Federal Complaint Charges 28 in Methamphetamine, Heroin and Cocaine Distribution Conspiracy

FORT WORTH — Twenty-eight defendants in the North Texas area have been charged in a federal criminal complaint, partially unsealed today, with felony offenses stemming from their role in a methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin conspiracy that operated in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.

Twenty-five defendants were arrested yesterday in an operation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and made appearances in federal court today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey L. Cureton. Three defendants are fugitives.

The complaint charges each of the following defendants with one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute a controlled substance:

   Efrain Rangel Arias, aka “Pollo,” 43

   Alcadio Caballero De La Torre, aka “Coochi,” 35

   Jennifer Louann Cherry, 40

   Jose Soto-Silva, aka “Feo,” 30

   Luis Soto-Silva, aka “Pecas” and “Tucan,” 29

   Fernando Obregon, aka “Pri,” 23

   Isidro Molina, aka “Chileno,” 23

   Encarnacion Hurtado-Cruz, aka “Pancho,” 55

   Alejandro Hernandez, aka “Alejandro Rodriguez,” 19

   Juan Martinez-Fiscal, 27

   Efrain Sifuentes, 25

   Adan Barrientos, 20

   Luis Varela, 21

   Edgar Graciano, aka “Firulais,” 24

   Israel Enriquez, 25

   Maelena Rodriguez, aka “China”

   Daniel Marentes, 26

   Gloria Jaimes, 53

   Miguel Robles, 35

   Eduardo Grimaldo, aka “Lalo,” 29

   Daton Degnide, 30

   Mounib Shalash, 38

   Gerson Ortiz-Barrera, 21

   Richard Moilna, 25

   Alexis Hernandez-Escobar, 36

A criminal complaint is a written statement of the essential facts of the offense charged and must be made under oath before a magistrate judge. A defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. The government has 30 days to present the matter to a grand jury for indictment. The maximum statutory penalty for the offenses as charged is 40 years in federal prison and a $5,000,000 fine.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is conducting the investigation with assistance from DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, Arlington Police Department, Fort Worth Police Department, Dallas Police Department, Dallas County Sherriff’s Clean Air Task Force, Grand Prairie Police Department, Denton County Sherriff’s Office, Texas Department of Criminal Justice Office of Inspector General, the Texas Department of Public Safety, ICE ERO, and Tarrant County Combined Narcotics Enforcement Team.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Smith is in charge of the prosecution.

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