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Contributed by Imperial Valley News
Federal, state and local agents completed the initial searches and+ arrests in two multi-jurisdictional,
multi-agency investigations coordinated through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF)
program. The investigations targeted major Mexican drug trafficking organizations that smuggled cocaine,
methamphetamine and marijuana into the United States for distribution in Georgia, California, North Carolina, New York,
and elsewhere. These investigations focused on two separate Mexican-based drug organizations that regularly
cooperated in using transportation routes into and out of the Atlanta area.
The evidence seized during the searches and arrests just over the past two days includes 111 kilograms of cocaine, 17
pounds of crystal methamphetamine, approximately $8,000,000 to $10,000,000 in cash and at least 32 firearms,
including handguns and assault rifles.
The two investigations were code named “Operation Shooting Star” and “Operation Latitude
Adjustment.”
Operation Shooting Star was initiated in October 2006 and was led by the David Wilhelm Atlanta OCDETF Strike Force.
In March 2006, the Atlanta High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force began investigating the Georgiabased
traffickers identified in Operation Latitude Adjustment. Both investigations have been designated as OCDETF
investigations, which recognize the highest priority cases for Federal drug prosecution.
Operation Shooting Star has resulted in arrests of 35 individuals and the execution of 19 search warrants. Operation
Latitude Adjustment has resulted in the arrests of 12 individuals and the execution of six search warrants.
Investigators determined that the targeted organizations regularly transported large quantities of cocaine,
methamphetamine, and marijuana from the Mexican states of Nuevo Leon, Guerrero, and Michoacan to the Atlanta area,
and then transported currency accumulated from the sale of the drugs back through Atlanta to be smuggled across the
Southwest border to Mexico.
Rodney G. Benson, Special Agent in Charge of DEA Atlanta said, “Today, law enforcement disrupted and
dismantled two distinct, but inter-related Mexican-based drug trafficking organizations that shared common resources.
These organizations might still be thriving, had it not been for the spirited efforts of over 300 dedicated law enforcement
officers representing a myriad of agencies. We have removed in excess of 27 million dollars of filthy money from these
traffickers and have taken thousands of pounds of dangerous drugs off of our streets. True justice has been
served.”
United States Attorney David E. Nahmias said, “These operations have crushed two major drug trafficking
organizations. The seizure of all this dope and all this money and the arrest of all of those players in the organization
means that somewhere in Mexico right now, there are some very unhappy drug kingpins. Our message to them is that
we will continue to do everything we can to make the Atlanta area a place where they don’t dare to operate. Drug
dealers using the same couriers of both drugs and money allegedly link the two operations. Targets in both Operation
Shooting Star and Operation Latitude Adjustment received narcotics from common suppliers in Mexico. These are ongoing
investigations and our many agencies working together will continue the aggressive fight against the illegal drugs
that poison communities in Georgia and across the country.”
Jack Killorin, Atlanta HIDTA Director, said, “Today’s operation is a major strike against the Mexican drug
cartels that have made the Atlanta Metropolitan area a hub of drug distribution in the Eastern United States. In Georgia,
this result required the highest level of coordination among the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Wilhelm OCDETF
Strike Force and the Atlanta High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force. The HIDTA effort was led by a DEA Special
Agent and an Atlanta Police Department investigator, but involved all HIDTA participating agencies. Communities around
the country are benefiting today from their collaborative effort, dedication, and no small sacrifice.”
In Operation Shooting Star, the drug trafficking organization allegedly coordinated the receipt and distribution of cocaine,
methamphetamine and marijuana to states all along the Eastern Seaboard and into the Midwest. The organization also
used Atlanta as the hub for the collection of drug proceeds from its East Coast distributors for shipment back to Mexico.
In just the six months preceding the takedown, Operation Shooting Star seized over $12,000,000 in drugs and drug
proceeds just from the Atlanta area, along with numerous weapons, including handguns and assault rifles. The
investigation also has identified and dismantled sham businesses established by the organization that were used to
facilitate and disguise its drug trafficking activities.
The 20 defendants indicted by a federal grand jury on December 4, 2007, in Operation Shooting Star are:
JOSE LUIS BENITEZ-TORNES,a/k/a “Cholo”; MARIO ALBERTO GUERRERO- MARTINEZ, a/k/a
“Moyo,” and “Pepe”; “EL AS,” a/k/a “Ace,” (real name unknown);
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FNU LNU, a/k/a “Liceniado”; FNU LNU, a/k/a “Rucco”; FNU LNU, a/k/a
“Tejon”; FNU LNU, a/k/a “Peluche”; EDGAR CAMACHO TORRES, a/k/a
“Pollo”; RAMIRO OCHOA PENALOZA, a/k/a “Medico”; OPHELIA PINEDA; FRANCISCO
VEGA SANTANA, a/k/a “Frai”; ENEYDA ROMERO MOLINA, a/k/a “Nena”; FNU LNU, a/k/a
“Jonathan”; JOAQUIN SUAREZ FLORES; JUAN ANTONIO RAMOS SANCHEZ; “JORGE”
(real name unknown); LUIS CORDERO PENA; JOSE MACIAS MARTINEZ; JESUS EMMANUEL GUADARRAMA;
FELIPE SANTANA; and FAUSTO VILLA-MOJICA, a/k/a “Guero.”
25 additional defendants were charged by criminal complaints filed on December 6 and 7, 2007, in Operation Shooting
Star:
ALFONSO RODRIGUEZ FRANCO, a/k/a “CHAVO”; KEVIN JIMENEZ-CASTILLO, a/k/a
“JOSE”; J. JESUS TORRES-OCHOA; JOSE MENDOZA-SOLORZANO; DAMIAN LOPEZ-GONZALEZ,
a/k/a “UM-2"; ALEJANDRO GUTIERREZ-BEIZA; ANTERO PINEDA-CAMACHO; JULIAN ORTUNO-HERRERA;
MARTIN MAGANA-BERNAL; ANGEL HARO-PEREZ, a/k/a “UM-23";ARTURO TORRES-ZARAGOZA, a/k/a
“ANDRES FRUTOS”; JESUS GARCIA CORONA, a/k/a “UM-76"; LEOPOLDO CASTANDA
HERRERA; JOSE JESUS ESPINOZA FARIA; JOSE MAGANA ZAVALA; SALVADOR GONZALEZ-FLORES; JULIO
CESAR AVALOS CERPAS, a/k/a “CESAR”; VICTOR GONZALEZ-FLORES; AURELIO CHAVEZ
MALDONADO, a/k/a “KIYE”; CARLOS ALBERTO GUTIERREZ; JOSE TAPIA-CORNESO, a/k/a
“UM-144"; MANUEL MAGANA-SAGRERO; LORENZO PINEDA-IBARRA, a/k/a “UM-1247"; JUAN AGUIAR
MARTINEZ, a/k/a “UM-237"; and MARCO ANTONIO RODRIGUEZ MAGANA, a/k/a “TONO.”
In Operation Latitude Adjustment, the drug trafficking organization allegedly used Atlanta primarily as a transshipment
and distribution point. While some of the drugs may have stayed in the Atlanta area for consumption, investigating
agents believe the majority of the drugs were forwarded to other areas along the East Coast of the United States,
including Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, and Virginia.
The California portion of the operation, called Operation Funk 49, began in April 2004, after tips led investigators to
distributors in San Diego, California, which began a three-year undercover investigation in that area. Federal, state, and
local law enforcement in San Diego have executed over a dozen coordinated search warrants resulting in the arrests of
59 defendants there, as well as the confiscation of 1,246 pounds of cocaine, 604 pounds of methamphetamine, two
pounds of heroin, and over $9.1 million in cash. In Georgia, over 585 pounds of cocaine were seized as well as $1.26
million dollars. An additional $767,000 was seized by DEA in New York as the result of information uncovered in the
investigation.
22 defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury in Atlanta on December 4, 2007, in Operation Latitude Adjustment as
follows:
RAMIRO CAMPUZANO VELAZCO a/k/a “Compadre,” 38, of Atlanta; RIGOBERTO SANCHEZ a/k/a
“Rigo,” 22, of Buford, Georgia; GUILLERMO CAMPUZANO VELASCO a/k/a “Memo,” 23, of
Buford, Georgia; MARCO ANTONIO GONZALEZ PULIDO age unknown, a/k/a “El Musico,” of Marietta,
Georgia; TROY PALMER, 43, of Atlanta, Georgia; ROBERT RICHARDS, 30, of Atlanta, Georgia; NOAH NEVILL, 25, of
Atlanta, Georgia; JOHN DENNIS CHAPMAN, 57, of Atlanta, Georgia; FERNANDO LNU (last name unknown) a/k/a
“Nando,” age unknown, of Atlanta, Georgia; WILLIE LNU, age unknown, of Duluth, Georgia; ERIC LNU,
age unknown, of Duluth, Georgia; ESTEBAN LNU, age unknown, of Buford, Georgia; ROSA LNU, age unknown, of
Norcross, Georgia; “PINTOR” real name and age unknown, of Texas; “TITO,” real name and
age unknown, of California; FAUSTINO GUTIERREZ PLANCARTE, a/k/a “Josillo,” 38, of Sacramento,
California; JUAN CARLOS QUEZADA, 26, of Palo Alto, California; and BRIAN JOHN PRATTICO, (age unknown) of
Atlanta, Georgia. In addition, defendants believed to be located in Mexico include: LUIS GONZALES HERRERA a/k/a
“Francisco Ramirez” and “Pepe;” MIGUEL RUBIO ZAMORA, a/k/a“Javier
Arreola,”and “Rana;” LUCIO GONZALEZ MARTINEZ, a/k/a “Manuel Gonzalez-
Pacheco,” and “Chano;” DONA COLUMBA VELAZCO; and “ALMA,” (real name
unknown).
These cases are being investigated by Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Wilhelm Atlanta
OCDETF Strike Force, Atlanta HIDTA Task Force, DEA San Diego Field Division and San Jose Resident Office, and the
South Carolina State Patrol.
Imperial Valley News
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