Pubdate: Thu, 29 Jul 2004 Source: Dallas Morning News (TX) Copyright: 2004 The Dallas Morning News Contact: http://www.dallasnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/117 Author: Matt Stiles, The Dallas Morning News Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) 26 INDICTED ON DRUG, MONEY LAUNDERING CHARGES More Than Two Dozen Facing Drug, Other Charges In Dallas Area A federal grand jury in Dallas has indicted more than two dozen people on drug conspiracy and money-laundering charges, disrupting what authorities say was a major local narcotics ring with ties to a notorious Mexican cartel. An eight-count indictment unsealed Wednesday alleges that 26 people, many of them living in the Dallas area, conspired beginning in 1998 to distribute marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine. Authorities arrested 11 men late Tuesday and early Wednesday in Dallas, Grand Prairie, Arlington and elsewhere. Four men were already in custody on related charges. Federal authorities also have issued arrest warrants for 11 others. Their names were redacted from the indictment. The arrests cap a nearly three-year investigation by the North Texas High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, a federal, state and local task force financed by the White House. Dubbed Operation Lone Star, the case started in late 2001, when authorities began investigating Fabian Martinez, who is accused of being the ringleader of the conspiracy. Federal authorities said members of Mr. Martinez's organization imported and sold more than 50 kilograms of cocaine and several hundred pounds of marijuana a month. Investigators seized drugs, hundreds of thousands of dollars in currency, vehicles and guns. They also found links in the conspiracy to the Gulf Cartel, an organization suspected of smuggling thousands of kilograms of narcotics into the country through northeastern Mexico, authorities said. Dallas-based U.S. Attorney Richard Roper praised members of the task force in a news release, saying the arrests "demonstrate our commitment to tear down large-scale narcotics trafficking in our neighborhoods." In addition to Mr. Martinez, the indictment charges Abelardo Camero, Richard Chung, Marland Cooper, Gregory Franks, Raymond Garcia, Federico Guerrero, Adrian Martinez, Armando Medrano, Esequiel Medrano, Miguel Perez, Jose Rico, Rafael Rodriguez and Agustin Soto with conspiracy. Fabian Martinez, Esequiel Medrano, Mr. Perez, Mr. Rico, Mr. Rodriguez and Mr. Soto also were charged with conspiracy to launder money. Mr. Chung is accused of methamphetamine distribution and money laundering by making 115 deposits of alleged drug money to automated teller machines, according to the indictment. If convicted, the men face lengthy prison terms. Adrian Martinez, Fabian Martinez and Abelardo Camero also face forfeiture of some property. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D