EDMOND —
Local cops contributed to a joint operation investigating two Mexican meth rings that secured 21 convictions, the local U.S. attorney announced Wednesday.
A total of 21 defendants were prosecuted and convicted in federal and state court, according to Sanford C. Coats, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma. Those convicted in federal court were sentenced to a total of more than 128 years in prison. The cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Petermann.
Coats said the convictions demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement to dismantling transnational criminal organizations involved in the transportation and distribution of illegal drugs.
James Delia, resident agent in charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Oklahoma City, said the mutli-agency investigation included thousands of manhours, and it reduced a significant threat to public safety.
In June 2011, about 100 city, county and federal law enforcement officers executed multiple federal arrest and search warrants, according to the information from Coats’ office. They resulted in charges against defendants in two separate complaints. They alleged there were two conspiracies to possess and distribute methamphetamine.
The joint investigation curbed a Mexican national drug trafficking organization operating in the Oklahoma City area, according to court records. It included physical surveillance, arrests, seizures and electronic surveillance.
The investigation was conducted by a number of federal agencies and the IRS Criminal Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force, which consists of officers from the Edmond Police Department, Oklahoma City Police Department, Yukon Police Department, Norman Police Department, Canadian County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office and the District 21 (Cleveland County) Drug Task Force.
It culminated in the filing of two related but separate indictments in federal court. The following defendants were convicted in federal court:
• Fidencio Castillo-Delgado, 28, Mexico, will spend 121 months in prison.
• Tomas Colorado, aka “Tomas LNU,” “Mario Gutierrez-Sosa,” “Mario Sosa” or “Tomas Perez-Colorado,” 33, Mexico, will spend 120 months in prison.
• Jose Salvador Flores, aka “Jaime Cruiz Rivera,” “Jaime Cruz,” “Jose Flores-Torres,” “Jose Salvador-Flores,” “Serafin Navarro-Magallon,” “Jose Flores” or “Jose Salvador,” 40, Mexico, will spend 168 months in prison.
• Angel Morales-Renteral, aka “Angel,” 32, Mexico, will spend 84 months in prison.
• Roberto F. Franco, 38, Mexico, will spend 36 months in prison.
• Alvaro Castillo, aka “Burra,” 32, Mexico, will spend 108 months in prison.
• Martin Favela-Rojo, 27, Mexico, will spend 24 months in prison.
• Cesar Julio Fani-Romero, 26, Mexico, will spend 36 months in prison.
• Martin Rosales-Gonzales, aka “Maco” or “Matin Gonzalez Rosales,” 43, Mexico, will spend 5 months in prison.
• Hugo Reyes-Meza, 23, Mexico, will spend 42 months in prison.
• Candelario Favela-Rojo, 31, Mexico, will spend 76 months in prison.
• Guadalupe Marquez, 27, Mexico, will spend 60 months in prison.
• Rafael Quintero-Rivas, aka “Rafael Quintero” or “Guero,” 38, Mexico, will spend 151 months in prison.
• Valente Campos, 34, Mexico, will spend 27 months in prison.
• Jesus Figueroa-Labrada, aka “Chuy,” will spend 120 months in prison.
• Irving Lechuga-Garcia, 24, Mexico, will spend 92 months in prison.
• Eloy Villa-Cazares, aka “Leonel Flores” or “El Grande,” 32, Mexico, will spend 24 months in prison.
• Jose Angel Gonzalez-Gandarila, 38, Mexico, will spend 100 months in prison.
• Ivan Guzman-Torres, aka “Juan Hernandez,” 29, Mexico, will spend 26 months in prison.
• Tomas Olivas, 53, Mexico, will spend 27 months in prison.
Of the 20 defendants four exercised their right to jury trial and were convicted. In addition to the 20 defendants prosecuted in federal court, one defendant, Eloy Marroquin-Chavez, aka “Eloy Chavez” or “Eloy Marroquin,” 44, Mexico, was convicted in a related case in Lincoln County District Court and sentenced to 96 months in state prison.
marks@edmondsun.com | 341-2121, ext. 108
Local News
EPD contributes to metro meth convictions
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EF-5 tornado called 'worst in history'
President Barack Obama pledged the federal government’s full support for disaster relief in what is being called one of the most devastating tornadoes in history. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has deployed a team to the state.
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Edmond detective describes tornado devastation
Like other Oklahomans, Edmond Police Detective Marion Cain was keeping an eye on the weather Monday.
The storm, which produced the tornado began at 2:45 p.m., about 4.4 miles west of Newcastle and its 20-mile long path went through Newcastle, Moore and south Oklahoma City. About 10 minutes after it formed, it was already causing EF4 damage. Maximum winds of the tornado, upgraded to an EF5, were 200-210 mph, according to information released at 2:50 p.m. Tuesday by the National Weather Service. Its estimated maximum width was 1.3 miles. -
UPDATE: How to donate, find drop-off locations for relief supplies
Below is a listing of where donations may be taken in the Edmond area to help the Moore/Oklahoma tornado victims:
• The Edmond Sun is serving as a drop-off location for the downtown Edmond area. Supplies only may be dropped off at 123 S. Broadway and residents may use the backdoor to enter the building. Parking is available behind the building at the Festival Market Place. From 5-10 p.m. donations may be taken to Café Evoke, 103 S. Broadway.
• Edmond North High School is serving as a drop-off location for bottled water through today
• Memorial High School is serving as a drop-off location for food through today.
• Santa Fe High School is serving as a drop-off location for supplies such as work gloves, tools, etc. through today. -
Edmond high schools aid Moore, OKC tornado victims
Sometimes good things come from texting.
Monday afternoon, Sydney Richardson, who will be Santa Fe’s student body president next year, was driving home and it was raining. Once home, she talked to her mother, who told her about the tornado in Moore. Then she began seeing the damage on TV.
“It was devastating,” Richardson said. “We watched it all night long. I just felt like we needed to do something immediately.” -
City schedules debris collection for May 28
The City of Edmond’s Field Services Division of Public Works will be collecting storm-related debris from the May 19 tornado in accordance with the City of Edmond’s Emergency Operation Plan’s Level Two Response.
Affected areas where debris pick up will occur include in the area beginning one-half mile south of 15th Street to 33rd Street and from Boulevard Avenue east to I-35; and the Territories and Timberlake additions. Please see the map for clarification. Pick up is available for residential homes located within the designated boundaries.
Tree debris must be cut into no more than 6-foot sections and must be placed by the curb of the residence no later than 8 a.m. May 28. Crews will begin collection on Tuesday and continue until they have covered the area. -
Storm shelter inquiries up; customers take a number
After the horrific tornado set down in Moore Monday afternoon, storm shelter inquiries hit new highs.
Tuesday Ashley Cunningham, office manager for Red Dirt Septic on Waterloo Road in Edmond, and Mark Webb, owner of the Armor Vault Tornado Shelter in Oklahoma City, said their phones have been ringing consistently starting Monday afternoon. -
Insurers respond to Moore disaster
Insurers, like other agencies related to the Moore tornado disaster, are assessing the damage.
The Oklahoma Insurance Department has made an emergency declaration, allowing out-of-state adjusters to work storm damaged areas, said agency spokeswoman Calley Herth. It’s too soon to have tabulated damage estimates, Herth said.
“We are working hard to collect any and all numbers, but it’s just too soon at this moment,” she said. -
AG issues charity fraud and schemes alert
Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt Tuesday issued a warning for Oklahomans and donors around the country to beware of charity fraud and scams following the severe storms in Oklahoma.
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VIDEO: Pres. Obama's remarks on the Okla. tornado
President Obama speaks on Monday's deadly Okla. tornado.
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Storm victims were pulled from the rubble and residents began surveying the damage late Monday and early Tuesday in the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore, where a powerful tornado destroyed entire neighborhoods and left dozens dead.
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