News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 28, 2004

JUAN JOSE ESPARRAGOZA-MORENO INDICTED

OCT 28 -- United States Attorney Johnny Sutton announced today the unsealing of a grand jury indictment against Juan Jose Esparragoza-Moreno, also known as: Juan Jose Esparragoza-Martine, Jose Luis Esparragosa, Juan Esparragosa-Ualino, Juan Jose Esparragoza-Italino, Juan Jose Esparraguza-Valino, Juan Manuel Ortiz-Moreno, Arturo Beltran, Raul Gonzalez, Juan Robles, Juan Robledo, El Guaraches, El Azul and Azul.

The indictment alleges that beginning in December 2002 the defendant began importing vast quantities of marijuana from Mexico into the United States. He has been charged with Conspiracy to Import a Controlled Substance, Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Importation of a Controlled Substance.

This case is being investigated as an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Secret Service, the Department of Homeland Security-Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, and the Texas Department of Public Safety. This case is being prosecuted for the government by Assistant United States Attorney Juanita Fielden.

The State Department is offering a $5 million reward for information leading to Esparragoza-Moreno’s arrest and/or conviction. The defendant is also wanted by the Mexico Attorney General’s Office (PGR) for narcotics related violations of Mexican law. The FBI and the PGR have established toll free telephone tip lines: in the U.S. 1-866-EL-AZUL-5 (1-866-352-9855) and in Mexico 01-800-9000-234 or 01-800-0025-200. Additional information regarding Esparragoza-Moreno, including his wanted poster, are available on the FBI and State Department websites: http://www.fbi.gov, and http://www.state.gov.