The United States Attorney's Office

14 LINKED TO MEXICO-BASED DRUG TRAFFICKING RING ACCUSED OF SMUGGLING AND DISTRIBUTING LARGE QUANTITIES OF METHAMPHETAMINE ARRESTED ON FEDERAL CHARGES

Federal Criminal Complaint Charges 31 Defendants in Drug Trafficking
Investigation that Led to Seizure of Over $5 Million worth of Methamphetamine

LOS ANGELES – A coalition of federal, state and local law enforcement
authorities today arrested 14 people linked to a Mexico-based drug trafficking
organization that allegedly smuggled large quantities of methamphetamine into the
United States and distributed the drug throughout Southern California, the Central
Valley and the State of Washington.

Dubbed the Don Chuy Drug Trafficking Organization, the narcotics ring
allegedly obtained multi-kilogram quantities of methamphetamine in Mexico;
arranged for the transportation of the drugs into the United States, primarily by
using hidden compartments and fake car batteries in vehicles driven through
international ports of entry; and distributed wholesale quantities of the drug
through cells based in the Inland Empire, California’s Central Valley and
Washington.

During an eight-month investigation into the Don Chuy organization, law
enforcement authorities seized approximately 90 pounds of methamphetamine
with a street value of well over $5 million. Authorities made a series of large
seizures of narcotics, including the seizure of almost seven pounds of
methamphetamine on August 11, 2009; the seizure of almost five pounds of nearly
pure methamphetamine on September 9; the seizure of approximately 24 pounds
of methamphetamine that was discovered in a tractor-trailer on Interstate 5 in Kern
County on October 26; the seizure of more than 10 pounds of methamphetamine
in Fresno on November 17; and a seizure this morning of approximately five
pounds of methamphetamine at a house in San Bernardino that authorities believe
was maintained by the Don Chuy organization. Also, as authorities investigated
people who allegedly transported methamphetamine for the Don Chuy
organization, they seized eight kilograms of cocaine secreted in a vehicle that
attempted to enter the United States at the Calexico Port of Entry on September
18.

The Don Chuy Drug Trafficking Organization is named after the ring’s
alleged leader, Jesus Marquez-Marquez, who is known as “Don Chuy” and
allegedly stored drugs in Tijuana stash houses before the drugs were moved
across the international border. Marquez-Marquez, who is the lead defendant in a
criminal complaint filed yesterday in United States District Court, is believed to be
in the Mexican state of Michoacán. Several of Don Chuy’s top lieutenants –
including David Jimenez-Pedroza, who allegedly oversaw domestic distribution of
Don Chuy narcotics – were arrested today or were previously taken into custody.
The criminal complaint charges 31 defendants with conspiracy to distribute
methamphetamine, a charge that carries a statutory maximum penalty of life
without parole in federal prison.

Those named in the criminal complaint are:

the leader of the drug trafficking organization, Jesus Marquez-Marquez, also
known as “Don Chuy,” approximately 40 years of age, who is believed to be
residing in Mexico, from where he coordinates for the transportation,
importation and delivery of methamphetamine to domestic distributors;

the primary distributor of Don Chuy narcotics in the United States, David
Jimenez-Pedroza, also known as “Oscar Manuel Guerrero,” 31 or 32, of
Corona, who is currently in federal custody in San Diego;

Jimenez-Pedroza’s brother, Jose Alfredo Jimenez, also known as “Joselito,”
of Mira Loma, who allegedly oversaw Don Chuy “stash houses” and who
took over as leader of the United States operations of the Don Chuy
organization when his brother was arrested in January (Jimenez was
arrested this afternoon);

Sergio Enrique Beltran Guerrero, also known as “Kique,” 38, who is
currently in state custody in San Diego and who allegedly led an
organization that transported narcotics for Don Chuy and other drug
trafficking organizations;

Isaias Serrano, also known as “Chaias,” who is believed to be in Mexico,
where he assists Marquez in the Mexico operations of the Don Chuy
organization;

David Silva Benavides, also known as “Prieto,” 28, of Othello, Washington,
who led a Don Chuy distribution cell in Washington;

Martin Garcia Angulo, also known as “King Midas,” 43, of Perris, who
allegedly helped run a Don Chuy distribution cell and who was arrested this
morning;

Jose Ascencion Garcia, also known as “Chon,” 34 or 40, of East Los
Angeles, who allegedly helped Angulo run a Don Chuy distribution cell, and
who was arrested this morning;

Alejandro Perez Manzo, also known as “Javier,” 26, of Turlock, California,
who allegedly ran a Don Chuy distribution cell in the Fresno-Turlock area,
and who was arrested this morning;

Margarito Magaro, of Tacoma, Washington, who allegedly worked with the
Washington-based distribution cell, and who was arrested today;

Humberto Hubert P. Barraza, 22, of Upland, who allegedly led another Don
Chuy distribution cell;

Sergio Beltran Sarabia, also known as “El Senior,” 63, who is currently in
federal custody in San Diego and who allegedly worked with the Beltran’s
drug transportation organization;

Uriel Valdovinos Garcia, also known as “Chente,” who is believed to be in
his mid-40s and residing in Mexico;

Juan Alonso Aispuro Chagoya, 20, who is believed to be in Mexico and
allegedly helped coordinate the transportation of methamphetamine for the
Don Chuy organization;

Jose Pacheco Duran, 39, who is currently in state custody and who
allegedly smuggled methamphetamine into the United States;

Sergio Chavez Pulido, also known as “Checo,” 43, of Mira Loma, who
allegedly transported narcotics for the Don Chuy organization on at least
one occasion;

Jose Luis Mata-Garcia, who is in his late 30s, of Othello, Washington, who
was taken into custody this afternoon;

Iliana Farias, 30, who allegedly was involved in the Washington-based
distribution cell and was arrested this afternoon in the Los Angeles area;

Octavio Felix Gonzalez, 39, who is believed to be in Mexico, where he
allegedly worked with Beltran’s organization;

Anselma Vega Romero, 40, who is believed to be in Mexico and who also
allegedly worked with Beltran’s organization;

Jorge Villanueva, also known as “Jorjon,” who is either 41 or 42, of Fontana,
who allegedly led a Don Chuy distribution cell, and who was arrested this
morning;

Basilio Maldonado, also known as “Chilo,” 33, of Corona, who allegedly ran
a Don Chuy distribution cell;

Jairo Alejandro Rodela, 24, who is believed to be in Mexico, who allegedly
ran Don Chuy’s distribution cell in Bakersfield;

Lizeth Carpio Hernandez, 19, who is believed to be in Mexico and who
allegedly helped the Don Chuy organization smuggle methamphetamine
into the United States;

Jose Pulido Sanchez, also known as “Chespiro,” 63, of La Puente, who was
arrested today;

Elieser Ceja Gallegos, 57, of Ontario, who was arrested this morning;

Erika Cecilia Valdovino, 37, of Moreno Valley, who allegedly helped
smuggled methamphetamine into the United States, and who was arrested
this morning;

Jose Luis Nunez, who is either 33 or 39, of La Puente, who allegedly ran a
drug trafficking ring that supplied methamphetamine to Villanueva’s
distribution cell, and who was arrested this morning;

Jesus Alvarez Jr., 27, of Bakersfield, who allegedly worked with Rodela in
the Bakersfield distribution cell, and who was arrested this morning;

Joanelle Mirasol DeLa Cruz, 37, who is a fugitive; and

Alma Rodriguez, 29, of Corona, who allegedly helped her boyfriend,
Jimenez-Pedroza, with activities related to the Don Chuy organization, and
who was arrested this morning.

The 11 defendants arrested today in the Los Angeles and Inland Empire regions
made their initial appearances in United States District Court in Los Angeles,
where a federal magistrate ordered them held without bond. Their arraignments
have been scheduled for April 19.

A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a
crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty.
The case against the members of the Don Chuy Drug Trafficking
Organization is the result of an investigation conducted by the Southern California
Drug Task Force, which includes special agents with the Federal Bureau of
Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The investigation received
substantial assistance from IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Regional
Methamphetamine Task Force, the Inland Crackdown Narcotics Alliance, the
Fontana Police Department, the Downey Police Department, and the Los Angeles
Police Department. The Southern California Drug Task Force operates within the
High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program, which is designed to
enhance and coordinate efforts among local, state and federal law enforcement
agencies.

“The organization targeted today is believed to be responsible for bringing
more than 200 pounds of meth into Southern California every month – enough
meth to supply thousands of people with this highly addictive and dangerous drug”
said Timothy J. Landrum, DEA Special Agent in Charge in Los Angeles. “Today’s
operation is an example of the significant results that are achieved through the
cooperation of local, state and federal law enforcement within the HIDTA task
force.”

Steven M. Martinez, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI in Los Angeles,
stated: “The FBI has successfully worked with partners locally, federally and
internationally to address the increases in southwest border violence, much of
which is fueled by the importation of narcotics to Southern California for
distribution around the United States. Dismantling the leadership of criminal
enterprises like the Don Chuy Organization will significantly disrupt their
large-scale methamphetamine distribution operation and have a positive impact on
the Los Angeles region.”

Leslie P. DeMarco, Special Agent in Charge of IRS - Criminal Investigation’s
Los Angeles Field Office, observed: “Methamphetamine and the dealers who
traffic it are hurting our communities. In conjunction with our law enforcement
partners on the federal, state, and local level, we are committed to task force
investigations that make takedown operations like today’s search warrants and
arrest of members of the Don Chuy Drug Trafficking Organization possible. IRS -
Criminal Investigation plays a unique role in federal law enforcement’s
counter-drug effort because we target the profit and financial gains of narcotics
traffickers, enabling increased criminal prosecutions and asset forfeitures.”
In addition to the FBI, the DEA and IRS-Criminal Investigation, the following
agencies participated in this morning’s takedown: the Regional Methamphetamine
Task Force, the Inland Crackdown Narcotics Alliance, the Fontana Police
Department, the Downey Police Department, the Los Angeles Police Department,
the United States Marshals Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement,
the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, the California Highway Patrol, the
Hawthorne Police Department, the Inland Regional Narcotics Enforcement Team
(IRNET), the California Methamphetamine Task Force (CALMET), the United
States Secret Service, the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department, and the Riverside
Sheriff’s Department.

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