HSI Del Rio, Partner Investigation Results in 15 Arrests

DEL RIO, Texas — Five confirmed gang members and 10 other individuals with gang ties were arrested in Uvalde on criminal charges related to their alleged conspiracy to possess and distribute methamphetamine following an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Uvalde County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Border Patrol, ATF, DEA and the U.S. Marshals Service.

View official statements made by HSI San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee.

The following 15 defendants were indicted Aug. 21 in a federal court in Del Rio for one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of distribution and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute:

1. Cesar Ramirez-Musquiz, 49.
2. Kasandra Nicole Gutierrez, 31.
3. Shawn Kyle Garza, 23.
4. Rosemary Flores-Lopez, 44.
5. Sammy Josephine Arellano, 35.
6. Consuelo Gutierrez-Rodriguez, 36.
7. Fidencio Garcia Jr., 29.
8. Christopher Lee Salazar, 36.
9. Elysia Armendariz, 27.
10. Osvaldo Ortiz-Sandoval, 32.
11. Tommy Hernandez-Rodriguez, 24.
12. James Pargas Ruiz, 40.
13. Raul Alberto Olivarez Jr., 35.
14. Edmundo Nicolas Garza, 27.
15. Anthony Rios-Orozco, 22.

If convicted, each faces 10 years to life in prison and up to a $10 million fine for each charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas Katy Garner is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.