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Barrio Azteca Arrests
On Thursday, May 21, 2009, the FBI-led and FBI funded Southern New Mexico Safe Streets Task Force conducted an arrest operation in the Las Cruces area and in the El Paso, Texas area. The Safe Streets Task Force is comprised of various federal, state, county and municipal law enforcement agencies, having the principal mission of combating violent street crimes, including gang activity and drug trafficking.
Pursuant to Federal Grand Jury indictments handed down on Wednesday, May 20th, ten subjects of investigation were arrested by Special Agents of officers assigned to the Task Force. One subject is at large and is being sought. Each of the subjects claims to be a “made member” of the Barrio Azteca prison/street gang, and are charged with conspiring to traffic cocaine and marijuana in the southern New Mexico/El Paso, Texas area. The subjects are being held in the Dona Ana County Jail and will make initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the United States Court House on Friday morning.
The persons arrested are:
- Victor “Perro” Gaeta, 36, of Anthony, TX
- Baltazar “Balta” Gallegos, 36, of Sunland Park, NM
- Gerardo “Lalo” Garcia-Carrillo, 36, of Anthony, NM
- Armando “Mando” Jacquez, 58, of Anthony, NM
- Demetrio “Tito” Meza, 36, of Canutillo, TX
- Roberto “Flaco” or “Bob” Meza, 34, of Anthony, NM
- Sucre “Hector” Reyes, 35, of Sunland Park, NM
- Eloy Rios, 35, of Anthony, TX
- Miguel Romero, 29, of El Paso, TX
- Pablo Carlos Romero, 38, of El Paso, TX
At large is Richard Sanchez, 34, of Las Cruces, NM. Sanchez is also known as “Caution,” Ricardo Sanchez and Richard Quezada. He is an Hispanic male, 5’6” tall, 160 pounds, brown hair and eyes, shaved head, earrings in both ears, with multiple tattoos on his chest, back and arms, born on 12/10/1974. Sanchez’s criminal history includes, but is not limited to, convictions for Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, and Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Trafficking in Cocaine.
All of the arrested persons have extensive criminal histories.
This case was initiated in early 2007 as a joint investigation of the FBI, BATFE and the Las Cruces/Dona Ana Metro Narcotics Team. The investigation targeted a drug trafficking criminal enterprise operated in Dona Ana County, NM and El Paso, Texas by members of the Barrio Azteca Prison/Street Gang. These arrests are the culmination of that investigation.
This is the only information available at this time.
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