds of cocaine

·       18 pounds of marijuana

·       Approximately a pound of methamphetamine

“DPS is committed to working with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to identify, disrupt and dismantle these criminal organizations,” said Regional Director Orlando Alanis. “We are proud to have participated in this important investigation that was key in putting these suspects behind bars and helping protect Texans.”

The West Texas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, DEA, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, El Paso Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Federal Probation, United States Marshals Service, Lea County New Mexico Drug Task Force, and members of 34th District Attorney’s Office-Border Prosecution Unit assisted in this operation.

Those arrested include the following individuals:

1. Robert Young, 34, of El Paso, TX 

2. Ramon Garcia, 45, of El Paso, TX

3. Victor Romero, 50, of El Paso, TX

4. Cynthia Corral, 53, of El Paso, TX

5. Dora Gutierrez, 35, of El Paso, TX

6. Hector Minjarez, 57, of El Paso, TX

7. Olga Vasquez, 53, of El Paso, TX

8. Joel Flores, 37, of El Paso, TX

9. Dakota Kennedy, 30, of El Paso, TX

10. Gabriel Marquez, 25, of El Paso, TX

11. Julio Beltran, 33, of El Paso, TX

12. Johnny Rangel, 37, of El Paso, TX

13. Andrew Rios, 24, of El Paso, TX

14. Josephine Garcia, 38, of El Paso, TX

15. Samuel Atayde, 28, of El Paso, TX

16. Kevin Chavarria-Garcia, 19, of El Paso, TX

17. David Dominguez, 31, of El Paso, TX

All defendants were booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility for drug offenses and engaging in organized criminal activity.  

Subjects already in State Custody, pending additional charges:

1. Aaron Serrano, 37, El Paso, TX (Incarcerated already)

2. Benjamin Ritter, 50, El Paso, TX (Incarcerated already)

3. Shera Sansores, 34, El Paso, TX (Incarcerated already)

4. Guido Cantoral, 29, El Paso, TX (Incarcerated already)

5. Patsy Garcia, 41, El Paso, TX (Incarcerated already)