Score:   1
Docket Number:   WD-TX  6:19-cr-00257
Case Name:   USA v. Edwards
  Press Releases:
This morning, federal and state authorities arrested 16 individuals stemming from two separate investigations into narcotics trafficking in the Waco and Bell County areas, announced United States Attorney John F. Bash; FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs; Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Will Glaspy, Houston Division; Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Shane Folden; Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw; Waco Police Chief Ryan Holt; McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara; and, Lacy Lakeview Police Chief John Truehitt.

The first investigation, conducted by FBI, DEA, TXDPS, Waco Police Department, McLennan County Sheriff’s Office and Lacy Lakeview Police Department, resulted in nine (9) arrests today and three (3) prior arrests based on five (5) federal grand jury indictments unsealed today in Waco.  During this investigation, authorities seized approximately two kilograms of methamphetamine, four kilograms of cocaine, approximately $50,000 in U.S. Currency, four firearms (including a Mini Draco AK47 assault style pistol), several pounds of marijuana and several hundred THC vaping pens.  Also in regards to this investigation, authorities today seized seven (7) firearms, including two (2) AR-15’s (one with night vision equipment), one (1) AK47 pistol, and one (1) AK47 rifle, and approximately $3,600 in U.S. Currency. 

XAVIER ANGELO HERNANDEZ, et al. INDICTMENT – W19cr258

This indictment charges eight (8) defendants with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute at least 500 grams of methamphetamine in the Waco area since September 2018.  Each defendant faces between ten years and life in federal prison upon conviction.  Individuals charged in the Hernandez indictment include:

Name, Age, Residence

Xavier Angelo Hernandez (aka “X”), 23, Waco              

**Steven Matthew Ochoa, 29, Waco

Julio Cesar Cruz, 26, Waco              

Martin Zuniga, Jr., 19, Waco              

Gaspar Sardaneta Martinez (aka “Garza”), 28, Waco  

Carline Stone Bolding, 49, Elm Mott, TX

Cheryl Ann Flanagan (aka “Cheryl Guajardo “), 40, Waco              

Sabrina Maria Sardaneta, 28, Robinson, TX

 

CHRISTOPHER MIKEL CLARK INDICTMENT – W19cr256   

This indictment charges Christopher Mikel Clark (aka “Little Chris”), age 20 of Waco, with one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  Clark faces a mandatory minimum of five years in federal prison upon conviction.  In June 2019, authorities executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence where they recovered marijuana and a Mini Draco AK47 assault style pistol.

 

JOSEPH RYAN EDWARDS INDICTMENT – W19cr257

This indictment charges Joseph Ryan Edwards, age 26 of Waco, with one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  Edwards faces a mandatory minimum of five years in federal prison upon conviction.  During a traffic stop in June 2019, law enforcement searched the defendant’s vehicle and found a .380 caliber pistol, 41 THC Oil pens, and approximately $2,900.00 in U.S. Currency.

 

STEVEN MATTHEW OCHOA INDICTMENT – W19cr260

This indictment charges previously named defendant, Steven Ochoa, with one count of possession with intent to distribute at least 500 grams of cocaine.  Ochoa faces between five years and 40 years in federal prison upon conviction.  In August 2019, Ochoa was arrested with four (4) kilos of cocaine and approximately $16,000 in U.S. Currency.

          

AMOR ESPERANZA ZUNIGA, et al.  INDICTMENT – W19CR271  

This indictment charges **Amor Esperanza Zuniga (aka “Stony Zuniga”), age 19 of Waco, with one count of possession with intent to distribute at least 50 grams of methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  The indictment also charges Zuniga and **Heraclio Santos Carreon, age 41 of Waco, with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  Each drug charge calls for between five years and 40 years in federal prison upon conviction.  The firearms charge calls for a mandatory minimum of five years in federal prison upon conviction.  During a traffic stop on July 21, 2019, authorities searched the defendants’ vehicle and discovered approximately 100 grams of methamphetamine and an RG 14, .22 caliber revolver.

**Defendants Steven Ochoa, Amor Zuniga and Heraclio Carreon were already in custody prior to today. 

 

The second investigation, conducted by TXDPS, FBI, DEA and HSI, resulted in seven (7) arrests today stemming from a single federal grand jury indictment unsealed today in Waco. 

GERMAN ZARZOZA MORENO, et al. INDICTMENT – W19cr259

Today, authorities arrested seven (7) individuals charged in this indictment.  They are: 

Name, Age, Residence

German Zarzoza Moreno, 33, Temple, TX

Raul Montes, 47, Galena Park, TX

Jaime Estrada, Jr., 20, Temple

Jesus Alberto Garcia Zuniga, 25, Temple

Erik Enrique Hernandez, 32, Temple

Luis Carlos Jimenez, Jr., 26, Temple

Ezequiel Orozco, 29, Temple

This indictment charges Moreno, Montes and Estrada with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine and one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine.  Zuniga and Hernandez are only charged in the cocaine conspiracy count.  Jimenez and Orozco are only charged in the methamphetamine conspiracy count.  Those charged in the methamphetamine conspiracy face between ten years and life in federal prison upon conviction.  Those charged in the cocaine conspiracy face between five and 40 years in federal prison.  Under the direction of Moreno and Montes, the defendants allegedly distributed cocaine and methamphetamine in the Temple area since May 2018.

In regards to this investigation, authorities conducted a coordinated search/arrest operation today in the Temple and Houston areas.  Today’s operation resulted in the seizure of approximately 2,853 grams of cocaine, 8.4 grams of ecstasy, and 31.9 grams of marijuana.  Authorities also seized a .45 caliber Smith and Wesson pistol, a false battery compartment, a kilogram press, and several other items indicative of distribution and transportation of cocaine and methamphetamine.

The U.S. Marshals Service provided valuable assistance with today’s arrests.  All of those arrested today remain in federal custody.  Detention hearings are expected to occur next week before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Manske in Waco. 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Blanton and Stephanie Smith-Burris are prosecuting these cases on behalf of the Government.

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.

Docket (0 Docs):   https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/11JsCeYZuR5FwGoM4L2CLDXa7gS1qRuV5Na8Lo3SjyWQ
  Last Updated: 2023-10-23 02:06:17 UTC
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 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
Format: YYYY

Data imported from FJC Integrated Database
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