Federal, State, and local law enforcement officers teamed up to bring an indictment for drug trafficking charges against seven near Lubbock, Texas. The indictments allege a conspiracy to operate a large-scale operation.
Officials with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas announced late last week the arrest of seven co-conspirators named in a pair of indictments unsealed on May 25.
Leopoldo Herrera-Gandara, aka “Polo,” 33, Raul Jose Hernandez, aka “RJ,” 35, Johnathan Navarrette Garza, aka “Johnny,” 27, Elias Avitia, aka “Mole,” 20, Arcadio Ornelas, Jr., aka “Junior,” 36, all face charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, officials stated. Three of these individuals, Hernandez, Avita, and Ornelas also face charges of possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine. Officials stated that Garza and Gandara also face additional distribution charges related to the trafficking of methamphetamine.
In a separate indictment, Jorge Andres Nunez-Saenz, aka “Tucan,” 51, and Nancy Cecilia Martinez, 37, face charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, officials stated.
Law enforcement officers arrested six of the seven alleged co-conspirators during Texas raids last Tuesday morning in Hockley and Conchran counties, near Lubbock. Officers arrested the seventh suspect in New Mexico. He is currently in a New Mexico jail pending extradition to Texas.
Breitbart Texas reached out to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas for additional information on the cases relating to gang/cartel involvement and the citizenship/nationality of the suspects in custody. A response from the DOJ was not immediately available.
The arrests follow an investigation involving the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS); U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Levelland Police Department; the Cochran County Sheriff’s Office; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; as well as the New Mexico State Police Tactical Team; Roosevelt County (New Mexico) Sheriff’s Office; and the Region V Metro Drug Task Force, based in New Mexico, officials wrote in a statement obtained by Breitbart Texas.
If convicted, the defendants all face possible sentences of up to life in prison and a fine of $10 million.
Bob Price serves as associate editor and senior political news contributor for Breitbart Texas. He is a founding member of the Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX and Facebook.
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