U.S. Department
of Justice
James T. Jacks
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
MEDIA INQUIRIES: KATHY COLVIN |
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FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2009 www.usdoj.gov/usao/txn |
PHONE: (214)659-8600
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COCAINE AND METHAMPHETAMINE TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATION MEMBERS SENTENCED TO LENGTHY PRISON TERMS AND HUGE FORFEITURE Defendants are Members of the West Texas Puro Tango Blast Prison Gang ABILENE, Texas — The leader of a major cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking organization that operated in the Abilene area and throughout North Texas, and who was also a member of the West Texas Puro Tango Blast prison gang, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Lubbock, Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. Ricardo Valdiviez, a/k/a “Ricky,” 24, of Brownsville, Texas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings to 188 months in prison and ordered to forfeit $3,206,400. Valdiviez pled guilty in February 2009 to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. • Steven Ildefonso Flores, 33, of Abilene, Texas, sentenced to 168 months • Larry Villareal, 32, of Abilene, Texas, sentenced to 235 months • Serafin Moreno, a/k/a “Serf,” 31, of Corpus Christi, Texas, sentenced to 168 months • Eric Tonche, a/k/a “Quat,” 27, of Abilene, Texas, sentenced to 210 months • Jacob Adam Garcia, a/k/a “Little Jake,” 25, of Abilene, Texas, sentenced to 71 months • Rolando Solis, 27, of Abilene Texas, sentenced to 37 months • Jennifer Grace Cortez, 26, of Abilene, Texas, sentenced to 46 months The below-named defendant pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm: • Lorenzo Barela, 29, of Abilene, Texas, sentenced to 37 months Two following two defendants named in the indictment were already in custody in December 2008, when the other arrests were made: • Fidel Hernandez Gomez, a/k/a “Gordo,” 44, an illegal alien who resided in Abilene, Texas, pled guilty to the conspiracy, and agreed to forfeit $537,000 and his residence in Stephens County, Texas; sentencing is scheduled for July 10, 2009 • Joe Anthony Diaz, a/k/a "Ant," 26, of Abilene, Texas, pled guilty to the conspiracy; a sentencing date has not yet been set The following defendant remains a fugitive: • Defendant David Rodriguez, 34, a/k/a “Super Dave” Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody L. Skipper of the Lubbock, Texas, U.S. Attorney’s Office, prosecuted the case. ###
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