"Socalj" for Borderland Beat
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14 indictments were unsealed this week charging 47 alleged members of an Imperial Valley, California-based, Sinaloa Cartel linked fentanyl and methamphetamine distribution network with drug trafficking, firearms, and money laundering offenses. The 6-year long operation, dubbed "Operation Valley," has led to 36 arrests so far.
This investigation also resulted in the arrest of US Border Patrol Agent Alexander Grindley for trafficking methamphetamine while employed at the CBP.
According to the 14 indictments and details outlined in the search warrants, the defendants belong to various drug trafficking organizations that were part of an extensive network supplying areas in and outside of Imperial County. 52 firearms including ghost guns, and other gun parts were also seized.
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Operation Valley Takedown
According to the indictments and search warrants, the defendants belonged to various trafficking organizations that were part of an extensive network supplying all of Imperial County and beyond with dangerous drugs. Crimes charged in the indictments include drug trafficking, money laundering, and gun-related offenses. Court documents indicated the defendants were operating throughout the Imperial Valley, in Brawley, El Centro, Westmoreland, Imperial, Calexico, Niland, Holtville, Calipatria, and in Mexicali, Mexico.
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Including seizures this week and throughout the long-term investigation, authorities have taken off the streets more than 4 kilograms of fentanyl, which amounts to about two million potentially fatal doses; more than 324 kilograms (over 714 pounds) of methamphetamine; significant quantities of cocaine and heroin; and 52 firearms, including handguns and rifles.
“With this takedown, the Justice Department has dealt yet another blow to the Sinaloa Cartel and its associates,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “I am grateful to the more than 400 law enforcement officers whose work in this operation resulted in dozens of arrests, charges against 47 defendants, and the seizure of firearms, meth, cocaine, heroin, and two million potentially lethal doses of fentanyl. We will continue to be relentless in our fight to protect American communities from the cartels.”
“This investigation tore apart a drug trafficking network responsible for supplying dealers in communities across the region,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath for the Southern District of California. “But there is still much work to be done. If you’re a parent and today’s price of fentanyl terrifies you, talk to your kids about the dangers of drug use. If you’re an addict and your dealer was arrested today, seek treatment. And if you’re a dealer but your supplier was arrested today, look out – we are coming for you next.”
“Today, the El Centro Border Patrol Sector teamed with allied law enforcement agencies to support both Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California in this operation,” said Chief Gregory Bovino of the U.S. Border Patrol’s El Centro Sector. “Our successful collaboration should be a reminder to criminal organizations in the Imperial Valley and elsewhere that justice will be served.”
“This operation shows what can be accomplished when there is collaboration between federal and local law enforcement agencies,” said Imperial County District Attorney George Marquez. “The Imperial County District Attorney’s office will continue to work together with our partners to bring to justice those that harm or are a danger to our community.”
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| Eduardo "Casper" Mendoza was arrested in Salem, Oregon. |
The alleged ringleader of the trafficking network, Eduardo Mendoza, better known by his street name "Casper" was arrested Salem, Oregon, but resided in Niland, California.
The defendents named in the indictmentinclude a wide number of residents in the Imperial Valley area as well as Arizona.
- Eduardo Mendoza, “Casper”
- Maria Isabel Ferrat
- *Guadalupe Molina-Flores, “Lupe”
- Stephanie Joann Hernandez, “JoJo”
- *Emmanuel Becerra, “E-Man”
- Jeremy Clayton Harris, Sr.
- Jack Daniel Myers
- Cory Gershen
- Francisco Javier Mendoza “Pancho”
- Carlos Cezar Mendoza
- Christopher John Coffman
- Daniel Estevan Mendoza
- Tyran Malik Sullivan
- Katelyn Singh 32
- Cynthia Diaz
- Robert Leroy Humble
- Terry Kyle Christiansen
- Melvin Betha
- *Dylan Gutierrez
- *Maricela Selk
- Christopher Landon Bustin
- Ernie David Davila
- *Pedro Alberto Rioseco “Pete”
- Jesus Antonio Escoto-Troncozo “Chocho”
Several members were located in the Los Angeles area
- *Karla Franco
- Frederick Joseph McKenna, “Downer”
- Gabino Mora
Several defendants based in the border towns of Calexico and Mexicali were charged with the imporation, distribution and laundering the proceeds from the drug sales.
- Mario Alberto Urena “Vaca” 34
- Pablo Enrique Trejo “Bolas”
- *Carlos Felipe Ruedas-Celaya
- Estevan Ramirez Gonzalez
- *Francisco Javier Ramirez-Garcia “Pitufo”
- *Javier Jacquez
- Miguel Angel Flores
- Araceli Rangel-Torres and Carlos Valencia Mendoza are based in Mexicali, Mexico are were detained.
Several defendants listed are all based in the Brawley area, and included the name of a 53 year old US Border Patrol Agent who was arrested for trafficking meth.
- Robert Thomas Isaac “RT”
- *Bryan Ayala Alvarez, AKA “Pingo”
- *Alfred Aldapa Juarez, Jr
- Sergio Reyes-Green
- James Wade Hanks
- Jesus Fernardo Romero “Chuy” (In Custody)
- Yomayra Patricia Penuelas
- Alexander Bennet Grindley
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| U.S. Border Patrol Agent Alexander Grindley |
Border Patrol Agent Caught Trafficking Meth
Among the noteworthy arrests announced this past Wednesday morning was that of Brawley resident Alexander Bennet Grindley, who was arrested for alleged methamphetamine trafficking...while working as a U.S. Border Patrol agent. McGrath reported he had trafficked methamphetamine even during work hours.
A wiretap resulted in the arrest of Alexander Grindley. "As the wiretap progressed, he was obtaining, approximately every 2 weeks, regular amounts of methamphetamine in ounce quantities from the target of the investigation and we identified that he was possibly federal law enforcement," Kevin Mokhtar, an Assistant United States Attorney, said.
United States Attorney Tara McGrath says Grindley was terminated "almost immediately" and that "his conduct is in no way reflective of those who protect our border."
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High School Football Player's Fentanyl Overdose
Since the October 2019 death of 15-year-old Central Union High School football player Josue M. Garcia Moreno, investigations into the local drug trafficking rings, especially regarding fentanyl intensified. “Since that high school student’s death, our office has not only convicted that dealer, and many more like him, but we have continued to track down fentanyl distributors. We have meticulously dismantled drug networks, and disrupted supply chains. Today’s coordinated effort is yet another example of what federal and local law enforcement, and the Department of Justice are doing to tackle the illicit drug trade, and more specifically the fentanyl crisis.”
Lorenzo Anthony Garcia,was the dealer of the fatal fentanyl dose, he pleaded guilty to distributing the fentanyl that resulted in Josue's overdose death. he was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison in 2022. At the time, more than 60% of the nation’s fentanyl border seizures by U.S. Customs and Border Protection occur in San Diego and Imperial counties in California.
A routine traffic stop in 2021 by the Brawley Police Department ultimately led to the wider dismantling of this distribution network. “It takes an officer paying attention and getting that information and moving it forward to where it needs to go,” Brawley Police Chief Jimmy Duran said.
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Ghost Gun Cache
According to court records, on June 30, 2021, agents seized 2 pounds of methamphetamine and a cache of ghost guns and ammunition, including:
- 15 Lower Receivers
- 3 Upper Receivers
- 18 Magazines, Multiple Barrels, Stocks
- 9mm and .223 Red Army (Russian) ammunition
None of the firearms or firearm parts had any identifying serial numbers or markings. They were all ghost guns. Wiretap intercepts showed that defendant Cory Gershen supplied other members of the organization with ghost guns in exchange for methamphetamine. The guns would have been destined to be smuggled into Mexico to supply the Sinaloa Cartel.
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On June 30, 2021, agents seized additional ghost guns, ammunition, and methamphetamine from another member of the same drug trafficking organization. Specifically, agents seized two AR-style ghost guns and a Colt .380 semiautomatic handgun, and additional Russian rifle ammunition from defendant Guadalupe Molina-Flores, one of the alleged members of the trafficking organization. According to a search warrant, after seizing the firearms, agents searched Molina-Flores’ residence and found 309.4 grams (0.68 pounds) of methamphetamine.
Fentanyl Prices Plummeted by 70%
Imperial County experienced 24 opioid-related overdose deaths in 2022, the most recent full year of data available from the California Department of Public Health. The annual mortality rate for 2022 was 13.57 deaths per 100,000 residents, an increase of 41% over 2021.
The investigation revealed that the price per fentanyl pill has plummeted by over 70% in less than a year. For example, in June 2021, targets of the investigation were obtaining fentanyl pills in Imperial Valley at approximately $1.65 to $1.75 per pill.
By December 2021, the prices being discussed had dropped to approximately $1.25 per pill.
By May, 2022, "an undercover agent in this investigation was able to buy approximately 8,000 fentanyl pills from one of these defendants for just $0.45 per pill," says McGrath.
"The drop in price reflected the increased supply and availability of fentanyl being smuggled into the United States and the close ties between targets of this investigation and their Sinaloa Cartel supplier of fentanyl pills."
Sources DOJ, Calexico Chronicle, Zeta Tijuana, KATU, DOJ, KYMA
Categories:border patrol agents, fentanyl, mexicali, sinaloa cartel, southern california
