CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A total of 10 area men are now in custody as a result of a coordinated effort by federal, state and local law enforcement, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson.
Tomas Perez, 30, David Lerma, 24, John Guerrero, 23, Omar Flores, 30, Dominic Suarez, 32, and Jesse Ramos, 29, all of Corpus Christi, are charged in separate indictments as being felons in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Juan Sanchez, 24, of Corpus Christi, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, while Smiley Rodriguez, 32, also of Corpus Christi, is charged with possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine.
In another separate indictment, Roy Valent Jr., 31, and Arnold Valent, 29, both of Corpus Christi, are charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance analogue. Valent is also charged with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
Authorities arrested Flores, Suarez, Sanchez, Guerrero, Perez, Ramos and Valent during an enforcement action yesterday. Detention hearings have been set for Monday, Nov. 14.
Lerma and Rodriguez were previously in custody and are expected to appear in federal court in the near future.
Each charge involving a firearm carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a possible $250,000 fine. If convicted of the drug charges, those defendants face up to 20 years of imprisonment and a possible $1 million fine.
Operation City Shield is a coordinated effort by federal, state and local law enforcement to identify violent offenders, stop gun violence and protect the community.
The charges stem from investigations by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; U.S. Marshals Service; Corpus Christi Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lance Watt is prosecuting the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
