For the Reporter
A lengthy drug trafficking investigation of a criminal group with ties to California and Mexico has resulted in 17 arrests – seven of whom are from Kent and one from Auburn – and the seizure of pound quantities of methamphetamine and heroin, U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes announced Thursday.
Over the last 36 hours, teams of local, state and federal law enforcement agents searched 20 locations throughout the Puget Sound region in the culmination of an 18-month investigation involving court authorized wire-taps and extensive surveillance of members of the criminal group.
Some of those arrested made their initial appearances on the indictments Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Seattle. One additional defendant is appearing at 2 p.m. Thursday.
“Heroin, and methamphetamine continue to wreak havoc in our communities,” Hayes said.
“I commend the law enforcement professionals who investigated this drug trafficking organization, taking large loads of drugs off the street, while also gathering key evidence to make these arrests and prosecutions possible.”
Beginning early Wednesday morning, federal state and local law enforcement officers served search warrants on 17 residences, three storage facilities and more than a dozen vehicles tied to the criminal group.
Search warrants were executed in Auburn, Bellevue, SeaTac, Seattle, Tukwila, Renton, Kent, Port Orchard, and Everett. An indictment and criminal complaints have been filed charging 22 defendants with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances including methamphetamine and heroin.
Some of the defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering.
During the course of the investigation law enforcement seized more than 29 pounds of meth, more than 18 pounds of heroin, 6 pounds of cocaine, approximately $178,000 in cash and sixteen firearms, including five assault rifles.
Those arrested from Kent are: Will Edward Brambila, 26; Francisco Flores Penuelas, 43; Eduardo Guzman Valenzuela, 23; Heriberto Pacheco Juarez, 22; Ramon Zavala Zazueta, 44; Jesus Gastelum-Payan, 20; and Alfonso Leos Villasenor, 20.
Others arrested include: Hanzel Knight, 42, of Auburn; Veronica Aceves Santillano, 28, of Renton; Ediberto Asevez Santillano, 36, of Renton; Brian Christensen, 39, of Port Orchard; Sandro Criollo, 22, of Seattle; Sendhy Amairany Felix Acevez, 21, of SeaTac; Jose Gonzalez Medina, 35, of Everett; Maricarmen Hernandez, 34, of Renton; Ruben Rodrigeuz Rodriquez, 23, of Renton; and Ricardo Topete, 24, of Seattle.
“This investigation is a great example of law enforcement collaboration,” said Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole. “The Seattle Police Department will continue to work closely with our federal, state and local partners to eliminate the flow of deadly drugs, such as heroin and methamphetamine to our region.”
Due to the drug quantities involved, some of the defendants face mandatory minimum sentences of 10 years in prison. The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. All of the defendants appearing on indictments yesterday entered pleas of “not guilty.”
Trial was set for Sept. 28 in front of Chief U.S. District Judge Marsha J. Pechman.
This was an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation, providing supplemental federal funding to the federal and state agencies involved. The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI and the Seattle Police Department.
The searches and arrests involved agents and officers from: Homeland Security Investigations – Seattle, Port of Seattle Police Department, Washington State Patrol, Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, Snohomish Regional Drug And Gang Task Force, King County Sheriff’s Office, Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office, Lynnwood Police Department, Kent Police Department, Renton Police Department, Auburn Police Department, Tukwila Police Department, Federal Way Police Department, and the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vince Lombardi and Thomas Woods.
