Pubdate: Fri, 29 Jun 2007
Source: Argus, The (Fremont, CA)
Copyright: 2007 ANG Newspapers
Contact: http://www.insidebayarea.com/argus/writealetter
Website: http://www.insidebayarea.com/argus/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1642
Author: Mike Martinez

POLICE DISRUPT DRUG DEALS OF AREA GANG

STOCKTON -- A drug-distribution network run by Central Valley 
residents with ties to prison gangs was disrupted after federal, 
state and local law enforcement simultaneously served search warrants 
throughout Northern California, officials said at a news conference 
Thursday morning.

Operation Valley Star targeted members of the Nuestra Familia, a 
violent prison gang founded at Deuel Vocational Institution outside 
of Tracy, during a 21/2-year operation in which authorities seized 
about 150 pounds of methamphetamines, 16 kilograms of cocaine, 
$80,000 in cash, guns, a small amount of Ecstasy and upward of 60 
marijuana plants. Nuestra Familia exerts control over Norteno gang members.

"It is a very powerful and direct strike at some very powerful prison 
gangs and street gangs here in Northern California, particularly in 
the valley," McGregor Scott, Eastern District U.S. Attorney, said. 
"These gang members fund their criminal activity by selling dope."

Law enforcement officials arrested two dozen members or associates of 
the Nuestra Familia, Nuestra Raza/Northern Structure, and Norteno 
gangs on Wednesday, including Jesse Corral, 35, Jesus Garcia, 24, 
Ernesto Salcedo, 36 and Rebeca Salcedo, 41, all from Stockton; David 
Ramirez, 27, of Manteca; Benjamin Santoscastro, 31, of San Francisco; 
and Jose Villasenor, 32, of Fremont.

If convicted, they could face minimum sentences of 10 years to life 
in prison, Scott said.

A federal complaint charges them with conspiracy to distribute and 
possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamines, cocaine, 
marijuana, and Ecstasy.

Also arrested was Mario Diaz, Jr., 32, of Los Banos, purported to be 
the second-highest ranking Nuestra Familia member on the streets. The 
operation zeroed in on the drug trafficking ring he spearheaded and 
negotiated deals for, according to a 174-page affidavit filed by 
federal agents.

Diaz, along with Manuel Gauna, 39, of Salinas, was arrested in 
Stockton on May 26 in alleged possession of more than 11 pounds of 
methamphetamines.

and both were indicted by a federal grand jury on felony conspiracy 
and possession charges on June 7, Diaz's birthday.

Diaz's drug-dealing operation is alleged to have extended into 
Southern California, Ohio and Atlanta, from Mexico where he would 
purchase his drugs. According to court documents, Diaz began the 
operation in San Francisco dealing 5 to 6 pounds a week of 
methamphetamines and increased it to 30 pounds a week.

He would sell each pound for $10,000, according to the affidavit.

"This is a major undertaking, this is a major hit," Scott said.

"Nuestra Familia is one of the most significant prison gangs here in 
the state of California. In the process, we have brought criminal 
charges on the No. 2 person in that gang out on the street outside 
the actual prison setting. That is no small feat."

Manteca police Chief Charles Halford, who heads the San Joaquin 
County Metropolitan Narcotics Task Force, said the arrests are very 
important for the Central Valley, calling the gangs "primary 
conduits" for methamphetamines.

"You'll see people within the Nuestra Familia and Northern Structure 
try to move up, but they'll be less organized, less sophisticated, 
and they're not going to have the communication network," Halford 
said. "They'll be easier for law enforcement to target and take them down."
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