LUBBOCK, Texas -
Nine West Texas residents, including four alleged members of the prison-based street gang, Texas Syndicate, are in federal custody on drug conspiracy charges, according to U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.
The arrests, stemming from their roles in a methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana distribution conspiracy, were made by special agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Texas Department of Public Safety, with assistance from the Big Spring, Sundown and Levelland Police Departments, the Howard County and Lubbock County Sheriff’s Offices, the U.S. Marshals Service and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Each of the defendants listed below are charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine, 500 grams and more of cocaine and marijuana, as well as one count of using a communication facility to facilitate the conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and aiding and abetting:
Cruz Perez, aka “Travieso,” 40
Christopher Lee Gonzalez, aka “Gonzo,” 43
Victor Manuel Castillo, aka “Victor Manuel Garza,” 43
Christopher David Gonzales, aka “Chris,” 41
Evan Cruz Parson, aka “Evan,” 21
Alexander Alfonzo Mendoza, aka “Alex,” 20
Jose Gutierrez, III, aka “Baby Joey,” 21
Jasmine Pillar Hernandez, aka “Crazy,” 32
Crystal Dimas, aka “Babe,” 28
According to the indictment, defendants Perez, Gonzalez, Gonzales and Parson are allegedly members of the Texas Syndicate, a prison-based street gang involved in various criminal activities.
Perez, Gonzalez, Castillo, Gonzales, Mendoza, Gutierrez and Hernandez are also each charged with at least one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and aiding and abetting.
Perez is also charged with two counts, and defendants Parson and Mendoza are each charged with one count of managing a drug premise and aiding and abetting.
If convicted, the conspiracy counts carry a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years. Each of the methamphetamine distribution counts carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years and a maximum statutory penalty of 40 years. The use of a communication facility count carries a statutory minimum penalty of four years. The managing a drug premise count carries a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years. Fines could range from $250,000 to $4,000,000.
(Information from Department of Justice press release)
