FBI Media Release
Special Agent in Charge David Cuthbertson

660 Mesa Hills Drive El Paso, TX 79912

To: All print and broadcast media

January 31, 2008

More gang members arrested

The Federal Bureau of Investigation disclosed the identities of five more Barrio Azteca gang members who were included in a recent federal grand jury racketeering (RICO) indictment.

An 11-count indictment charging various subjects with extortion, money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to possess various controlled substances, as well as committing violent crimes in aid of racketeering, was handed down January 9, 2008.

Seven gang members have already been arrested. The following gang members, who are in prison for other crimes, have been recently served with arrest warrants as part of this investigation:

- Benjamin Alvarez, aka T-Top

- Carlos Perea, aka Shotgun

- Gustavo Gallardo, aka Tavo

- Adam Munoz, aka Serio

- Roberto Duran, aka Night Owl

The indictment alleges that the Barrio Azteca gang operated its criminal organization through its command structure, and the gang implemented and executed its criminal racketeering, drug trafficking, and money laundering activities in the El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juarez, area. They promoted and protected their power and their operations through threats of force, intimidation, assaults, and murder. The Barrio Azteca, through its command structure, has perpetuated this “scheme” since its inception in 1986.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the El Paso County District Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Marshals Service, El Paso Police Department and Texas Department of Public Safety. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until convicted through due process of law.