Kevin V. Ryan, United States Attorney for the Northern District of California, announced today that a federal grand jury has indicted 26 individuals for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Distribution of Methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 846 and 841(a)(1). Twenty one of the individuals were arrested Friday in a massive raid conducted by federal and state law enforcement officers. Along with the arrest warrants, the agents also executed 28 federal search warrants. The investigation resulted in the seizure of over 20 pounds of methamphetamine, ten guns, including a loaded assault rifle, one bullet proof vest, an undetonated explosive device, over $250,000.00, ten vehicles, including a Cadillac Escalade, Porche Carrera, Chevrolet Corvette, Mercedes 400, Chrysler 300, and a Chevrolet Impala, and one motorcycle. The arrests and seizures culminate an over two-year long, intensive multi-agency and multi-district Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force ("OCDETF") investigation.
The investigation was conducted jointly by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Alameda Police Department; Antioch Police Department; California Department of Justice-Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement; Contra Costa County of the Sheriff; and the United States Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Federal and local law enforcement agents working in Contra Costa County uncovered methamphetamine distributors operating in Contra Costa and Alameda counties. Further investigation identified methamphetamine sources of supply throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
The maximum statutory penalty for the violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 846 is a minimum mandatory term of imprisonment of ten years, and a maximum term of imprisonment of life in prison; up to a $4 million dollar fine, a minimum term of supervised release of five years and a penalty assessment of $100.00. Violations of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1) for 50 grams or more of methamphetamine or 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine are also punishable by a minimum mandatory term of imprisonment of ten years, and a maximum term of imprisonment of life in prison; up to a $4 million dollar fine, a minimum term of supervised release of five years and a penalty assessment of $100.00. Violations of Title 21 U.S.C. 841(a)(1) for 5 grams or more of methamphetamine or 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine are punishable by a minimum mandatory term of five years imprisonment, to a maximum of forty years, a $2 million dollar fine, a five year term of supervised release and a penalty assessment of $100.00. Sentences can be doubled for individuals with prior felony drug convictions. However, any sentence following conviction would be dictated by the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of factors, and would be imposed in the discretion of the Court. An indictment simply contains allegations against an individual and all defendants charged in the indictment must be presumed innocent unless and until convicted.
Barbara Brennan Silano and Anthony Brass are the Assistant U.S. Attorneys who are prosecuting the case in the Northern District of California. All press inquiries to the U.S. Attorney's Office in San Francisco should be directed to Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Jacobs at (415) 436-7181.
Named in the indictment, which was unsealed today, were: RUSSELL JAMES LONG III, a/k/a/ "Russ," 22, of Antioch, California; BRIAN DENNIS HOGAN, 23, of Antioch, California; NATISA FELICISIMA RIVASPLATA,a/k/a/ "Natisa Felicisima Rosco," 27 of Walnut Creek, California; MICHAEL JAMES MOORE, JR, 25, of Bay Point, California; JASON DAVID KESSENICH, a/k/a/ "Naughty J," 25, of Brentwood, California; SEAN MICHAEL SULLIVAN, 25, of Brentwood, California; DENNIS MICHAEL FISHER, a/k/a/ "Fish," 26, of Antioch, California; JOSE MIGUEL FLORES, a/k/a/ "Big Bird,"24,Hayward, California; DANIEL MOYA, a/k/a/ "Jorge,"34, of Oakland, California; DENNIS AL TYLIJ, 26, of Hayward, California HENRY NAPOLES, a/k/a/ "Enrique Napoles", 27, of Brentwood, California STEVE MICHELLE TALANOA, a/k/a/ "Steve O,"27, of Oakland, California STEVEN FARIAS, a/k/a/ "Steve L.,"a/k/a/ "Joker,"a/k/a/ "Steve Diddy,"26, of Walnut Creek, California; SERJIO PEREZ, a/k/a/ "Serjio Placensia Perez," a/k/a/ "Ricardo,"31, of Oakland, California; CATHERINE MICHELLE WYTHE GARNER, a/k/a/ "Cat," 24, of Pittsburg, California; JAMES HOZIE GARDNER, JR., a/k/a/ "Black,"34, of Pittsburg, California; JOSHUA JOEL LYNN GELDERMANN, a/k/a/ "Josh," 24 of Dublin, California; ABEL OLAGUE RAMIREZ, III, 26, of Oakley, California; MARIO ALBERTO TELLEZ, a/k/a/ "Hef," 26, of Pittsburg, California; PONEPATE TASINI JR., a/k/a/ "Bone,"20,Pittsburg, California; MARCOS DANIEL SANCHEZ, a/k/a/ "The Don,"26 of Pittsburg, California; DAVID JOSEPH SANCHEZ, a/k/a/ "Big D,"44, of Antioch, California; DUANE RALPH PHILLIPS, a/k/a/ "DR", 62, of Sacramento County, California; ROLAND MYERS WINSTON, JR., a/k/a/ "Ro,"26, of Antioch, California; RENE GARCIA, 26, of Antioch, California; RAMON GAYTON -FRANCO, a/k/a/ "Pelon," 27, Antioch, California.
STATEMENTS BY THE CONTRIBUTORS TO THE INVESTIGATION
(Attachment to Press Release)
October 6, 2003
KEVIN V. RYAN, United States Attorney for the Northern District of California
"Northern California has become a center for methamphetamine distribution, and it's one of the U.S. Attorney's Office's priorities to investigate and prosecute vigorously cases involving large-scale distributions of methamphetamine. Those who are guilty of such crimes should know that the federal government will work hand-in-hand with state and local authorities to bring drug distributors to justice."
MARK J. MERSHON, Special Agent in Charge of the San Francisco Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
"These arrests serve as a major disruption to the organized distribution of Crystal Methamphetamine in the San Francisco East Bay Area. Federal, State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies will continue to pursue aggressively those individuals who engage in the sale of illegal drugs."
CHARLES O. SIMONSEN, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the San Francisco Office of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement
"ICE's expertise in the immigration and customs enforcement arena, together with our fleet of air assets, enabled us to play a key role in this case. We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners at all levels to combat drug trafficking. Our goal, as the primary investigative agency in the Department of Homeland Security, is to disrupt and deter activities that pose a threat to our nation's welfare to public safety.
PAUL R. MULLIGAN, Senior Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement
"Methamphetamine continues to be the most abused street drug throughout California, and is one of the few dangerous drugs actually produced within the United States. Operation Navigator is an excellent example of the efficacy of a coordinated local, state and federal action against the major suppliers and manufacturers of the drug. It is only through collaborative efforts that law enforcement can dismantle these large scale organizations involved in its production and distribution."
WARREN E. RUPF, Contra Costa County Sheriff:
"Today's announcement culminates an investigation that spanned over three years of time, thousands of hours of work and tens of thousands of dollars in expenditures," said Contra Costa County Sheriff Warren E. Rupf. "The investigation has been successful because of the collaborative efforts of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and the spirit of cooperation among them all."
"Although this case was initiated by a Detective from the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff, cases this large demand the full cooperation and partnership of many agencies. Sheriff's Office personnel put in over 12,000 hours into the case utilizing the resources of every division within the Sheriff's Office. I would like to commend my Deputies and Investigators for their determination and commitment to this investigation. Because of the efforts and dedication of all of the agencies involved, the trafficking of methamphetamine in our communities has been severely affected."
BURNHAM MATTHEWS, Chief of Police of the Alameda Police Department
"The Alameda Police Department would like to acknowledge the effectiveness of this joint narcotics operation. The overall success of this investigation is directly associated with the level of cooperation and commitment demonstrated by the participating local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Moreover, we would like to acknowledge the dedicated work of the detectives and agents who have worked so diligently on this important case."
MARK A. MOCZULSKI, Chief of Police of the City of Antioch, California
"The significant number of concentrated search and arrest warrants within the cities of East Contra Costa County clearly demonstrates the presence and availability of illegal narcotics in our region,"
