Federal, state and local authorities have arrested ten members and associates of the Hermandad de Pistoleros Latinos gang (HPL) in a coordinated round-up in South Texas announced United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr., Western District of Texas; United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas; Bexar County District Attorney Nicholas ‘Nico’ LaHood; Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw; Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division; and, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Perrye K. Turner, Houston Division.
This three-year investigation focused on drug trafficking and members of the HPL and their associates in San Antonio, Corpus Christi and Houston. Those individuals arrested today in San Antonio (WDTX) include: 38-year-old HPL Lieutenant Ricardo Aguilar (aka “Indio”), 31-year-old Stephanie Pacheco, and 42-year-old Jesse Mendoza (aka “Chivo”). Those arrested today in the Southern District of Texas include: 40-year-old HPL Lieutenant Pacino San Miguel (aka Abuelo”) of Houston; 27-year-old HPL Lieutenant Jacob Gonzales (aka “Orbit) of Corpus Christi; 30-year-old Mario Alberto Ramirez of Corpus Christi; 26-year-old Leroy Rocha (aka “Tank”) of Corpus Christi; 55-year-old HPL Lieutenant Oscar Pena (aka “OP”) of Corpus Christi; and, 52-year-old Dorothy Babette Cuello (aka “Tiny”) of Corpus Christi. All of the above-named defendants remain in federal custody awaiting detention hearings in federal court next week.
A federal grand jury in San Antonio last month indicted Aguilar, Pacheco and Mendoza on one count conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The federal grand jury in San Antonio also indicted 36-year-old Robert Hewitty (aka “Looney”) on one count each of felon in possession of a firearm, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. Hewitty was already in custody prior to today’s arrests. A Bexar County (state) grand jury this week also indicted Mendoza charging him with two counts of possession with intent to deliver 4-200g of methamphetamine.
Aguilar, Pacheco, and Hewitty all face between ten years and life in federal prison upon conviction. Mendoza faces between five years and forty years in federal prison, and up to life in state prison, upon conviction.
Yesterday, a federal grand jury in Corpus Christi (SDTX) indicted: Miguel, Gonzales and Ramirez on three counts, and Rocha on one count, of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. The federal grand jury also indicted Pena and Cuello on two counts of conspiracy to distribute heroin.
Gonzalez, Ramirez, Rocha, San Miguel, Pena and Cuello face up to 20 years in federal prison upon conviction.
This investigation was conducted by the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation together with the San Antonio Police Department, Corpus Christi Police Department, Houston Police Department, Pasadena Police Department, Texas Department Criminal Justice Division-Office of the Inspector General, Harris County Sheriff’s Office and the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.