News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 3, 2004
For Additional Information, Contact:

Shana Jones, Special Assistant
Daryl Fields, Public Information Officer
United States Attorney’s Office
Western District of Texas
(210) 384-7440

Robert Paiz, Public Information Officer
Houston Division
713.693.3030
E-mail: Houstonpio@aol.com

Federal Agents Dismantle Drug Distribution Cell in San Antonio, Austin and Eagle Pass
12 Individuals Criminally Indicted in Connection with Operation

JUN 3--United States Attorney Johnny Sutton, Special Agent in Charge James D. Craig with the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Interim Special Agent in Charge Doug Krockenberger, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Enrique Fasci, San Antonio Police Chief Albert Ortiz and Colonel Thomas A. Davis, Jr., Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety announced the return of a federal grand jury indictment charging 12 individuals with conspiring to distribute marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine throughout San Antonio, Austin and Eagle Pass, Texas.

Charged in the indictment include: SAMUEL ZUNIGA, age 27, of San Antonio; RAQUEL SALAZAR, age 25, of Eagle Pass; JESUS MANUEL MARTINEZ (AKA CHUCA), age 27, of Eagle Pass; ROBERTO RAMOS CABRERA, age 27, of Eagle Pass; ROLANDO RODRIGUEZ (AKA CACHETE), age 29, of Eagle Pass; ALFREDO CABRERA (AKA LUIGI), age 31, of Eagle Pass; OSCAR JAVIER RODRIGUEZ (AKA GORRAS), age 29, of Crowley, Louisiana; and, JULIO RODRIGUEZ, age 43, of Eagle Pass; JUAN ANTONIO FLORES, age 29, of San Antonio; JOSE DEPAZ, age 26, of Austin; MARTIN MONDRAGON, age 21, of Austin; and, EFREN AGUILAR DIAZ, age 18, of Austin.

This morning, federal authorities in San Antonio arrested Juan Flores without incident. Zuniga, Salazar, Martinez, Roberto Cabrera, Alfredo Cabrera, Rolando Rodriguez, Oscar Rodriguez, Julio Rodriguez were already in federal custody on related charges prior to today. Mondragon, Diaz and Depaz are currently in state custody on unrelated charges.

The 10-count indictment–returned yesterday and unsealed today–alleges that from November 1, 2003, to the present, the defendants conspired to possess with intent to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana and more than five kilograms of cocaine. The indictment also includes various substantive drug charges. Allegedly, this organization was responsible for bringing in the illegal substances from Mexico in and around Eagle Pass, then transporting them to staging areas in San Antonio. The contraband would ultimately be transported to Austin, Georgia, North Carolina and Indiana for distribution.

If convicted, each defendant faces between 10 years and life in federal prison.

This Organized Crime/Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) case resulted from an High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) investigation conducted and coordinated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, San Antonio Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety Narcotics Unit and the Texas National Guard. This investigation continues. Assistant United States Attorney Charlie Strauss is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until convicted through due process of law.