Twelve Charged in Lubbock Cocaine Bust

Twelve alleged cocaine dealers we arrested in Lubbock last week, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. 

Eleven of the defendants made their initial appearances Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Amy Burch.

Those charged in a 17-count indictment unsealed today include:

• Esteban Renee Garcia, charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine, distribution of cocaine, attempted distribution of cocaine, and unlawful use of a communications facility
• Rodrick Deone Hall, aka “Dirty,” charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine, distribution of cocaine base, attempted distribution of cocaine, and unlawful use of a communications facility
• Leticia Chavez, charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and distribution of cocaine
• Shannon Sainz, charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and unlawful use of a communications facility
• Janie Reyna, charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine, attempted distribution of cocaine, and unlawful use of a communications facility
• Anthony “AV” DeLeon, charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine, attempted distribution of cocaine, and unlawful use of a communications facility
• Isaac “Ike” Rodriguez, charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine, attempted distribution of cocaine, and unlawful use of a communications facility
• Anthony McIntire, aka “Ace,” charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine, distribution of cocaine, attempted distribution of cocaine, and unlawful use of a communications facility
• Roland Vasquez Gomez, charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine, attempted distribution of cocaine, and unlawful use of a communications facility
• Rodrick Lamont Bibbs, charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base
• Michael Tijerina,  charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and distribution of cocaine

As a result of the operation, the twelfth defendant, Miguel Ramirez-Pedroza, was arrested and charged via criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute cocaine. (His initial appearance in federal court will be scheduled at a later date.)

During last week’s operation, agents searched six locations and seized approximately six kilograms of cocaine, five firearms, and $55,000 in cash.

An indictment or complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

If convicted, some defendants face potential life sentences in federal prison.

The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Division – Lubbock Resident Office conducted the investigation with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations’ Dallas Field Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosive’s Dallas Field Division – Lubbock Resident Agency, the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office, the Lubbock Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Plainview Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Long and Ryan Redd are prosecuting the case.

The operation was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCEDTF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threat the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.