DEL RIO, Texas – In a groundbreaking operation, fifteen individuals were apprehended in Uvalde on charges of conspiring to possess and distribute methamphetamine, as revealed by the United States Department of Justice.

The Texas Department of Public Safety, Uvalde County Sheriff’s Office, and the 38th Judicial District Attorney’s Office led the investigation, collaborating with Border Patrol, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The DOJ disclosed that five of the detainees are confirmed gang members, while ten others have potential ties to gangs. All individuals were indicted on Aug. 21 in a federal court in Del Rio on charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

The following individuals were taken into custody:

• Cesar Ramirez-Musquiz, 49
• Kasandra Nicole Gutierrez, 31
• Shawn Kyle Garza, 23
• Rosemary Flores-Lopez, 44
• Sammy Josephine Arellano, 35
• Consuelo Gutierrez-Rodriguez, 36
• Fidencio Garcia Jr., 29
• Christopher Lee Salazar, 36
• Elysia Armendariz, 27
• Osvaldo Ortiz-Sandoval, 32
• Tommy Hernandez-Rodriguez, 24
• James Pargas Ruiz, 40
• Raul Alberto Olivarez Jr., 35
• Edmundo Nicolas Garza, 27
• Anthony Rios-Orozco, 22

If convicted, each offender faces significant penalties, including a sentence of 10 years to life in prison and a fine of up to $10 million for each count. The final sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge, taking into account various factors.

The announcement of the arrests was made by U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District for Texas and Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee for Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio.

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