Today, federal, state and local authorities arrested 26 individuals, including “TMM General” Raul Ramos, and are looking for four others in connection with a heroin/cocaine trafficking operation in the San Antonio area announced United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr.; Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division; Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Arabit, Houston Division; and, District Attorney Daniel Kindred, 38th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

 

A federal grand jury this week returned an indictment against a total of 37 defendants (listed below): 26 arrested today, eight who were already in custody, and, three who remain fugitives. Charges contained in a federal grand jury indictment unsealed this afternoon in San Antonio are: conspiracy to interfere with Commerce by threats or violence (Count 1); conspiracy to distribute controlled substances (Count 2); possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance (Count 3); use, carrying, or discharging a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime (Count 4).

 

The indictment alleges that the defendants are responsible for distributing heroin and methamphetamine since January 2015 as well as collecting the “dime,” a ten percent tax imposed by the TMM on non-members who distribute narcotics. The indictment states that failure to pay the tax could result in serious bodily injury, robbery or death.

 

The defendants face up to 20 years in federal prison upon conviction of the extortion conspiracy charge. The defendants face between five and 40 years in federal prison upon conviction of the drug conspiracy charge or drug possession charge. The defendants face a mandatory ten years in federal prison consecutive to any other prison time assessed upon conviction of the firearms charge. Those defendants arrested today remain in federal custody awaiting detention hearings in federal court next week.

 

This indictment resulted from an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation conducted by the FBI and the DEA together with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the San Antonio Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, New Braunfels Police Department, Medina County Sheriff’s Office, Hondo Police Department, and the District Attorney’s Office for the 38th Judicial District. Since October 2016, the 38th Judicial District DA's Office in Hondo, TX, has obtained over 50 state indictments of TMM members and their associates in the Hondo area related to this investigation.

 

The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering operations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.

 

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.

 

U.S. v. Ramos, et al. defendants

SA17cr391

 

** Already in custody prior to today

 

Name, Age, Residence, Charges

Raul Ramos (aka Alto, aka Naranjo, aka GQ), age 51 of San Antonio, Counts 1,2

Victor Garcia (aka Café, aka Pelon, aka BF), age 48 of San Antonio, Counts 1,2

Angel Cantu Garcia (aka Mad, aka Che), age 53 of San Antonio, Counts 1,2

Robert M. Cantu (aka Rock, aka Aguila), age 52 of San Antonio, Counts 1,2

Mariano Valdez III (aka Huesos, aka Rage), age 48 of San Antonio, Counts 1,2

**Fernando Gonzales (aka Nando, aka Sunny), age 37 of San Antonio, Counts 1,2

**Richard Gamez (aka Richio, aka Mack), age 40 of San Antonio, Counts 1,2

Arthur Gallegos (aka Teflon, aka Llano), age 41, of San Antonio, Count 1

Daniel Garza (aka Yogi), age 46 of San Antonio, Counts 1,2

Ricky Escobedo (aka Striker, aka Richio, aka Guero), age 41 of San Antonio, Counts 1,2

Jimmy Lee Zuniga (aka Goon),age 30 of San Antonio, Count 1

**Miguel Hernandez (aka Mikio), age 35 of San Antonio, Count 2

Ramiro R. Carrizales (aka Rudy C), age 45 of San Antonio, Counts 1,2

Abel Joseph Guerrero (aka Sandman, aka Plex), age 29 of San Antonio, Counts 1,2

Joe Perez III (aka JJ), age 31 of San Antonio, Counts 1,2

Julian Rosas Garza (aka Juju), age 26 of San Antonio, Counts 1,2

Juan Jose Gonzales (aka Wedo), age 38 of San Antonio, Counts 1,2,3,4

Roman Gabriel Gonzales (aka Roman), age 44 of San Antonio, Counts 1,2

**Joe Angel Arredondo (aka Porkchop), age 36 of San Antonio. Counts 2,3,4

**Johnny Ray Morales (aka Chone), age 29 of San Antonio, Counts 1,2,3,4

**Mario Vega (aka Chore), age 39 of San Antonio, Count 1

Alfred Garansuay (aka Alfred), age 45 of San Antonio, Counts 1,2

Fran Marie Gonzales (aka China), age 38 of San Antonio, Counts 1,2

Roberto Hernandez (aka Bobby), age 72 of San Antonio, Counts 1,2

Albert Guerra Mata (aka Pajaro), age 45 of San Antonio, Counts 1,2

Jimmy Perez (aka Turtle, aka Reaper), age 40 of San Antonio, Counts 1,2

Robert Rodriguez (aka Chino), age 43 of San Antonio, Count 1

Johnny Ramon Fonseca (aka Mad Cow, aka MC), age 44 of San Antonio, Count 1

Pedro Torrez (aka Infamous), age 34 of Floresville, TX, Counts 1,2

Jesus Rodriguez (aka Texas), age 29 of San Antonio, Counts 1,2

Frederick Rocha (aka Lil Mac), age 38 of San Antonio, Count 1

Oscar Martinez (aka Pelon), age 70 of Laredo, TX, Count 2

**Jose Luis Cortez (aka Listo, aka T-Bone), age 40 of San Antonio, Count 1

**Marc Thomas Reyes (aka Panda), age 29 of San Antonio, Counts 1,2