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http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txs/releases/December%202007/071206HPL.htm

Dec. 6 , 2007

HPL GANG LEADER AND OTHERS FOUND GUILTY

(MCALLEN, Texas) – Jesus Espinoza, 29, leader of the Hermanos Pistoleros Latinos (HPL) gang, was found guilty along with several others in association with home invasion, carjacking and other drug-related crimes, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today. A federal Jury returned its verdict at the conclusion of the seven-day trial, Dec. 4, 2007.

The investigation began after McAllen police received a tip claiming a group of men were planning to commit a home invasion. On July 17, 2006, McAllen police went to the house located at the corner of 2nd Street and Gardenia where an officer witnessed a black Lincoln Navigator park across the street from the house. He then saw several vehicles arrive, with men entering and exiting the house with packages and putting them into the vehicles. A McAllen officer made a traffic stop on the black Lincoln Navigator and identified the driver, Daniel Sustaita, 27, and passenger, Abel Marquez, 26. Other officers attempted to make a traffic stop on a red mini-van which fled. A high speed chase ensued until the mini-van crashed in Pharr, Texas, where officers found several handguns, bullet-proof vests, masks and 15 kilograms of cocaine. Officers then arrested Jose Antonio Gomez, 37, David Flores Jr., 26, and Juan Vallejo Jr., 27.

The investigation later revealed the individuals involved in this home invasion belonged to two separate groups, each headed by Espinoza and Jose Isidro Jimenez, 27, respectively. The evidence presented during the trial showed Sustaita and Marquez were the individuals who told Jimenez that a large amount of cocaine was being stored at the house in McAllen. Jimenez had numerous contacts with individuals who either knew where drugs were being stored or when drugs were being transported by vehicles. These two groups would collaborate because Espinoza and his gang members were always ready and able to break down doors at gunpoint to steal drugs. Further, Espinoza had numerous contacts with individuals who bought drugs; therefore, was able to quickly sell the stolen drugs. The evidence presented during this trial showed Espinoza is the head of the HPL gang in the Rio Grande Valley and that before any of his gang members would commit these types of crimes, they must get permission and authorization from him. Furthermore, the evidence showed Espinoza also sold the stolen drugs.

During the investigation, agents learned these groups had committed several other home invasions and carjackings. On June 5, 2006, several men broke into an apartment complex in Mission, Texas, at gunpoint and demanded cocaine from the husband and wife occupying the apartment. These men pistol-whipped the husband and put a gun to the wife’s head. When they were unable to find any drugs, they took several items including the man’s pick-up truck. The investigation revealed Jimenez received a tip that several kilograms of cocaine were being stored at that apartment. On June 23, 2006, several men, at gunpoint, took two occupants out of a pick-up truck, reportedly because Jimenez received a tip that it was carrying cocaine. When officers found the truck abandoned nearby, they found a package containing approximately seven kilograms of cocaine. Cruz Villegas, 23, was the driver of the Jeep Cherokee that followed the pick-up truck to McAllen, stopped it behind the truck and allowed his passengers to get out and take the pick-up truck at gunpoint.

During the prosecution of this case 16 individuals were indicted. Espinoza, Sustaita, Marquez and Villegas proceeded to trial and were found guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and to knowingly using and carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Furthermore, Espinoza, Sustaita and Marquez were found guilty of possession with intent to distribute cocaine in relation to the McAllen home invasion, while Espinoza and Villegas were found guilty of possession with intent to distribute cocaine in relation to the McAllen carjacking. Espinoza was also found guilty of attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine in relation to the Mission home invasion. Gomez, Flores, Vallejo, Jimenez, along with Jaime Alberto Saavedra, 28, Robert Ortega Martinez, 27, Rolando Garcia, 30, have pleaded guilty to the charges related to the McAllen home invasion. Edurando Ontiveros Trevino, 37, and Gerardo Gomez-Garcia, 30, pleaded guilty to the Mission home invasion; while Victor Marquez-Reyes, 28, an illegal alien, pleaded guilty to the McAllen carjacking. These 14 defendants are in federal custody.

Ricardo Villegas and Baudel Armando Balderas, both United States citizens from Mission, Texas, were also indicted and are fugitives reportedly involved in all three crimes in addition to another home invasion Oct. 2, 2006, in Mission where they allegedly stole 160 kilograms of marijuana at gunpoint. Warrants remain pending for their arrest. The public is reminded that an indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence, and these two defendants are presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law. If anyone has information as to the whereabouts of these two individuals, please contact the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in McAllen at 956-992-8400.

Espinoza, Sustaita, Abel, Marquez, and Villegas are facing a term of a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, a $250,000 fine and a five-year term of supervised release. Gomez, Flores and Vallejo are scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 26, 2008, while Saavedra Martinez, Garcia, Trevino, Gomez-Garcia and Marquez-Reyes are scheduled for Feb.12, 2008, and Jimenez will be sentenced Jan.17, 2008. The remaining four defendants are expected to be sentenced in February 2008.

The investigation was conducted by the DEA and Texas Department of Public Safety and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anibal J. Alaniz.

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