Complaint Unsealed Charging 22 in Second Phase of Investigation Involving Conspiracy to Traffic Methamphetamine from Mexico to Oklahoma City
| U.S. Attorney’s Office November 01, 2012 |
OKLAHOMA CITY—A federal complaint was unsealed today charging 22 defendants with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced Sanford C. Coats, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma. The charges unsealed today are the second phase of an ongoing investigation of a drug trafficking organization allegedly engaged in a criminal enterprise involving the importation, transportation, and distribution of methamphetamine.
Phase I
Federal complaints were unsealed and/or filed on August 10, August 17, and September 27, 2012, charging multiple defendants with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute at least 30 pounds of methamphetamine. On October 17, 2012, multiple defendants were indicted by a grand jury and charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute at least 85 pounds of actual methamphetamine. As part of Phase I, a total of 13 defendants were charged. They are each awaiting their next court appearance/trial and are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Phase II
The federal complaint unsealed today alleges that from early 2011 through August 10, 2012, the 22 named defendants were engaged in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute at least 85 pounds of actual methamphetamine. Specifically, it is alleged that Iran Juan Zamarripa Carrillo (“Zamarripa”), a defendant charged in Phase I, operated the drug trafficking organization from Corpus Christi, Texas, where he oversaw the distribution and sale of methamphetamine in Oklahoma City from the Car Wash El Lagunero, located at 2418 SW 59th Street, and other areas in Oklahoma City. It is alleged that Zamarripa obtained the methamphetamine from individuals in Sinaloa, Mexico; coordinated shipments of multi-pound quantities to Oklahoma City using semi-truck drivers; and conspired with the 22 named defendants who served as distributors/purchasers of the methamphetamine for the organization. Reference is made to the criminal complaint for further information.
Early this morning, approximately 90 federal and local law enforcement officers executed arrest warrants in the Oklahoma City metro area, Tulsa, Agra, Lawton, Stillwater, Seminole, McAlester, and Snyder, Oklahoma. Officers from Oklahoma City, Midwest City, Stillwater, Lawton, Norman, Edmond, Agra, and Fairview Police Departments; the Payne County Sheriff’s Office; Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Drug Enforcement Administration; United States Marshals Service; and Homeland Security Investigations participated in the arrests. The following 22 defendants have been charged in Phase II of this investigation:
| Number | Name | Age | Home |
| 1 | Edgardo Aguilar (aka “Arana”) | 27 | Oklahoma City |
| 2 | Daniee Avila (aka “Brujo” or “Daniel Avila” or “Daniel Avila-Mendez” ) | 44 | Oklahoma City |
| 3 | Felipe Esquivel Barajas (aka “Tacudo” or “Julio”) | 30 | Oklahoma City |
| 4 | Francisca Bernal-Adame | 45 | — |
| 5 | Jorge Armando Cedeno (aka “Pichoca”) | 33 | Oklahoma City |
| 6 | Gary Cooper (aka “El Indio”) | 42 | Stillwater, Oklahoma |
| 7 | Gunther Lee Cooper (aka “El Indio”) | 21 | Stillwater, Oklahoma |
| 8 | Pamela Davis | 51 | Lawton, Oklahoma |
| 9 | Ramon Ibarra Dominguez (aka “Monchis”) | 37 | McAlester, Oklahoma |
| 10 | Simona Gallegos (aka “Simona Juarez”) | 28 | Oklahoma City |
| 11 | Ismael Garcia, Jr. (aka “Tocayo” or “Pelon”) | 36 | Lawton, Oklahoma |
| 12 | Anthony R. Gonzales (aka “Cholo”) | 34 | Snyder, Oklahoma |
| 13 | Theodore Leroy Henry (aka “Sombra” or “Shadow”) | 53 | Oklahoma City |
| 14 | Pedro Juarez | 37 | Oklahoma City |
| 15 | Bani Moreno (aka “Luis”) | 36 | Oklahoma City |
| 16 | William Lee Murphy (aka “El Indio”) | 47 | — |
| 17 | Jaime Ortiz | 26 | Oklahoma City |
| 18 | Refugio Rodriguez (aka “Bro”) | 42 | Oklahoma City |
| 19 | Salvador Samaniego-Perez | 31 | Oklahoma City |
| 20 | Serapio Sanchez | 26 | Tulsa, Oklahoma |
| 21 | Genoveva Tello (aka “Geno”) | 27 | Oklahoma City |
| 22 | Robert James Tuma | 41 | Agra, Oklahoma |
As a result of today’s operation, 19 of the 22 defendants are in custody. Three defendants have warrants issued for their arrest and are currently deemed fugitives: Jorge Armando Cedeno (#5), Jaime Ortiz (#17), and Salvador Samiego-Perez (#19). Photos of these defendants are below.
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| Jorge Armando Cedeno | Jaime Ortiz | Salvador Samiego-Perez |
If any member of the public has information regarding the whereabouts of these three fugitives, they are asked to contact law enforcement authorities.
If convicted, each of the defendants faces no less than 10 years and up to life in prison, plus up to a $10,000,000 fine. The public is reminded that a complaint/indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Each defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial, at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was investigated by the Safe Streets Task Force (Federal Bureau of Investigation, Oklahoma City Police Department, Midwest City Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations) and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leslie Maye and Lori Hines.