Federal-State Law Enforcement Partnership Results In More Than 75 Arrests In San Mateo, San Francisco Counties

SAN FRANCISCO – Officials from more than a half dozen law enforcement agencies gathered today to announce that over 75 individuals have been arrested and charged with a variety of state and federal crimes pursuant to “Operation Cold Day,” a joint federal-state effort to combat crime in San Mateo and San Francisco counties.

The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Brian J. Stretch; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), San Francisco Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Jill Snyder; San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe; San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón; San Francisco Chief of Police William Scott; Daly City Chief of Police Manuel Martinez; and California Highway Patrol, Golden Gate Division, Assistant Chief James Libby.

According to the officials, Operation Cold Day was spearheaded by the ATF in close coordination with local law enforcement partners in an effort to support ongoing state and local efforts to combat gun and drug-related crime. Multiple investigations and undercover operations have resulted in federal charges against 42 defendants and charges against dozens in state court.

According to the federal charging documents, the defendants are charged in mostly separate indictments. Each defendant is charged with allegedly committing at least one or more of the following crimes: possessing illegal firearms (such as firearms with obliterated serial numbers), in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(k); engaging in the unlicensed dealing in firearms, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(1)(A); distributing and possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(B)(viii); being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1); and participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine base, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846. Similarly, defendants in the prosecutions brought by the district attorneys of San Francisco and San Mateo Counties face a variety of charges.

“This week we took a key preemptive step in our battle against violent crime,” said U.S. Attorney Stretch. “By pooling the resources of the federal government with those of our state and local law enforcement partners, scores of weapons that we allege were illegally possessed and sold now have been taken off the streets. We commend and thank all of our law enforcement partners who have risked their safety to bring this phase of the operation to a successful conclusion.”

“It is our duty to make this community a safer place for you and your families,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Snyder. “The safety of the public is at the core of ATF’s mission and we stand at the frontline eradicating violent crime from our streets. One firearm in the hands of a gang member or prohibited person is one firearm too many. It only takes one round from one gun to end a life. Today ATF and our partners stand here united and proud to serve our communities. Through everyone’s hard work and dedication this operation has been a true success. These are also our neighborhoods and today the greater San Francisco area is a safer place.”

“Law enforcement is at its best when we all come together to enhance public safety,” said District Attorney Gascón. “My office’s Crime Strategies Unit is always looking for creative ways to work with our law enforcement partners to make our jurisdictions safer together.”

“Gun violence has negatively impacted the lives of far too many people in San Francisco,” said SFPD Chief Scott. “This type of violence is more likely to happen when guns are in the hands of individuals willing to obtain and/or use them illegally. This interagency collaboration and the resulting arrests goes a long way to towards addressing gun violence by removing from our streets firearms and those willing to obtain them illegally and potentially use them.”

“The effects of this large-scale and collaborative operation will have an impact on the public safety in this region for quite some time,” said Daly City Police Chief Martinez.

“This type of interagency cooperation stands as an example of what can be accomplished when state, federal and local law enforcement agencies work together to ensure that our communities are safe,” said CHP Assistant Chief Libby. “This two-year operation would never have been possible were it not for the cooperation of all of the agencies involved, and for this, the California Highway Patrol is grateful to all of our allied partners.”

The indictments merely allege that crimes have been committed, and each defendant must be presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

These prosecutions are the result of close coordination between the ATF; the California Highway Patrol; and the police departments of San Francisco, Redwood City, San Bruno, and Daly City; and the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office.

OPERATION COLD DAY FEDERAL DEFENDANTS

Defendant	Case Number(s)	Charges
MARIO ALVARADO	CR 17-336 WHA	21 U.S.C. § 841 21 U.S.C. § 846 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)
HARRINGTON AMADOR	CR 17-361 WHA	21 U.S.C. § 841
AISHAH BUENAVENTURA	CR 17-395 CRB CR 17-402 CRB CR 17-401 RS	21 U.S.C. § 841 (four counts) 21 U.S.C. § 846 (two counts) 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(1)
PAUL BIDINGER	CR 17-391 EMC	21 U.S.C. § 841 21 U.S.C. § 846
ALLELEA CABILES	CR 17-404 SI	21 U.S.C. § 841 (two counts) 21 U.S.C. § 846
RYAN COSINO	CR 17-402 CRB	21 U.S.C. § 841 21 U.S.C. § 846
VICENTE CRUZ	CR 17-356 EMC	21 U.S.C. § 841 (two counts) 21 U.S.C. § 846 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)
DAVID DAYAN	CR 17-372 MMC	21 U.S.C. § 841
NELSON DECUIRE	CR 17-395 CRB CR 17-391 EMC CR 17-393 WHA	21 U.S.C. § 841 (three counts) 21 U.S.C. § 846 (three counts)
JOEL DOMINGUEZ	CR 17-0375 JST	21 U.S.C. § 841 21 U.S.C. § 846
ARMANDO ESPARZA	CR 17-381 VC	21 U.S.C. § 841 21 U.S.C. § 846
JEAN FAALATAINA	CR 17-373 CRB	21 U.S.C. § 841 21 U.S.C. § 846
CENTURY FAATAUI	CR 16-303 CRB	18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)
SHANE DYLAN FABRIS	CR 17-386 CRB	21 U.S.C. § 841 (two counts) 21 U.S.C. § 846
KRISTIAN SANTOS FIEL	CR 17-335 VC	21 U.S.C. § 841 (two counts)
CHRISTINE FLORES	CR 17-398 WHO	21 U.S.C. § 841 21 U.S.C. § 846
KRYSTAL FLORES	CR 17-373 CRB	21 U.S.C. § 841 21 U.S.C. § 846
RODRICK FORD	CR 17-377 VC	21 U.S.C. § 841 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) (three counts) 26 U.S.C. § 5861(d)
CARLITA FOWLER	CR 17-412 VC	21 U.S.C. § 841 (three counts) 21 U.S.C. § 846
LORENZO GAINES	CR 17-371 CRB	18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) (two counts)
ALBERTO GARCIA	CR 17-353 CRB	18 U.S.C. § 922(k)
MONICA GARCIA	CR 17-411 WHO	21 U.S.C. § 841
LAWRENCE GILBERT	CR 17-265 CRB	18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)
ROBERT GUEVARA	CR 17-378 RS	21 U.S.C. § 841 21 U.S.C. § 846
LILLIAN HOVAN	CR 17-378 RS	21 U.S.C. § 841 21 U.S.C. § 846
ETEVATI LEVI	CR 17-356 EMC	21 U.S.C. § 841 21 U.S.C. § 846
ANGELITO MALLARI	CR 17-403 WHO CR 17-404 SI	21 U.S.C. § 841 (five counts) 21 U.S.C. § 846 (two counts)
JENNIFER MCPIKE	CR 17-389 RS	21 U.S.C. § 841 21 U.S.C. § 846
ALICIA MORALES	CR 17-398 WHO	21 U.S.C. § 841 21 U.S.C. § 846
CARLOS ORELLANA	CR 17-396 SI	21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) (two counts)
BRIAN PEREZ	CR 17-383 SI CR 17-386 CRB	18 U.S.C. § 371 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(1) 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) (two counts) 21 U.S.C. § 841 (two counts) 21 U.S.C. § 846
CARL PITTS	CR 17-412 VC	21 U.S.C. § 841 21 U.S.C. § 846
JOSE ALEJANDRO VASQUEZ ROBLEDO	CR 17-381 VC	21 U.S.C. § 841 21 U.S.C. § 846
LUIS ROMERO	CR 17-336 WHA	21 U.S.C. § 841 21 U.S.C. § 846 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(5)
JAVIER ROSALES	CR 17-376 SI	26 U.S.C. § 5861(d)
EFRAIN SANTAMARIA	CR 17-389 RS	18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)
DANIELLE SIMRIL	CR 17-382 CRB	21 U.S.C. § 841 (two counts)
KERMIT TANNER	CR 17-383 SI CR 17-347 VC	18 U.S.C. § 371 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(1) 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) (three counts) 21 U.S.C. § 841 (two counts)
SANDY TUIMAVAVE	CR 15-593 TEH	18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)
BRIAN VANDERCOURT	CR 16-121 WHO	21 U.S.C. § 841 (two counts)
DONNIE YINGLING	CR 17-388 SI	18 U.S.C. § 371 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(1)(A) 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) (two counts) 21 U.S.C. § 841
IVAN ZARICH	CR 16-358	18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) 18 U.S.C. § 111(b)