San Antonio – In a major blow to the Mexican American prison gang Hermanos de Pistoleros Latinos (HPL), 24 alleged members and associates were federally indicted in San Antonio for their alleged roles in a massive drug trafficking and firearm trafficking operation.
The indictment, announced by U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas, carries 24 counts including conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine, as well as conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking and conspiracy to traffic firearms.
Law enforcement arrested 19 alleged gang members and associates on Tuesday in an operation involving federal, state, and local agencies. Five of the 24 defendants were already in federal or state custody prior to Tuesday’s arrests.
“Thank you to our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, led by the FBI and DEA in this case, for their ongoing commitment to investigating these issues in our communities and for their continued commitment to reducing violence, and firearm and drug crimes that plague our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas.
The defendants arrested Tuesday are Daniel Natividad aka “Danny Boy,” 50, of Hebronville; Brian Zepeda aka “Get Down”, 39, of San Antonio; Roberto Ibarra aka “Bobby,” 44, of Laredo; Mike Rayas Carrillo aka “Gordo,” 37, of San Antonio; Jesus Mendoza Jr. aka “Chivo,” 50, of San Antonio; Gilberto Garcia aka “Gibo,” 42, of San Antonio; Ramon Lozoya aka “Bulldog,” 41, of San Antonio; Maximo Flores Jr., 44, of San Antonio; Miguel Zamora Rosas aka “Eight Ball”, 39, of San Antonio; Paul Garcia aka “Baby Paul”, 38, of San Antonio; Abraham Pagan aka “Shank,” 44, of San Antonio; Mark Anthony Avila, 43, of San Antonio; Rudy Hugo Lopez, 34, of San Antonio; Robert Davalos Alvarado aka “Pork Chop,” 41, of San Antonio; Raymond Medina aka “Crime”, 35, of San Antonio; Roger Hilburn, 33, of San Antonio; Armando Perales aka “Pitbull,” 54, of San Antonio; Ruben Rivera, 36, of San Antonio; and JR Perales, 31, of San Antonio.
The following defendants were already in custody: Antonio Rios Jr. aka “Tone”, 33, of San Antonio; Vidal Morales Jr. aka “Moe”, 49, of San Antonio; Ronald Mendoza aka “Ronnie,” 41, of San Antonio; Carlos Bernal aka “Guero,” 46, of San Antonio; and Adrian Calvillo aka “Token,” 40, of San Antonio.
The FBI and DEA are leading the investigation with valuable assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, IRS-Criminal Investigations, Customs and Border Protection, and other agencies.
“These arrests will put a dent into HPL’s drug trafficking activities that have been their main source of income,” said Special Agent in Charge Daniel Comeaux for the Drug Enforcement Administration Houston Division. Members rely on the money made outside to fund members behind bars and help HPL as an organization thrive at the devastating expense of our communities.”
“We are truly safer today because there are fewer firearms in the hands of bad actors — fewer kilos of meth, heroin and cocaine for sale in our community and one less trafficking organization doing business in South Texas,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp of the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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