OKLAHOMA CITY – Nineteen individuals have been charged in an indictment unsealed today with conspiring to distribute multiple kilograms of heroin and methamphetamine from sources in Mexico and elsewhere, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Downing. As of today, federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers have arrested 17 of these defendants as part of an operation that involved executing fourteen search warrants and seizing firearms, illegal drugs, and U.S. currency.
"Consistent with this administration’s prioritization of opioid enforcement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will work closely with law enforcement to keep heroin off of Oklahoma streets," said U.S. Attorney Downing. "I could not be more pleased about this successful series of arrests and the cooperation among law enforcement that makes an operation of this sort possible."
"Today is a great day for the citizens of Oklahoma," said Clyde E. Shelley, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Dallas Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration. "The DEA, along with partners from numerous federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies, have dismantled a heroin trafficking organization responsible for distributing large amounts of this dangerous drug across the state of Oklahoma."
John P. Scott, Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge of DEA’s Oklahoma District, said: "This case is a perfect example of the outstanding collaboration and partnerships that the law enforcement community has here in the state of Oklahoma. This case was developed over the last two years, spanning multiple states and judicial districts. It would not have been possible without the efforts of the case agents, task force officers, and prosecutors who work tirelessly to rid our community of those determined to make money off of selling drugs that devastate communities and destroy lives."
The defendants charged in the indictment are:
Juan Rocha-Teran, 33
Daniel Gonzalez-Herrera, 28
Victor Legorreta-Torres, 33
Angel Artemio Gonzalez, 20
Nicole Burkhammer, 24
Samuel Purkhiser, 29
Brittany Blake, 29
Carlos De Leon, 29
Mariano Contreras-Acosta, 51
Edward Owens, 35
Joshua Keenan Williams, 28
Neri Estuardo Sanchez-Mijangos
Kelsey Taylor, 22
Jeff Burke, 30
Christian Dusenberry, 23
Damon Colclasure, 44
Haylee Butler, 23
Weston Guinn, 32
Rosalynn Zaragoza, 19
Defendants Rocha-Teran, Gonzalez-Herrera, Legorreta-Torres, Artemio Gonzalez, De Leon, and Sanchez-Mijangos are citizens of Mexico.
According to the indictment, from December 2015 to the present, each defendant was a member of a conspiracy that distributed one kilogram or more of heroin and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. It is alleged that Rocha-Teran, Legorreta-Torres, Artemio Gonzalez, De Leon, Contreras-Acosta, and Sanchez-Mijangos acquired multiple kilogram and pound quantities of heroin and methamphetamine from sources in California, Nevada, Mexico, Texas, and elsewhere for re-distribution in the Oklahoma City area. Certain conspirators allegedly stored the drugs at specific addresses in Oklahoma City. They are alleged to have used coded language in cell phone conversations to facilitate the distribution.
In addition to one count of conspiracy, the indictment charges various defendants in 37 counts of possession with intent to distribute, 17 counts of using a telephone to facilitate a drug felony, and four counts of maintaining a premises for the purpose of distributing drugs.
On August 20, officers from a variety of federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies executed a coordinated series of arrests and searches in Oklahoma and Nevada. Including first responders, more than 200 personnel were involved in the operation. The August 20 takedown resulted in 14 arrests in various parts of Oklahoma. One additional defendant was arrested today. All fifteen of these defendants are being arraigned this afternoon at 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Shon T. Erwin. In addition, Contreras-Acosta was arrested on August 6 in Texas and is being held in the Dallas County Jail, and De Leon was arrested on August 14 in Oklahoma City and is been held in the Oklahoma County Jail.
Defendants Angel Artemio Gonzalez and Rosalynn Zaragoza have not been apprehended and are considered fugitives. Law enforcement believes Artemio Gonzalez is in the Ontario, California, area and that Zaragoza is in the Oklahoma City area.
In the course of arresting defendants, law enforcement officers have seized a total of more than 16 pounds of heroin, more than three pounds of methamphetamine, eight firearms, and approximately $30,000 in U.S. currency. The amount of heroin seized is the equivalent of approximately 30,000 individual doses.
The following agencies assisted in bringing these defendants into custody and searching locations associated with them:
Broken Arrow Police Department
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Canadian County Sheriff’s Office
Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department
Choctaw Police Department
Duncan Police Department
Edmond Police Department
El Reno Police Department
Grady County Sheriff’s Office
Mesquite, TX Police Department
Moore Police Department
Norman Police Department
Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics
Oklahoma City Police Department
Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office
Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office
Oklahoma District 18 Task Force
Oklahoma District 21 Task Force
Oklahoma District 23 Task Force
Oklahoma Highway Patrol
Ontario, California, Police Department, Career Criminal Division
Oregon State Police
Rogers County District Attorney’s Office
Seminole Nation Lighthorse Police Department
Texas Department of Public Safety
Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office
Tulsa Police Department
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Enforcement and Removal Operations)
U.S. Marshals Service
Yukon Police Department
If found guilty of conspiracy, each defendant faces up to life in prison and a minimum mandatory sentence of ten years, as well as supervised release of up to life and a fine of up to $10,000,000. Convictions on counts charging possession with intent to distribute would carry maximum sentences of 20 years, 40 years, or life, depending on the drug amounts alleged in each count. Each count of using a telephone to facilitate a drug felony would carry a maximum sentence of four years upon conviction. And a conviction on the counts charging maintaining a drug-involved premises would carry a maximum sentence of 20 years.
This indictment is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case is part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force ("OCDETF"), which coordinates the investigation and federal prosecution of the highest priority drug trafficking organizations. This prosecution also falls within the parameters of the Western Oklahoma Opioid Enforcement Team, which brings together federal, state, and tribal law enforcement to focus on attacking illegal opioids, such as heroin. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David P. Petermann and Matthew P. Anderson.
The public is reminded that these charges are merely allegations and that each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Reference is made to public filings for more information.
Description: The fiscal year of the data file obtained from the AOUSC
Format: YYYY
Description: The code of the federal judicial circuit where the case was located
Format: A2
Description: The code of the federal judicial district where the case was located
Format: A2
Description: The code of the district office where the case was located
Format: A2
Description: Docket number assigned by the district to the case
Format: A7
Description: A unique number assigned to each defendant in a case which cannot be modified by the court
Format: A3
Description: A unique number assigned to each defendant in a case which can be modified by the court
Format: A3
Description: A sequential number indicating whether a case is an original proceeding or a reopen
Format: N5
Description: Case type associated with the current defendant record
Format: A2
Description: A concatenation of district, office, docket number, case type, defendant number, and reopen sequence number
Format: A18
Description: A concatenation of district, office, docket number, case type, and reopen sequence number
Format: A15
Description: The status of the defendant as assigned by the AOUSC
Format: A2
Description: A code indicating the fugitive status of a defendant
Format: A1
Description: The date upon which a defendant became a fugitive
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: The date upon which a fugitive defendant was taken into custody
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: The date when a case was first docketed in the district court
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: The date upon which proceedings in a case commenced on charges pending in the district court where the defendant appeared, or the date of the defendant’s felony-waiver of indictment
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: A code used to identify the nature of the proceeding
Format: N2
Description: The date when a defendant first appeared before a judicial officer in the district court where a charge was pending
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: A code indicating the event by which a defendant appeared before a judicial officer in the district court where a charge was pending
Format: A2
Description: A code indicating the type of legal counsel assigned to a defendant
Format: N2
Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense committed which carried the highest severity
Format: A20
Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with FTITLE1
Format: N2
Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with FTITLE1
Format: A4
Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with FTITLE1
Format: A4
Description: A code indicating the severity associated with FTITLE1
Format: A3
Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense committed which carried the second highest severity
Format: A20
Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with FTITLE2
Format: N2
Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with FTITLE2
Format: A4
Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with FTITLE2
Format: A4
Description: A code indicating the severity associated with FTITLE2
Format: A3
Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense committed which carried the third highest severity
Format: A20
Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with FTITLE3
Format: N2
Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with FTITLE3
Format: A4
Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with FTITLE3
Format: A4
Description: A code indicating the severity associated with FTITLE3
Format: A3
Description: The FIPS code used to indicate the county or parish where an offense was committed
Format: A5
Description: The date of the last action taken on the record
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: The date upon which judicial proceedings before the court concluded
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: The date upon which the final sentence is recorded on the docket
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: The date upon which the case was closed
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: The total fine imposed at sentencing for all offenses of which the defendant was convicted and a fine was imposed
Format: N8
Description: A count of defendants filed including inter-district transfers
Format: N1
Description: A count of defendants filed excluding inter-district transfers
Format: N1
Description: A count of original proceedings commenced
Format: N1
Description: A count of defendants filed whose proceedings commenced by reopen, remand, appeal, or retrial
Format: N1
Description: A count of defendants terminated including interdistrict transfers
Format: N1
Description: A count of defendants terminated excluding interdistrict transfers
Format: N1
Description: A count of original proceedings terminated
Format: N1
Description: A count of defendants terminated whose proceedings commenced by reopen, remand, appeal, or retrial
Format: N1
Description: A count of defendants pending as of the last day of the period including long term fugitives
Format: N1
Description: A count of defendants pending as of the last day of the period excluding long term fugitives
Format: N1
Description: The source from which the data were loaded into the AOUSC’s NewSTATS database
Format: A10
Description: A sequential number indicating the iteration of the defendant record
Format: N2
Description: The date the record was loaded into the AOUSC’s NewSTATS database
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: Statistical year ID label on data file obtained from the AOUSC which represents termination year