17 indicted on firearms and drug trafficking charges after multiagency sweep
FRESNO, Calif. – Seventeen Fresno residents were charged with firearms and drug trafficking offenses in three related indictments, after a yearlong multiagency probe that included special agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
On July 19, law enforcement agents served over 20 search warrants in the Fresno area and arrested the majority of the defendants indicted in the case. During the searches, agents seized approximately $42,500 in cash.
According to the first indictment, between Feb. 1 and July 21, Christopher Martinez Sr., 45; Randy Seja, 24; Felix Gago, 40; and Christopher Martinez Jr., 23, conspired to possess and distribute methamphetamine.
In the second indictment, Gilberto Zarate, 34; Jorge Calestino Alvarez-Arias, 27; Marco Mosqueda, 27; Frances Reyna, 55; Gabriel Galvan, 27; Rafael Delatorre, 32; Jose Delatorre, 22; Alfonso Esparza, 38; and Gabriel Esparza, 37, are charged with conspiracy to possess and distribute methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; and distribution of methamphetamine. Zarate, along with Alfonso Esparza and Gabriel Esparza, are also charged with being felons in possession of firearms. According to the indictment, the conspiracy ran between April 1, 2015, and July 22.
The third indictment adds defendant Cecilio Alaniz, 26, and Christopher Valdez, 35, to an indictment that originally charged Jesse Mendoza, 36, and Roxana Dodier, 23. This superseding indictment charges the four defendants with conspiracy to possess and distribute methamphetamine; and distribution of methamphetamine. Mendoza is also charged with dealing firearms without a license; possessing and selling stolen firearms; and possession with the intent to distribute hydrocodone and heroin.
“The collaboration with our federal and local law enforcement partners is the strongest it has ever been,” said Ryan L. Spradlin, special agent in charge of HSI San Francisco. “This successful operation dealt a major blow to drug traffickers in the area and we continue to work together to seek out and dismantle these criminal organizations one by one.”
In addition to HSI, the following agencies participated in this investigation: the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI; the U.S. Marshals Service; the Fresno Police Department; the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office; the Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium (MAGEC); the California Highway Patrol; the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation - Division of Adult Parole; the Fresno County Probation Department; and the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melanie L. Alsworth and Kimberly A. Sanchez are prosecuting the cases.
If convicted, the defendants face sentences ranging from four years to life in prison and fines of up to $10 million.
Two other defendants have been charged in connection with this investigation. On Dec. 3, 2015, Spencer Meindersee was indicted for conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. He is awaiting trial. On July 18, Mariano Polanco was sentenced to three years and five months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The cases were part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.
This investigation is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that brings together federal, state and local law enforcement to combat gun and gang crime. At the core of PSN is increased federal prosecution to incapacitate chronic violent offenders as well as to communicate a credible deterrent threat to potential gun offenders.
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