"Two large drug trafficking organizations authorities say were run by a brother and sister were taken down by federal agents and 22 people were indicted by a grand jury for their part in transporting methamphetamine and cash from California to Colorado.
Twenty of the 22 indicted were arrested Wednesday in metro Denver, California, Iowa and Utah without incident.
More than six pounds of methamphetamine and $715,340 in cash and property were found by agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, the FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement in an operation they dubbed “Dark Angel.”
The drugs were being transported in organic milk cartons and in one case, a child travelling from California had cash strapped to his body to avoid detection by law enforcement.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Troyer alleged Armando Mendoza-Haro and his sister, Reyna Mendoza-Haro were running the two organizations using Playboyz Trucking LLC, a San Bernardino, Calif.-based company to move the drugs and cash to Colorado....." (Read more? Click title)
Showing posts with label ICE-HSI. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ICE-HSI. Show all posts
June 8, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: ICE "20 people arrested"
"20 people arrested as part of a large methamphetamine drug trafficking organization operating in Metro Denver.
DENVER — Twenty people were arrested Wednesday following the two separate federal grand jury indictments charging 22 defendants with crimes related to trafficking methamphetamine and international money laundering. The charges were announced by the U.S. Attorney's Office of the District of Colorado, and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force's (OCDETF) Strike Force.
All 20 people were arrested May 30 without incident in Metro Denver, California, Utah and Iowa. The two others not arrested are considered fugitives from justice. The first indictment involves 11 defendants and 135 counts. The second indictment involves 11 additional defendants and 22 counts. Most of those arrested appeared in U.S. District Court in Denver Wednesday where they were advised of the charges pending against them.
During the course of the investigation, including fruits from search warrants executed May 30, agents and officers seized more than six pounds of methamphetamine, $715,340 in currency, one firearm and property. Five vehicles were seized, including two 2004 Freightliner tractor trailers, and a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro.
The arrests are a culmination of a year-and-a-half long OCDETF investigation known as Dark Angel, which targeted the Armando Mendoza-Haro drug trafficking organization (DTO), which has ties to Mexico. The DTO utilized corrupt drivers from a trucking company, using their semi-tractor trailers to move methamphetamine from California to Colorado. The tractor trailers were also used to move money back from Colorado to California. In one instance, the money was hidden in a truck load of milk. The DTO also used other means to send money back to California, including one instance where a minor had cash strapped to his body as he was being driven to California.
]
One unique aspect of this investigation was the money laundering the defendants allegedly engaged in.
The defendants attempted to conceal and disguise the origin of the methamphetamine proceeds. They did this by depositing the methamphetamine proceeds into various bank accounts at financial institutions (called funnel accounts). In an attempt to avoid bank-reporting requirements, the defendants structured the deposits into the accounts by making deposits less than $10,000. Financial institutions are required to file a currency transaction report (CTR) for currency transactions more than $10,000. To further conceal the ownership and source of the methamphetamine proceeds in the funnel accounts, the defendants moved the funds that were deposited into the funnel accounts to other accounts via wire transfers. These wire transfers included transferring funds domestically and internationally. In some instances there were subsequent wire transfers back to the original funnel accounts with cash withdrawals made in California, avoiding the $10,000 reporting requirement.
Commissioned in July 2011, the mission of the Denver OCDETF Strike Force is to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute the command and control structure of major international and interstate drug transportation and smuggling organizations operating in and through the Mountain West region of the United States through collaborative criminal and financial investigations. The Denver OCDETF Strike Force is one of only 11 across the country. The Strike Forces are mostly housed in large cities.
The Denver OCDETF Strike Force is comprised of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), FBI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Internal Revenue Service's Criminal Investigations, U.S. Marshals Service, Aurora Police Department, Colorado State Patrol, Denver Police Department, Fort Collins Police Services, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, and Lakewood Police Department.
Those arrested May 30 include the following:
"The indictments we are announcing today reflect the hard work of Denver OCDETF Strike Force, who targeted a Mexican drug trafficking organization responsible for the transportation of significant quantities of methamphetamine from California to Colorado," said DEA Special Agent in Charge Barbra Roach. "In addition to the drug trafficking aspects of this investigation, it is important to note the success investigators had in detecting and charging the money laundering scheme."
"Methamphetamine-trafficking organizations are deeply rooted in money and greed," said Michael Holt, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Denver. "HSI routinely uses our unique law enforcement authorities in such operations to specifically target the finances that drive these crimes."
"IRS – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) is committed to fighting the war on drugs in conjunction with our law enforcement partners," said Sean Sowards, Special Agent in Charge of IRS – Criminal Investigation, Denver Field Office. "IRS-CI has the financial investigators and expertise to disrupt these organizations and deprive them of their illicit gains."
"Long term collaborative investigations like 'Dark Angel' are invaluable, especially when they achieve this kind of success," said Denver Police Chief Robert White. "Getting 22 drug dealers and their narcotics off the street will make Denver a much safer city."
"This multi-agency and multi-jurisdictional investigation will curtail the illegal drug market in the Western United States," said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge James Yacone. "We will continue the efforts with our federal, state and local partners to aggressively investigate and prosecute these drug smuggling organizations that impact our communities."
If convicted, the defendants face penalties ranging from not less than 10 years and up to life in federal prison, to not less than five years and up to 20 years, depending on the quantity of drugs they are accused of trafficking. Some face not more than 20 years in federal prison for money laundering and/or other drug trafficking charges. Others face not more than four years for using a communication facility (i.e., a phone) while committing the felony drug offense.
The indictments also include asset forfeiture allegations. If convicted, the defendants shall forfeit their right, title and interest in all property constituting and derived from any proceeds obtained directly and indirectly as a result of their crimes.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary Phillips and Kasandra Carleton. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tonya Andrews assisted with the asset forfeiture aspect of this case.
The charges contained in the indictments are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
DENVER — Twenty people were arrested Wednesday following the two separate federal grand jury indictments charging 22 defendants with crimes related to trafficking methamphetamine and international money laundering. The charges were announced by the U.S. Attorney's Office of the District of Colorado, and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force's (OCDETF) Strike Force.
All 20 people were arrested May 30 without incident in Metro Denver, California, Utah and Iowa. The two others not arrested are considered fugitives from justice. The first indictment involves 11 defendants and 135 counts. The second indictment involves 11 additional defendants and 22 counts. Most of those arrested appeared in U.S. District Court in Denver Wednesday where they were advised of the charges pending against them.
During the course of the investigation, including fruits from search warrants executed May 30, agents and officers seized more than six pounds of methamphetamine, $715,340 in currency, one firearm and property. Five vehicles were seized, including two 2004 Freightliner tractor trailers, and a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro.
The arrests are a culmination of a year-and-a-half long OCDETF investigation known as Dark Angel, which targeted the Armando Mendoza-Haro drug trafficking organization (DTO), which has ties to Mexico. The DTO utilized corrupt drivers from a trucking company, using their semi-tractor trailers to move methamphetamine from California to Colorado. The tractor trailers were also used to move money back from Colorado to California. In one instance, the money was hidden in a truck load of milk. The DTO also used other means to send money back to California, including one instance where a minor had cash strapped to his body as he was being driven to California.
]
One unique aspect of this investigation was the money laundering the defendants allegedly engaged in.
The defendants attempted to conceal and disguise the origin of the methamphetamine proceeds. They did this by depositing the methamphetamine proceeds into various bank accounts at financial institutions (called funnel accounts). In an attempt to avoid bank-reporting requirements, the defendants structured the deposits into the accounts by making deposits less than $10,000. Financial institutions are required to file a currency transaction report (CTR) for currency transactions more than $10,000. To further conceal the ownership and source of the methamphetamine proceeds in the funnel accounts, the defendants moved the funds that were deposited into the funnel accounts to other accounts via wire transfers. These wire transfers included transferring funds domestically and internationally. In some instances there were subsequent wire transfers back to the original funnel accounts with cash withdrawals made in California, avoiding the $10,000 reporting requirement.
Commissioned in July 2011, the mission of the Denver OCDETF Strike Force is to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute the command and control structure of major international and interstate drug transportation and smuggling organizations operating in and through the Mountain West region of the United States through collaborative criminal and financial investigations. The Denver OCDETF Strike Force is one of only 11 across the country. The Strike Forces are mostly housed in large cities.
The Denver OCDETF Strike Force is comprised of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), FBI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Internal Revenue Service's Criminal Investigations, U.S. Marshals Service, Aurora Police Department, Colorado State Patrol, Denver Police Department, Fort Collins Police Services, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, and Lakewood Police Department.
Those arrested May 30 include the following:
- Armando Mendoza-Haro (Northglenn, Colo.)
- Jesus Segovia (Denver, Colo.)
- Miguel Angel Sanchez (San Bernardino, Calif.)
- Daniela Munguia de Ortiz (Pomona, Calif.)
- Yuly Hernandez-Orozco (Edgewater, Colo.)
- Alejandro Morales-Garcia (Marshalltown, Iowa)
- Carlos Martin Segura Chang (Downey, Calif.)
- Sonia Perez (Denver, Colo.)
- Reyna Mendoza-Haro (Corcoran, Calif.)
- Jaime Moreno-Lopez (currently in BOP custody)
- Ricky Henry Cisneros (Denver, Colo.)
- Ivan Gomez-Avila (Denver, Colo.)
- Shana Louise Claybourn (Denver, Colo.)
- Cris Anthony Sandoval (Lakewood, Colo.)
- Todd Joseph Trujillo (Westminster, Colo.)
- Kennie Ray Snyder (currently in state custody)
- Christina Rose Malmgren (Highlands Ranch, Colo.)
- Desiree Rose Ceballes (Glendale, Colo.)
- Ricardo Paniagua-Rodriguez (San Ysidro, Calif.)
- Sergio Mendoza-Valdovinos (Utah)
"The indictments we are announcing today reflect the hard work of Denver OCDETF Strike Force, who targeted a Mexican drug trafficking organization responsible for the transportation of significant quantities of methamphetamine from California to Colorado," said DEA Special Agent in Charge Barbra Roach. "In addition to the drug trafficking aspects of this investigation, it is important to note the success investigators had in detecting and charging the money laundering scheme."
"Methamphetamine-trafficking organizations are deeply rooted in money and greed," said Michael Holt, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Denver. "HSI routinely uses our unique law enforcement authorities in such operations to specifically target the finances that drive these crimes."
"IRS – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) is committed to fighting the war on drugs in conjunction with our law enforcement partners," said Sean Sowards, Special Agent in Charge of IRS – Criminal Investigation, Denver Field Office. "IRS-CI has the financial investigators and expertise to disrupt these organizations and deprive them of their illicit gains."
"Long term collaborative investigations like 'Dark Angel' are invaluable, especially when they achieve this kind of success," said Denver Police Chief Robert White. "Getting 22 drug dealers and their narcotics off the street will make Denver a much safer city."
"This multi-agency and multi-jurisdictional investigation will curtail the illegal drug market in the Western United States," said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge James Yacone. "We will continue the efforts with our federal, state and local partners to aggressively investigate and prosecute these drug smuggling organizations that impact our communities."
If convicted, the defendants face penalties ranging from not less than 10 years and up to life in federal prison, to not less than five years and up to 20 years, depending on the quantity of drugs they are accused of trafficking. Some face not more than 20 years in federal prison for money laundering and/or other drug trafficking charges. Others face not more than four years for using a communication facility (i.e., a phone) while committing the felony drug offense.
The indictments also include asset forfeiture allegations. If convicted, the defendants shall forfeit their right, title and interest in all property constituting and derived from any proceeds obtained directly and indirectly as a result of their crimes.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary Phillips and Kasandra Carleton. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tonya Andrews assisted with the asset forfeiture aspect of this case.
The charges contained in the indictments are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
May 16, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: Customs and Border Protection "CBP Officers Seize $1.2 Million in Cocaine, Meth at Brownsville Port of Entry"
"Brownsville, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Brownsville Port of Entry on Thursday discovered cocaine and methamphetamine valued at more than $1.2 million in two seizures at two different international bridges in separate, unrelated enforcement actions.
CBP officers at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge encountered a 2005 Chevrolet Equinox being driven by a 24-year-old male Mexico citizen and resident of Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. CBP officers discovered 14 packages hidden within the Chevrolet. CBP officers removed the packages containing approximately 31.6 pounds of cocaine.
"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."
CBP officers at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge encountered a 2005 Chevrolet Equinox being driven by a 24-year-old male Mexico citizen and resident of Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. CBP officers discovered 14 packages hidden within the Chevrolet. CBP officers removed the packages containing approximately 31.6 pounds of cocaine.
The second case occurred at Gateway International Bridge when CBP officers came in contact with a male United States citizen as he arrived at the port of entry as the driver of a black 2003 Volkswagen Jetta. The man, identified as a 47-year-old resident of Austin, Texas, was selected and referred for inspection. CBP officers discovered 48 packages hidden within the Jetta. CBP officers removed the packages which held a combined total weight of 14.10 pounds of methamphetamine.
The cocaine from the first seizure has an estimated street value of approximately $1,011,200 and the methamphetamine seizure has an estimated street value of approximately $211,500. CBP officers turned the drivers over to U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations special agents for further investigation. CBP officers seized the narcotics and the vehicles.
“Brownsville CBP officers have prevented two dangerous narcotic loads from being introduced into the country. Our CBP officers have intercepted these drugs just 12 hours apart at two of Brownsville’s border crossings. This is outstanding work on the frontline by CBP officers. I congratulate our officers for these seizures and the arrest of the drivers,” said Michael Freeman, CBP Port Director, Brownsville Port of Entry.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws."
May 11, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: Customs and Border Protection "U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Seize Over $1.3 Million in Cocaine at Brownsville Port of Entry"
(Read similar story and the observation of a regional/local cop in Eagle County on the cycles of drug trafficking and cartels and how their 'business' affects the folks from Aspen to Vail by clicking here and meeting 'Tucker, the drug-sniffing dog')
"Brownsville, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge discovered cocaine valued at over $1,328,000 hidden within a Nissan and concealed under a traveler’s clothing.
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"Brownsville, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge discovered cocaine valued at over $1,328,000 hidden within a Nissan and concealed under a traveler’s clothing.
On Thursday, at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge, CBP officers encountered a 2012 Nissan Tiida being driven by a 25-year-old man accompanied by his sister, identified as a 21-year-old, both Mexico citizens and residents of Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. At primary a CBP officer referred the Nissan and its occupants for a secondary examination. In secondary CBP officers discovered 16 packages hidden within the Tiida. CBP officers removed the packages containing approximately 39.3 pounds of alleged cocaine.
The second case this weekend also occurred at Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge. On Saturday CBP officers working northbound inspections came in contact with a male Mexico citizen as he arrived at the port of entry as a pedestrian. The man, identified as a 19-year-old resident of Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico was selected and escorted to a secondary inspection. In secondary CBP officers discovered two packages concealed under his clothing. CBP officers removed the two packages which held a combined total weight of 2.2 pounds of alleged cocaine.
The alleged cocaine from these two seizures has an estimated street value of approximately $1,257,600 and $70,400 respectively. CBP officers turned the driver, passenger and pedestrian over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations special agents for further investigation. CBP officers seized the narcotics and the vehicle.
“These loads of alleged cocaine have been stopped at the border by our CBP officers protecting our homeland. I applaud our officers’ vigilance and thank them for their dedication to our nations’ security,” said Michael Freeman, CBP Port Director, Brownsville Port of Entry.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws."
May 8, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: Customs and Border Protection "San Luis CBP Officers Seize Nearly $400,000 in Cocaine, Methamphetamine"
"San Luis, Ariz. — A 19-year-old Mexican national attempting to smuggle nearly 21 pounds of cocaine and almost 13 pounds of methamphetamine into the United States was arrested Sunday by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers assigned to the San Luis Port.
Officers referred the man for a secondary inspection of his PT Cruiser after a CBP canine alerted to the presence of drugs. During the secondary inspection, officers located eight packages of cocaine, valued in excess of $180,000, and 12 packages of methamphetamine worth roughly $200,000.
The drugs and vehicle were processed for seizure. The subject was arrested and turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI).
Individuals arrested may be charged by complaint, the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity, which raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent unless and until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
CBP's Office of Field Operations is the primary organization within Homeland Security tasked with an anti-terrorism mission at our nation’s ports. CBP officers screen all people, vehicles and goods entering the United States while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel. Their mission also includes carrying out border-related duties, including narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration and trade laws, and protecting the nation's food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
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