15 Arrested in Uvalde Gang Takedown

DEL RIO, Texas - Five confirmed gang members and 10 other individuals with gang ties were arrested in Uvalde on criminal charges related to their alleged conspiracy to possess and distribute methamphetamine.

The following 15 defendants were indicted Aug. 21 in a federal court in Del Rio for one count of conspiracy to distribute & possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of distribution & possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

1. Cesar Ramirez-Musquiz, 49
2. Kasandra Nicole Gutierrez, 31
3. Shawn Kyle Garza, 23
4. Rosemary Flores-Lopez, 44
5. Sammy Josephine Arellano, 35
6. Consuelo Gutierrez-Rodriguez, 36
7. Fidencio Garcia Jr., 29
8. Christopher Lee Salazar, 36
9. Elysia Armendariz, 27
10. Osvaldo Ortiz-Sandoval, 32
11. Tommy Hernandez-Rodriguez, 24
12. James Pargas Ruiz, 40
13. Raul Alberto Olivarez Jr., 35
14. Edmundo Nicolas Garza, 27
15. Anthony Rios-Orozco, 22

If convicted, they face 10 years to life in prison and up to a $10 million fine for each charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District for Texas and Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee for Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio made the announcement.

HSI, Texas Department of Public Safety, Uvalde County Sheriff's Office, and 38th Judicial District Attorney's Office are investigating the case with valuable assistance from Border Patrol, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Katy Garner is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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