Latest news with #NancyLarson
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Fort Worth's Showdown Sting: 76 Busted, Tren de Aragua Cartel Tattoos Exposed
Police arrested 76 suspects for gun and drug crimes – including illegal aliens from Venezuela – after a mission called 'Operation Showdown.' Officials charged the suspects with 'federal and state firearms and drug offenses' after a two-month-long investigation in Fort Worth, according to a press release from the Department of Justice. Police seized 287 guns and close to 23 kg – or 50 lbs – of cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin. 'This operation highlights the tremendous work of our law enforcement partners in dismantling criminal networks — located within and outside our borders — that flood our communities with deadly drugs and tools for violence,' said Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy Larson for the Northern District of Texas in the release. Eight illegal aliens from Venezuela are facing drug trafficking charges, according to the release: Benito Castro Marrufo, Carlos Moreno Olivero, Darwin Ayala-Ochoa, Edixon Urdaneta-Colina, Elwin Manama Rodriguez, Kenny Manama Perez, Luis Garcia-Zamora, Rodrigo Riquel Cardozo. 'These defendants are charged with trafficking mixtures of powder cocaine, methamphetamine, ketamine, and MDMA (commonly known as Ecstasy),' the release reads. 'They referred to the narcotics they sold as Tusi, which had a distinct pink color, usually indicative of drugs tied to Venezuela.' The illegals showed up on May 21 'to provide armed protection' for what they thought was a 50 kg meth deal – actually 'a ruse arranged by agents.' They faced charges of firearm possession for drug trafficking, and four allegedly sold 'numerous' 9mm and .380 caliber pistols around the same time. During the arrests, agents photographed 'crown and star tattoos' on three suspects – Castro Marrufo, Manama Rodriguez, and Urdeneta-Colina, according to the release. These tattoos are common among the brutal Venezuelan cartel Tren de Aragua. Earlier this year, authorities busted a TdA leader near Houston and arrested forty cartel members just outside of Austin. After conviction, 'individuals who are in the country illegally will be handed over to ICE for deportation proceedings,' said Katherine Miller with the DOJ to The Dallas Express. Dexter Henson, spokesman for ICE-Dallas, told The Dallas Express that its staff were unavailable at the time and could not comment before publication. In total, 56 suspects are facing federal charges, including illegal firearms trafficking, unlawful possession and transfer of machine guns, unlawful possession of firearms, and firearm use during drug trafficking, according to the release. Charges also include conspiracy to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl. Defendants could face anywhere from 10 years to life in prison. Twenty suspects are also facing state charges in the Tarrant County District Court for crimes including possession of controlled substances like meth and fentanyl. Overall, the drugs included 14.8 kg of cocaine – enough to more than 12,300 people, and 480 g of fentanyl – enough to kill 400 people, according to the release. Police also seized 7.5 kg of meth, 1.4 kg of marijuana, and 13 g of heroin. The Tarrant County Sheriff's Office also posted that the weapons seized included 25 machine guns and 147 'machinegun conversion devices.' Some of the other charges are for methamphetamine trafficking against defendants Darrick Carter, Maya Bradshar, D'Morion Holleman, Raul Penalver, and Charles Blackshire, according to the release – all 'convicted felons.' Another charge is against Anthony Wilson, who has been on probation since January for 'second-degree robbery' in California, for firearm possession by a felon. He allegedly sold a pistol and ammunition in May, while he had a child in the back seat of his car. 'The public is reminded these charges are merely allegations, and that each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt,' the release reads. The sheriff's SWAT, K9, Combined Narcotics Enforcement Team, and drone units worked with the ATF to execute a 'critical search warrant,' the office posted. They worked 'securing a three-building residence with nine individuals, including two children, ensuring their safety.' Deputies worked with the Fort Worth Police Department, Tarrant County District Attorney, ATF Dallas, Texas Department of Public Safety, Drug Enforcement Administration, ICE, and U.S. Marshals. 'We remain committed to protecting our communities, combating violent crime, and ensuring justice is served,' the sheriff's office posted. Eduardo Chavez, DEA special agent in charge in Fort Worth, said in the release that officials have taken 'kilos' of drugs and 'hundreds' of weapons off Fort Worth streets since April. 'We want children to play safely at community parks and ride bikes around neighborhood streets,' Chavez said. 'This joint operation was a giant, positive step toward that goal this summer.' Tarrant County District Attorney Phil Sorrells issued a stark warning in the release to drug and gun traffickers. 'We are sending a simple message today: if you choose to poison our streets, you will be met with the full force of the law — no exceptions, no excuses,' Sorrells said. 'This is about protecting our families and making sure drug dealers know: Tarrant County is not open for business.'
CBS News
18-06-2025
- CBS News
Massive Fort Worth crime crackdown leads to 76 arrests, seizure of hundreds of guns and drugs
Dozens of alleged criminals, hundreds of illegal firearms, and a massive amount of narcotics are off the streets of Tarrant County after a major two-month law enforcement operation aimed at reducing violent crime. Local, state and federal agencies announced the results of "Operation Showdown" during a news conference Tuesday, calling it one of the largest enforcement initiatives in recent Fort Worth history. The operation led to the arrest of 76 individuals on firearm crimes, 56 of whom are also facing federal drug charges for trafficking cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl. "Our intention was to reduce violent crime in Fort Worth, Texas," said Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy Larson for the Northern District of Texas. "And we did it together." Larson added that many of those arrested were convicted violent felons. "Others are in our country illegally and have suspected ties to the Venezuelan transnational criminal organization Tren de Aragua, also known as TDA," she said. In total, agents seized 287 firearms, including 147 machine gun conversion devices that can turn semi-automatic weapons into fully automatic ones. According to Bennie Mims, special agent in charge of the ATF Dallas Field Division, one of the guns had been used in a shooting just three hours before it was recovered. Three other firearms were tied to homicides, and 22 had previously been reported stolen. In addition to the weapons, law enforcement recovered more than 22 kilograms of narcotics, including enough fentanyl for an estimated 240,000 potentially deadly doses. "With the amount of contraband seized here, it's very apparent that there are some neighborhoods where parents can freely let their kids maybe have an afternoon play day out in that front yard or in that apartment complex parking lot without fear that a drug transaction is transpiring just a few parking stalls away," said Eduardo Chavez, special agent in charge of the DEA Dallas Field Division. Tarrant County District Attorney Phil Sorrells said the arrests send a strong message. "If you choose to poison our streets, you will be met with the full force of the law," he said. "No exceptions, no excuses." Law enforcement officials say they conducted more than 200 operations throughout April and May, including undercover gun and drug purchases. They believe the crackdown will have a lasting impact. "And I can assure you, if you look at this table, you look at the criminal histories of these people, you look at the guns and drugs pretty clearly here on this table — there are people that will be alive in the future because all these people did their jobs today," said Keith Brown, executive director of the Texoma High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. The announcement comes just days after a violent weekend in Fort Worth, when five people were killed in four separate, unrelated shootings. Officials acknowledged Operation Showdown won't put an end to all violent crime but said it's a meaningful step in the right direction. "I can tell you that our communities are safer today than they were 60 days ago," said Interim Fort Worth Police Chief Robert Alldredge. "Yes, we did have a deadly weekend. It's very tragic. Many innocent people lost their lives. We have some great officers out in the field that are working tirelessly to make sure this doesn't happen. Granted, one loss of life is too many. But unfortunately, whenever those things happen, I can tell you the Fort Worth Police Department is dedicated to continue the work to prevent those from occurring in the future." The people arrested during Operation Showdown have all made their first appearances in court, according to Larson. Their trials will likely happen in late summer or early fall. Larson said the defendants who are in the country illegally will be turned over to ICE after they serve their sentences, if convicted. This operation was made possible through $300,000 in federal funds.
