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24 Arrested In Fort Stockton-Based Cocaine Distribution Roundup
24 Arrested In Fort Stockton-Based Cocaine Distribution Roundup 6/7/12
Press Release
6/7/12
(Fort Stockton)- United States Attorney Robert Pitman and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Arabit announced that earlier today, federal, state and local law enforcement arrested 24 Fort Stockton, TX, residents, including ringleader Noe Torres Ortega (aka “Prieto”), in connection with a cocaine distribution operation.
All of the defendants are charged in a 27-count federal grand jury indictment returned on May 17, 2012, and unsealed today by U.S. Magistrate Judge Dwight Goains.
The indictment charges all of the defendants with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine.
Other charges in the indictment include distribution of a controlled substance in a school/playground zone, namely Rocket Park and Fort Stockton Intermediate School; possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance; use of a communication facility (phone) in a felony drug offense; and, maintaining a drug-involved premises.
“DEA and our federal, state and local law enforcement partners are working together to have a positive impact at the local level.
Together, we are taking these drug dealers off the streets and depriving them of the opportunity to further engage in criminal activity which has adversely affected the quality of life in this region.
We are sending a strong and unified message that drug dealing, at all levels, will not be tolerated, and, in turn, we are making our communities safer,” stated DEA Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Arabit.
Upon conviction of the drug conspiracy count, the defendants face between ten years and life in federal prison. All of the defendants remain in federal custody at this time.
This investigation was conducted by agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration Alpine Resident Office Multi-Agency Task Force (MTF) comprised of agents from DEA, United States Border Patrol, Pecos County Sheriff's Office, Brewster County Sheriff's Office, Alpine Police Department, and the Texas Department of Public Safety - Criminal Investigation Division as well as members of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Presidio and Alpine and the Fort Stockton Police Department.
The United States Marshals Service, along with Special Response Teams from the Texas Department of Public Safety and the City of Pecos, also assisted with today’s arrests.
This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Monty Kimball.
An indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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INDICTED/ARRESTED DEFENDANTS
NOE TORRES ORTEGA (aka “Prieto”)
Age:
33
JUSTIN RAY HOLGUIN
Age:
26
GUADALUPE HERNANDEZ GRANADO (aka “Lupe”)
Age:
27
ALEXANDER JON PILLADO
Age:
24
JUAN ISIDRO VASQUEZ
Age:
27
VERONICA COLOMO HOLGUIN
Age:
45
MARIA ELIDA COLOMO
Age:
65
OMAR COLOMO
Age:
29
SAMUEL LEE HOLGUIN
Age:
24
ADAN LUJAN VILLEGAS (aka “Hamburger”)
Age:
47
JOSEPH AARON BENAVIDEZ
Age:
22
GEOMAR CALDERON
Age:
26
SANDRA MARTINEZ QUINTELA
Age:
40
PATRICIO DOMINGUEZ PRIMERA
Age:
46
GEORGINA JIMENEZ
Age:
37
SALVADOR LUNA CHACON
Age:
32
SONYA GALVAN SHEEHAN
Age:
44
LUIS RAY ARMENDARIZ
Age:
41
ROLANDO CARRILLO
Age:
26
VINCENT RAY REYES
Age:
23
RAUL SALAZAR PACHECO
Age:
32
SYLVIA RIVAS COLOMO
Age:
48
ADRIAN LEONARD RASCON
Age:
31
and, ROBERT MADRID MELENDEZ
Age:
29
CBS 7's Jennifer Samp is in Fort Stockton.
Join us for the latest throughout the evening on CBS 7 News.