Ten San Jose Gang Members and Associates Arrested on Federal Drug Trafficking Charges
| U.S. Attorney’s Office November 21, 2013 |
SAN JOSE—Raul Morfin was arraigned today in federal court in San Jose on methamphetamine distribution charges, United States Attorney Melinda Haag announced.
Morfin represents the 10th defendant arrested on federal drug trafficking charges as part of a proactive operation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Santa Clara County Violent Gang Task Force targeting gang members selling methamphetamine in Santa Clara County.
The defendants include the reputed “matriarch” of the Sureño gang 8th Street Gilroy (Maria Salinas), alleged co-conspirator brothers affiliated with the Sureño gang Varrio Mexicanos Locos (Jairo and Filiberto Quintana), an alleged co-conspirator mother and daughter combination associated with the Sureño gang Varrio Sur Town (Laura Garcia and Vanessa Pulido), and known members and associates of the Sureño gangs Colonias, Poco Way, and Varrio Paisanos Locos. All but one of the defendants has thus far been detained pre-trial, thereby disrupting a substantial gang presence within Santa Clara County.
As set forth below, the 10 defendants are charged in eight separate indictments with distributing and conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and, in one case, possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
|
Defendant |
Charges |
Docket Number |
Next Court Appearance |
|
Eduardo Arriage, a/k/a “Moreno” |
Distribution of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking |
CR 13-00510 EJD |
December 2, 2013 |
|
Laura Garcia, a/k/a “Blinky”; Vanessa Pulido, a/k/a “Bunny” |
Distribution of methamphetamine and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine |
CR 13-00508 LHK |
December 4, 2013 |
|
Rafael Medina, a/k/a “Conejo” |
Distribution and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine |
CR 13-00507 LHK |
December 4, 2013 |
|
Raul Valle Morfin, a/k/a “Green Eyes” |
Distribution of methamphetamine |
CR 13-00509 DLJ |
November 26, 2013 |
|
Jesus Quiones, a/k/a “Canas” |
Distribution of methamphetamine |
CR 13-00503 DLJ |
January 9, 2014 |
|
Jairo Quintana, a/k/a “Hido”; Filiberto Quintana, a/k/a “Peewee” |
Distribution of methamphetamine and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine |
CR 13-00506 LHK |
December 18, 2013 |
|
Maria Salina, a/k/a “Grumpy” |
Distribution of methamphetamine |
CR 13-00504 LHK |
February 12, 2014 |
|
Ulysses Vasquez, a/k/a “Dreamer” |
Distribution and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine |
CR 13-00502 RMW |
November 25, 2013 |
The maximum penalty that defendants Vasquez and Arriaga face upon conviction is life imprisonment. At this time, the other eight defendants face a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Meyer and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey O’Neill are prosecuting these cases with the assistance of Nina Burney, Tracey Andersen, and Susan Kreider. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Santa Clara County Violent Gang Task Force.
Please note, an indictment contains only allegations against an individual, and, as with all defendants, these defendants must be presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.