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Press Release

11 Seguin-Based Texas Mexican Mafia Members and Associates Indicted on Federal Drug Trafficking Charges

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Texas

Today, federal, state and local authorities arrested eight individuals and are looking for three others in connection with a heroin/cocaine trafficking operation in the Seguin and New Braunfels, TX areas announced United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr., Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division, Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw, Seguin Police Chief Kevin Kelso and New Braunfels Police Chief Tom Wibert.

Those arrested include:

  • Joey Mertz Gonzales (aka “Wheel Chair”), age 47, of Seguin;

  • Jeffrey Ozell Sarabia (aka “Guero”), age 43, of Seguin;

  • Eddie Flores (aka “Lil E”), age 29, of Seguin;

  • Carlos Rios, age 45, of Live Oak, TX;

  • David Phillip Urdiales (aka “Termite”), age 37, of New Braunfels;

  • Cruz Carlos Acosta, age 36, of New Braunfels;

  • Noel Arce, age 44, of Mario, TX; and,

  • Mario Albert Leal, Jr. (aka “Lil Man”), age 34, of Seguin.

Authorities are still searching for:  Adrian Francisco Barbosa (aka “Lil A”), age 29, of New Braunfels; John Gary Ortiz (aka “Big John”), age 30, of Seguin; and, Christopher James Davila (aka “Luck”), age 32, of Seguin.

A federal grand jury indictment, unsealed this afternoon in San Antonio, charges the defendants with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance.  Rios is also charged with three counts; Acosta and Arce, two counts; and, the remaining defendants with one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.  The indictment alleges that the defendants are responsible for distributing heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine in the Seguin and New Braunfels areas since 2010.

During this investigation, authorities seized approximately three pounds of heroin, approximately 13 pounds of powder cocaine, one pound of “crystal” methamphetamine; one pound of marijuana; approximately $60,000 in U.S. Currency; and six firearms.

The defendants face up to 20 years in federal prison upon conviction.  Those defendants arrested today remain in federal custody awaiting detention hearings in federal court next week.

It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt.  The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

This case resulted from an investigation conducted by the FBI together with the Seguin Police Department, New Braunfels Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety.  If you have information as to the whereabouts of Barbosa, Ortiz and Davila, please contact the FBI at (210) 225-6741.

Updated April 15, 2016

Topic
Drug Trafficking