Mexican Mafia selling methamphetamine in Sandbridge?

Mexican Mafia selling methamphetamine in Sandbridge?A couple who moved here from Florida set up a meth operation at different condominiums and homes in the seaside neighborhood.A quick investigation with the help of an informant led to the arrests of the couple in late April after they received a 2-1/2-pound package of crystal meth in the mail.Jose Luis Gamez Jr., 29, and his girlfriend, Kristina Marie Crane, 19, each pleaded guilty this week in U.S. District Court to drug distribution charges. They remain in jail pending sentencing.The FBI is investigating reports from the informant that Gamez, who goes by George, "may be associated with the Mexican Mafia," according to an FBI affidavit filed in federal court.The Mexican Mafia is an extremely violent, largely prison-based gang located predominantly in California and Texas. Two years ago, Texas executed a Mexican Mafia "general" linked to 15 murders.The FBI describes the gang as a "militant revolutionary group" that has alliances with the Aryan Brotherhood, a white supremacy movement. In Los Angeles, the two groups have conspired over the past 20 years to kill rival black drug dealers.Gamez and Crane lived for a time in a rented house on Salmon Lane, a few blocks from the store.The couple also rented different condo units on Sandpiper Road from March 2 until their arrest.Chandler Dennis, a former civic league president just back from a Bermuda cruise, said the most serious crime she ever hears about in Sandbridge is someone rifling through cars. She thought that's what a reporter came to talk to her about Thursday.On the arrests of Gamez and Crane, she said she can breathe a sigh of relief after the fact.Gamez admitted to authorities that he is a longtime meth user and dealer and that he has been affiliated with gangs, according to the court records, which do not provide further detail of his gang activity. Meth, a highly addictive stimulant, produces an intense rush when smoked.Gamez told the agents he has been dealing meth in the area since November and has sent more than $200,000 in drug proceeds to people in Florida, California and Mexico at the direction of his supplier, identified in court papers only as "Vale."
After their arrest, Gamez and Crane agreed to cooperate with the FBI and the Virginia State Police.On April 24, state charges were dropped and they were released from jail.For the next week, the FBI had Gamez make several phone calls to Vale in Florida, setting up more drug transactions, many of which were recorded.Their cover was blown when Vale learned that agents showed up at his rental office, in Davenport, Fla., asking about Crane, the court records say.Vale told Gamez that he moved from that rented home to an undisclosed location.On May 12, Gamez and Crane were arrested on the federal charges.FBI spokesman Phil Mann declined to comment about the ongoing investigation, but sources involved said any possible gang connection would be in Florida, where Gamez is from, and not Sandbridge.Gamez has a string of drug arrests dating back more than 10 years.He has a meth distribution case pending in the Florida appeals court.Kelley Collier, his attorney in that case, said he has never heard of any gang connection with Gamez in that case or other criminal actions against Gamez that he has handled.

Alleged the defendants conspired together to further their criminal enterprise by committing 22 murders, 2 attempted murders, 1 solicitation to c

Jacinto Navajar, aka “Cache”, General.Ruben Garcia, aka “Chorre”, Sergeant.Ted Ansualda, aka “Porky”, Lieutenant.Trinidad Gomez, aka “Trini Boy”, soldier.Jesse Ramirez, aka “Chuy”, Captain
Billy Silva, aka “Wild Bill”, Asst. General.Leonard Tremillo, aka “Joker”, Lieutenant.Vidal Longoria, aka “Corky”, Lieutenant.Jose Martinez, aka “Bam Bam”, Lieutenant Joe Pena, aka “Pancho”, General.Hector Martinez, soldier.Jesse Ozuna, aka “Low”, Lieutenant.Mark Alvarado, aka “Kickback”, soldier.Trinidad Riojas, aka “Trini”, Lieutenant.Mike Garcia, Lieutenant.Carlos Ybarra, aka “Charlio”, Lieutenant.Jesse Rodriguez, aka “Chuy”, Sergeant .Authorities are actively searching for the five remaining defendants.
The one-count federal indictment, returned on January 29, 2008, and unsealed on February 1, alleges that the defendants conspired together to further their criminal enterprise by committing 22 murders, 2 attempted murders, 1 solicitation to commit capital murder, robbery and extortion plus distributing heroin and cocaine. Upon conviction, each defendant faces life in federal prison.

Racketeering Acts:
The indictment alleges a pattern of racketeering activity committed by the defendants including the:
• shooting death of Florencio “Lencho” Vasquez in September 2000; shooting death of Anthony “Tony” Blanco in November 2000; robbery and subsequent shooting death Michael Sanchez in March 2001;shooting death of Ruben Hernandez in January 2002; shooting death of Ernest Guzman in May 2002; shooting death of Jose “Arte” Moreno in June 2002; shooting death of Henry “Guero” Cantu in December 2002; shooting death of Agustin “Augie” Macias in July 2003; shooting death of Jose “Speedy” Lopez in July 2003; shooting death of Raymond “Mon” “Nochipa” Rodriguez in September 2003; shooting death of Jesse “Psych” Medina in February 2004;shooting death of Robert “Beto” Gleason in March 2004;shooting death of Robert “Robe” Murillo Fernandez in August 2004;shooting death of Jesse “Pelon” Guevara in August 2004; shooting death of Mercy Brooks in September 2004; shooting death of Tony Rodriguez in November 2004; shooting death of Juan “Green” Perez in December 2004;shooting death of Roy Vera in December 2004; shooting death of Joe Santos in November 2004;shooting death of Rudy “Scooby” Contreras in January 2005;
• shooting death of Hector Martinez in January 2005; shooting death of Robert Sanchez in April 2005; attempted murder of Ruben Rodriguez in January 2002; attempted murder of Ernesto “Neto” Rodriguez in June 2007; solicitation of the capital murder of Lydia Castro in January 2003;
obtain large amounts of heroin and cocaine for further distribution and sale;
control the distribution of heroin and cocaine by restricting drug trafficking among non-Texas Mexican Mafia members to those who paid extortion fees or a “tax;” protect “authorized” drug distributors from robbery, violence and competition; and, using violence in all forms and degrees to enforce the Texas Mexican Mafia drug distribution “tax.”
The Mexican Mafia was formed in the early 1980’s in the Texas prison system when predominantly Hispanic inmates banded together during a period of turmoil and violence within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Over the years, the gang has focused its efforts to promote widespread criminal activity including narcotics trafficking, extortion and murder. Also known as “Mexikanemi” or “La Eme,” the organization was the subject of a 1993 federal indictment in the Western District of Texas which resulted in the conviction of Heriberto “Herb” Huerta, the then President of the organization, and a number of his fellow gang members on drug charges.
In 1998, another federal indictment resulted in the conviction of Robert “Beaver” Perez, a Mexican Mafia General, and 15 other fellow gang members for their pattern of racketeering activity including six murders committed in 1994 and 1995 in the City of San Antonio and eight murders allegedly committed by gang members in 1997. The 1997 homicides included the shotgun killing of five people at a residence on West French Place on August 8, 1997.
In 2004, 25 members of the Mexican Mafia were indicted and convicted of federal drug, firearm and money laundering charges. During the time of the conspiracy, the organization was responsible for distributing over 150 kilograms of cocaine and over 30 kilograms of heroin. Authorities also seized approximately 80 firearms and approximately $50,000 in cash.