SAN FRANCISCO - Officials from over a dozen law enforcement agencies arrested and charged more than two dozen defendants with a variety of state and federal crimes pursuant to a joint federal-state effort to combat crime in South Bay counties, announced U.S. Attorney David L. Anderson and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) San Francisco Field Division Special Agent in Charge Rayfield Roundtree.
The investigation was spearheaded by the ATF. The agency coordinated operations with the U.S. Marshal Service; the Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office; the San Joaquin County Sherriff’s Office; the California Department of Corrections; the California Highway Patrol; and the police departments of Redwood City, San Mateo, San Francisco, and Daly City to arrest and charge the defendants. In addition to the arrests, law enforcement officials seized more than 130 firearms, 39 pounds of methamphetamine, and about 20 pounds of marijuana over the course of the operation.
“Guns and drugs are a dangerous combination," said U.S. Attorney Anderson. “Public safety demands the kind of law enforcement cooperation we see in this enforcement action."
“Combating violent crime is at the core of ATF’s mission and we stand at the frontline of eradicating violent crime from our streets," said Special Agent in Charge Ray Roundtree, San Francisco Field Division, ATF. “It is our duty to make this community a safer place for you and your families. This operation was years in the making. Years ago, ATF and the San Mateo County Gang Intelligence Unit began laying the foundation for the culmination you see here today. We believe that one firearm in the hand of a criminal or prohibited person is one firearm too many. The work you see here today is about making neighborhoods safer because to us the most important thing is that you and your loved ones make it home safely every day. Today ATF and our partners stand united in honoring that promise to you. Through everyone’s hard work and dedication, this large-scale operation has been a true success. These are also our neighborhoods and today they are a safer place."
The defendants have been charged with a variety of state and federal crimes. The defendants charged with federal crimes include the following:
Name
Age/Residence
Charges
Maximum Statutory Sentence
Francisco Garibay
21, South San Francisco
Distribution of fifty grams and more of methampheta-mine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(B)(viii)
(two counts)
40 years in prison and a $5 million fine, per count
Jonathan Flores
20, San Mateo
Distribution of fifty grams and more of methampheta-mine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(B)(viii)
(two counts)
40 years in prison and a $5 million fine
Vladimir Magallan- Gallegos
26, Modesto
Possession with intent to distribute fifty grams and more of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(l)(B)(viii)
40 years in prison and a $5 million fine
Jonathan Robert Figueroa
25, Redwood City
Conspiracy to deal firearms without a license, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371;
Dealing firearms without a license and aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(a)(1)(A) and 2
5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, per count
Erizondo Mora-Tapia
25, East Palo Alto
Conspiracy to deal firearms without a license, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371;
Dealing firearms without a license and aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(a)(1)(A) and 2
5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, per count
Jesus Antonio Tapia
19, Sunnyvale
Conspiracy to deal firearms without a license, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371;
Dealing firearms without a license and aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(a)(1)(A) and 2;
Possession of an unregistered firearm, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 5861(d)
5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine
5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine
10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine
Hernan Padilla- Landa
25, Tracy
Conspiracy to deal firearms without a license, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371;
Dealing firearms without a license and aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(a)(1)(A) and 2;
Possession of a firearm with a removed serial number, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(k)
5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine
5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine
10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine
William Alexis-Villa
22, Menlo Park
Conspiracy to deal firearms without a license, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371;
Dealing firearms without a license and aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(a)(1)(A) and 2;
Possession of a machine gun and aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(o) and 2;
Possession of an unregistered firearm, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 5861(d)
(two counts)
5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine
5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine
10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine
10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine, per count
Francisco Nunez-Nepita
21, East Palo Alto
Conspiracy to deal firearms without a license, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371;
Dealing in firearms without a license and aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(a)(1)(A) and 2;
Possession of a machine gun and aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(o), and 2
5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine
5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine
10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine
Erik Acevedo-Cruz
19, Fremont
Conspiracy to deal firearms without a license, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371;
Dealing firearms without a license and aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(a)(1)(A) and 2;
Possession of an unregistered firearm, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 5861(d)
5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine
5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine
10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine
Jaime Avina Barajas
19, East Palo Alto
Possession of a machine gun and aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(o) and 2;
Possession of an unregistered firearm, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 5861(d)
10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine
10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine
Noe Robledo-Lopez, Jr.,
19, Redwood City
Possession of an unregistered firearm, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 5861(d)
10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine
Jose Buenrostro
30, Redwood City
Conspiring to deal firearms without a license and dealing firearms without a license, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 371 and 922(a)(1)(A);
Felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1);
Conspiring to distribute or possess with intent to distribute, and distributing or possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a), (b)(1)(B)(viii), and 846
5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, per count
10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine
40 years in prison and a $5 million fine
Cristian Rafael Morales
23, San Mateo
Distribution of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C)
20 years in prison and a $1 million fine
Mario Carlos
24, Cottonwood
Felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)
10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine
Daniel Zaragoza
32, Oakland
Felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)
10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine
The indictments merely allege that crimes have been committed, and each defendant must be presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. These prosecutions are the result of investigations by the ATF in coordination with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Additional assistance was provided by the U.S. Marshal Service; the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office; San Joaquin County Sherriff’s Office; the California Department of Corrections; the California Highway Patrol; and the police departments of Redwood City, San Mateo, San Francisco, and Daly City.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
