PISTOLERO GANG LEADER CONVICTED

  

LAREDO, TX – Hermandad de Pistoleros Latinos gang leader Alberto Rodriguez, a/k/a “Copi,” was convicted by a federal jury of drug trafficking and federal firearms charges, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today.

Following a short deliberation period of one and a half hour, the jury returned a unanimous verdict against Rodriguez late Thursday, September 28, 2006, after a four-day trial. The jury’s verdict convicted Rodriguez of all counts alleged against him -- conspiracy to and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Rodriguez, who faces an enhanced sentence due to a prior felony federal conviction for possession with intent to distribute marihuana, faces no less than 20 years up to life imprisonment and an $8 million fine for each of the two drug offense convictions. Each felon in possession of a firearm conviction carries a maximum punishment of up to ten 10 years Imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

Rodriguez, of the 400 block of Baffin Bay in Laredo, Texas, was the last of twelve defendants charged in a seventeen count indictment that was returned by a federal grand jury on January 10, 2006, for their involvement in the drug trafficking activities of the Hermandad de Pistolero Latinos gang. All other defendants have pleaded guilty to one or more counts in which they were charged by indictment and are awaiting sentencing.

During the course of a four day trial before United States District Judge Micaela Alvarez, the United States presented testimony from a myriad of law enforcement agencies including federal agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; state and local officers from the Laredo Police Department and the Webb County Sheriff officers and task force officers of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.

Through their testimony and other evidence, the jury learned that Alberto Rodriguez, a/k/a “Copi,” was one of the leaders of the prison gang Hermandad de Pistoleros Latinos (Brotherhood of the Latin Gunmen), also known as the “HPL” or “Pistoleros,” who previously served time in prison for felony offenses that included injury to an elderly person, felony theft, possession of marihuana with intent to distribute, and failure to appear. The “HPL” gang or Pistoleros, which was formed in the Texas Prison systems, has a rank structure system within the gang and operates under its own set of written rules and constitution, and is designed to engage in drug trafficking, gun trafficking and other unlawful activities within and outside of the prison walls. Outside of the prison system, the “HPL” operates in various cities including, but not limited to, San Antonio, Houston, and Laredo, Texas. Laredo is one of the “HPL’s” main base of operation outside the prison system.

As a leader of the Laredo based “HPL,” Alberto Rodriguez relied on other Laredo based “HPL” members, prospect members and associates to participate in activities intended to promote and further the gang’s efforts to acquire and distribute cocaine in and outside of the Laredo, Texas area. Evidence proved that Rodriguez and other members, prospective members and associates of the Pistolero gang possessed and distribute multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine through the aid and assistance of other members, prospective members or associates of the gang. The cocaine was routinely stashed in local homes or businesses affiliated with the gang and then transported to either the Dallas or Houston area or distributed in street level quantities within the Laredo, Texas area.

Other defendants charged with Rodriguez, who now stand convicted through guilty pleas and awaiting sentencing are, Rogelio Mendoza, a/k/a “Roy” of the 500 block of E. Frost, Rogelio Ramon Polenida, a/k/a “La Palma” of the 3800 block of Banderas, Roel Vasquez of the 3800 block of Davis, Veronica Adriana Talamantes, a/k/a “Vero”of 2800 block of San Eduardo, Chuck Gutierrez of the 2800 block of South Martin, Fernando Valdez, a/k/a “Spook” of the 1700 block of Burnside, Reynaldo Palos, Jr., a/k/a “Pache” of the 200 block of Esperanza, and Jaime Castro, a/k/a “Chiquillo” of Laredo, as well as Sandra Trevino Anzaldua and Ismael Anzaldua, Jr. of the 19200 block of Amy Lane, in Porter, TX, and Luis Antonio Montes, a/k/a “Chon” of the Houston, Texas area. All of the convicted co-conspirators were either members, prospect members or associates of the Pistoleros prison gang.

Rodriguez and all the other defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on January 9, 2007. The indictment was a result of an Organized Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation dubbed “Operation Pistol Whipped” which was spearheaded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), High Intensity Drug Trafficking Drug Task Force, and the ATF since May 2003. The HIDTA task force includes select officers and deputies of the Laredo Police Department and the Webb County Sheriffs Office. Other law enforcement agencies who assisted in the investigation included the U.S. Marshal Texas Department of Public Safety. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mary Lou Castiilo.