Here you go kids. Half of ya'll don't even know what the deal is the other half got some understanding.
U.S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney
Northern District of California
11th Floor, Federal Building
450 Golden Gate Avenue, Box 36055
San Francisco, California 94102
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tel: (415) 436-7200
Fax: (415) 436-7234
October 6, 2003
TWENTY-SIX INDICTED IN METHAMPHETAMINE DISTRIBUTION CONSPIRACY
Kevin V. Ryan, United States Attorney for the Northern District of California, announced today that a federal grand jury has indicted 26 individuals for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Distribution of Methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 846 and 841(a)(1). Twenty one of the individuals were arrested Friday in a massive raid conducted by federal and state law enforcement officers. Along with the arrest warrants, the agents also executed 28 federal search warrants. The investigation resulted in the seizure of over 20 pounds of methamphetamine, ten guns, including a loaded assault rifle, one bullet proof vest, an undetonated explosive device, over $250,000.00, ten vehicles, including a Cadillac Escalade, Porche Carrera, Chevrolet Corvette, Mercedes 400, Chrysler 300, and a Chevrolet Impala, and one motorcycle. The arrests and seizures culminate an over two-year long, intensive multi-agency and multi-district Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force ("OCDETF") investigation.
The investigation was conducted jointly by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Alameda Police Department; Antioch Police Department; California Department of Justice-Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement; Contra Costa County of the Sheriff; and the United States Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Federal and local law enforcement agents working in Contra Costa County uncovered methamphetamine distributors operating in Contra Costa and Alameda counties. Further investigation identified methamphetamine sources of supply throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
The maximum statutory penalty for the violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 846 is a minimum mandatory term of imprisonment of ten years, and a maximum term of imprisonment of life in prison; up to a $4 million dollar fine, a minimum term of supervised release of five years and a penalty assessment of $100.00. Violations of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1) for 50 grams or more of methamphetamine or 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine are also punishable by a minimum mandatory term of imprisonment of ten years, and a maximum term of imprisonment of life in prison; up to a $4 million dollar fine, a minimum term of supervised release of five years and a penalty assessment of $100.00. Violations of Title 21 U.S.C. 841(a)(1) for 5 grams or more of methamphetamine or 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine are punishable by a minimum mandatory term of five years imprisonment, to a maximum of forty years, a $2 million dollar fine, a five year term of supervised release and a penalty assessment of $100.00. Sentences can be doubled for individuals with prior felony drug convictions. However, any sentence following conviction would be dictated by the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of factors, and would be imposed in the discretion of the Court. An indictment simply contains allegations against an individual and all defendants charged in the indictment must be presumed innocent unless and until convicted.
Barbara Brennan Silano and Anthony Brass are the Assistant U.S. Attorneys who are prosecuting the case in the Northern District of California. All press inquiries to the U.S. Attorney's Office in San Francisco should be directed to Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Jacobs at (415) 436-7181.
Named in the indictment, which was unsealed today, were: RUSSELL JAMES LONG III, a/k/a/ "Russ," 22, of Antioch, California; BRIAN DENNIS HOGAN, 23, of Antioch, California; NATISA FELICISIMA RIVASPLATA,a/k/a/ "Natisa Felicisima Rosco," 27 of Walnut Creek, California; MICHAEL JAMES MOORE, JR, 25, of Bay Point, California; JASON DAVID KESSENICH, a/k/a/ "Naughty J," 25, of Brentwood, California; SEAN MICHAEL SULLIVAN, 25, of Brentwood, California; DENNIS MICHAEL FISHER, a/k/a/ "Fish," 26, of Antioch, California; JOSE MIGUEL FLORES, a/k/a/ "Big Bird,"24,Hayward, California; DANIEL MOYA, a/k/a/ "Jorge,"34, of Oakland, California; DENNIS AL TYLIJ, 26, of Hayward, California HENRY NAPOLES, a/k/a/ "Enrique Napoles", 27, of Brentwood, California STEVE MICHELLE TALANOA, a/k/a/ "Steve O,"27, of Oakland, California STEVEN FARIAS, a/k/a/ "Steve L.,"a/k/a/ "Joker,"a/k/a/ "Steve Diddy,"26, of Walnut Creek, California; SERJIO PEREZ, a/k/a/ "Serjio Placensia Perez," a/k/a/ "Ricardo,"31, of Oakland, California; CATHERINE MICHELLE WYTHE GARNER, a/k/a/ "Cat," 24, of Pittsburg, California; JAMES HOZIE GARDNER, JR., a/k/a/ "Black,"34, of Pittsburg, California; JOSHUA JOEL LYNN GELDERMANN, a/k/a/ "Josh," 24 of Dublin, California; ABEL OLAGUE RAMIREZ, III, 26, of Oakley, California; MARIO ALBERTO TELLEZ, a/k/a/ "Hef," 26, of Pittsburg, California; PONEPATE TASINI JR., a/k/a/ "Bone,"20,Pittsburg, California; MARCOS DANIEL SANCHEZ, a/k/a/ "The Don,"26 of Pittsburg, California; DAVID JOSEPH SANCHEZ, a/k/a/ "Big D,"44, of Antioch, California; DUANE RALPH PHILLIPS, a/k/a/ "DR", 62, of Sacramento County, California; ROLAND MYERS WINSTON, JR., a/k/a/ "Ro,"26, of Antioch, California; RENE GARCIA, 26, of Antioch, California; RAMON GAYTON -FRANCO, a/k/a/ "Pelon," 27, Antioch, California.