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Safe Streets Task Force Arrests More Than 43 Defendants on Charges Alleging Narcotics Distribution Network Linked to Mexican Mafia Prison Gang

FBI Los Angeles June 25, 2009
  • Public Affairs Specialist Laura Eimiller (310) 996-3343

In an eighteen-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in February 2009 and unsealed this morning, 34 defendants are charged with narcotics and firearms violations arising from an alleged conspiracy to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine in and around San Bernardino and Redlands under the oversight of the Mexican Mafia.  The indictment was announced today by Thomas P. O’Brien, United States Attorney in Los Angeles, and Salvador Hernandez, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI in Los Angeles, on behalf of the San Bernardino-based Gang Impact Team (GIT), which includes the full-time participation of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, the San Bernardino Police Department, the Redlands Police Department and the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office.   

According to the federal indictment, the narcotics trafficking was overseen by defendant Janet Hernandez, the wife of a Mexican Mafia member identified in the indictment as “Mexican Mafia Member #1.”  According to the indictment, while her husband has been incarcerated, Hernandez has acted on his behalf to manage and control the sale and distribution of narcotics in sections of San Bernardino County by requiring narcotics dealers to pay the Mexican Mafia, through her, “taxes” in the form of a percentage of their profits.  The indictment describes a series of recorded calls in which Hernandez allegedly discussed the collection and payment of these taxes with her co-conspirators. 

“The charges resulting from this investigation, both federal and state, reflect the continuing cooperative efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement to hold the Mexican Mafia and those acting on its behalf accountable for their criminal conduct,” said United States Attorney Thomas P. O’Brien.  “We will continue to work together to combat this organization’s narcotics trafficking and violence and the misery these activities inflict on the working people and families in our communities.”

Late last night and early this morning, over 200 agents and officers from the Gang Impact Team and several other agencies executed arrest warrants and took twenty of the federal defendants into custody.  Four of the federal defendants are currently being sought by law enforcement.  Ten of the defendants charged in the federal case were already in federal or state custody. 

The investigation leading to the federal charges focused on the criminal activities of Hispanic street gangs affiliated with the Mexican Mafia, among them the "Westside Verdugos," the "Northside Redlands" and the Varrio Redlands.  These gangs operate primarily within San Bernardino and neighboring Redlands.  The investigation focused on identifying key members of the drug trafficking network in this area in order to disrupt the violence associated with narcotics sales and associated criminal activity. 

Those charged in the federal indictment and their custody status include:

  • Janet Hernandez, 41, of Bloomington
  • Ruben Morales, 44, of Riverside
  • Robert Jimenez Sr, 45, of San Bernardino
  • Gino Gonzalez, 37, of Redlands
  • Jose DeJesus Ramirez, 37, of San Bernardino
  • Jose Trinidad Ramirez, 26, of San Bernardino
  • Armando Estrada, 32, of San Bernardino
  • Ernie Estrada, 23, of San Bernardino
  • Erik Estrada, 23, of San Bernardino
  • George Reyes, 39, of Colton
  • John Furtunato, 29, of Rialto
  • Juan Vaca, 38, of San Bernardino
  • Michelle Tejada, 31, of Redlands
  • John Viveros, 34, of Mentone, currently being sought by law enforcement
  • Jessica Ramos, 28, of Redlands
  • Juanita Garcia, 29, of Mentone
  • Daniel Hocker, 46, of Highland
  • Michael Tejada, 31, of Redlands, currently being sought by law enforcement
  • Tina Valdepena, 45, of San Bernardino
  • Ruben Velasquez, 24, of San Bernardino
  • Michelle Yglesias, 33, of Redlands
  • Laurie Fisher, 51, of Roseville, CA
  • Kelly Kelly, 49, of Rifle, CO, currently being sought by law enforcement
  • Juan Beltran, 33, of Whittier, currently being sought by law enforcement
  • Jason Cardoza, in custody/USMS,SBDO
  • Jeanette Amaya, 51, in custody/CDCR,Chowchilla
  • Mario Hernandez, 36, in custody/SBDO County
  • Rudy Martinez Jr, 35, in custody/CDCR,Chino
  • Joel Martinez, 24, in custody/SBDO/Parole
  • Jennifer Patterson, 30, in custody/SBDO County
  • Alfredo Ramirez III, 25, in custody/CDCR,Tehachapi
  • Nicolas Sendis, 33, Whittier, in custody/USMS,MDC
  • Christopher Sims, 26, in custody/CDCR,Tehachapi
  • David Lopez, 28, incarcerated in SBCO County

Salvador Hernandez, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Office stated, “The communities in San Bernardino County and surrounding areas should be proud of their local police, sheriffs and prosecutors, for their cooperative spirit in participating on gang forces to proactively tackle the spread of gang violence seeping into suburban and rural areas.” 

As a direct result of the investigation, an additional fifty-four defendants were charged by the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office with various state charges including weapons and narcotics violations.  Twenty-five of the state defendants were already in state or local custody.  Sixteen were arrested today and thirteen are being sought by law enforcement. 

Those included in the State Warrants are:

  • Leiy Long ,32, of San Bernardino
  • Lorraine Cabral, 42, of Redlands
  • Edward Cuibal, 50, of Riverside
  • Kwame Givens, 25, of San Bernardino
  • Timothy Nieto, 44, of Redlands
  • Timothy Klenke, 50, of Redlands
  • Gabriel Banuelos, 27, of San Bernardino
  • Maria Calderon, 48, of San Bernardino
  • Ralph Banuelos, 31, of San Bernardino
  • Juan Marquez, 31, of Highland
  • Danny Marquez, 33
  • Guadalupe Acuna
  • Gustavo Castro, 27, of San Bernardino
  • Angel Lerma, 28, of San Bernardino
  • Bertha Ayon, 30, of San Bernardino
  • Guadalupe Barajas
  • Mark Moreno, 37, of Lake Elsinore

Additionally, seven people were taken into custody today at locations where warrants were served.  These probable cause arrests will result in new charges, including drugs or weapons violations. 

“This is an example of the future of law enforcement; agencies working together and pooling resources and intelligence to take down a large criminal enterprise,” said San Bernardino County Sheriff Rod Hoops.

During the investigation, task force members seized $36,000 in cash, over six pounds of methamphetamine, two pounds of cocaine, and 12 firearms.  An additional seven guns and small quantities of methamphetamine were found this morning during the execution of the warrants.   

Michael A. Ramos, San Bernardino County District Attorney, stated, "Our partnership with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies strengthens our ongoing war on gangs. A strong team approach is critical in eradicating gangs and, in these tough economic times, it is especially important for law enforcement to join forces to address the gang problem in order to protect the public."

The federal defendants arrested this morning will have an initial appearance in U.S. District Court this afternoon.  If convicted on the charges listed in the indictment, thirty-two of the defendants face a maximum statutory sentence of life in prison and two of the federal defendants face a maximum sentence of forty years in prison.  The federal defendants listed above will be prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles.  The San Bernardino County District Attorney will prosecute individuals charged with state violations.

Tom Fitzmaurice, Commander, Redlands Police Department, said, “Redlands Police Department is very appreciative of all the efforts put forth by the law enforcement agencies that worked together to dismantle this gang managed criminal enterprise. We stand united with our law enforcement partners in stating that this type of criminal behavior will not be tolerated, and that we will put forth every resource we have available to us to keep our communities safe from the evil influence and actions of these gang members."

The investigation was conducted by the Gang Impact Team in San Bernardino County, an FBI Safe Streets Task Force, which includes members from the FBI, deputies from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, officers with the San Bernardino Police Department and Redlands Police Department and investigators with the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office.  The GIT received assistance from the Highland Police Department, the Riverside Police Department, the Chino Police Department, California Highway Patrol, the California Department of Corrections and the Riverside District Attorney’s Office. 

Chief Keith L. Kilmer, San Bernardino Police Department, stated, “This type of investigation and enforcement activity between agencies involved shows all of our commitment to addressing narcotics and associated gang violence in our communities.  The level of cooperation amongst the agencies involved has been very apparent and will help to ensure increasing safety for our residents.”

The San Bernardino GIT is one of three within the Inland Empire; two others are located in Chino and Palm Springs to address gang-related criminal activity in those areas.  The FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force in Los Angeles is one of dozens of such task forces throughout the United States, funded for the purpose of assisting local police in identifying and addressing gang-related violent crime in America. 

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in court.