Carlos Montano, Drug Trafficking, California 2017

Fresno, California Drug Trafficking Bust

A 10-month long investigation targeting local criminal street gangs in Fresno, California, has resulted in multiple arrests for drug and firearm offenses. On Thursday, 15 defendants were arrested on federal charges and at least 14 defendants were arrested on state charges.

The investigation, led by several federal law enforcement agencies and the Fresno Police Department, uncovered multiple sales of methamphetamine, cocaine, and firearms by the various defendants between January and August 2017. The 104-page federal criminal complaint charges 18 defendants with criminal activity ranging from firearms trafficking, drug trafficking, and prostitution-related offenses.

The investigation has resulted in the seizure of more than 30 firearms and multiple pounds of methamphetamine. On September 7, 2017, in addition to the arrests, nine search warrants and multiple probation and parole searches were executed on the target gang members and their associates.

According to the U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert, the operation demonstrates how law enforcement partners at the federal, state, and local level are working together to pursue criminal gangs and their associates. The various agencies involved in the operation include the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The investigation has shown the importance of multi-agency coordination and cooperation in combating gang-related violence and crime. As stated by Ryan L. Spradlin, the special agent in charge for Homeland Security Investigations, the operation is a testament to the extraordinary coordination and cooperation that is being brought to bear locally to take back our streets and combat gang-related violence and crime.

The federal defendants, all Fresno residents, are as follows:

• Carlos Montano, 27; Filibert Chavez, 35; Robin Gill, 31; Gabriel Gomez, 26; Juan Carlos Briceno, 36; Nicholas Bolanos, 25; Daniel Villanueva, 19; Gerrick Travis Tyrell Franklin, 27; Amina Padilla, 34; Robert Lockhart, 52; Idelfonso Soto, 19

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/multi-agency-operation-fresno-results-multiple-arrests-drug-and-firearm-offenses