Daniel Borunda, El Paso Times
A small army of 200 law enforcement officers — including visiting FBI SWAT teams from Albuquerque, Phoenix, San Diego and Las Vegas — took part in raids across El Paso targeting a growing prison-born gang known as Chuco Tango.
The raids at dawn on Thursday, Aug. 29, were part of Operation Rock Water, a long-term federal organized crime investigation lead by the FBI and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration targeting the El Paso gang.
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The "takedown" resulted in 22 arrests on Thursday of accused Chuco Tango gang members, associates and drug dealers accused of selling fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and illegal firearms on the streets of El Paso, federal law enforcement officials said.
The arrests took place in El Paso, Horizon City, Socorro, and Las Cruces and Anthony, New Mexico with prisoners taken to be processed inside the El Paso County Coliseum due to large number of arrests, FBI officials said.
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The arrestees face various federal and state charges including drug conspiracy, possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
The operation included the Texas Department of Public Safety along with area police departments and other federal agencies.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas, who was formerly El Paso's district attorney, said he was "extremely proud” of the federal, state and El Paso-area law enforcement officers who took part in a large and complex investigation.
"All of them are working constantly to make sure this community is safe. This was a long-term operation, not a one and done," Esparza said at a news conference in the Richard C. White Federal Building in Downtown El Paso.
"I’ve lived in this community a very long time. I’m proud of the fact that we are safe community ... The Chuco Tango gang is one of many problems we have but we are slowly chipping away," said Esparza, whose office is based in San Antonio.
If convicted, some defendants could face federal punishments ranging from five years up to life in prison, said Esparza, adding that the sale of fentanyl is a foremost concern.
"Fentanyl in this community is a real problem, just like it is across the state and the country," Esparza said. "Protecting our communities and our loved ones from this dangerous drug and poison that is fentanyl is a priority for the Justice Department."
Operation Rock Water, the federal organized crime investigation into Chuco Tango, originated four years ago. The latest arrests are part of a case that began in October-November 2023 with federal indictments handed up earlier this month, officials said. Some defendants were already in jail on other charges.
The U.S. Department of Justice, FBI and DEA officials identified those arrested as:
Clarissa Inez Santana
Daniel Baeza aka "Racoon"
Hector Chamorro
Angel Renee Corral aka "Happy"
Antonio "Omar" Gamboa
Robert Gurrola aka "Bobby Barker" aka "Bobby Baker"
Ricardo Moreno
Andrew Solorio aka "Tokes"
Adam Vazquez
Brandon Garcia
Jacqueline Perez
Aileen Gonzalez
Byanka Sambrano
Thomas Payan
Steven Kuehn
Cassandra Page Silva
Tanya Campechano
Alejandro Morrill
Zoilo Romero
Alexander Rangel
Zulema Marin
Jessica Rodarte
During the afternoon news conference, federal agents said there were four fugitives still sought —Jonathan Blanco, Carlos Flores, Adriel Belmont and Jessica Rodarte. By Thursday evening, Rodarte was in custody, a DEA spokesman said. Specific charges for each suspect were not disclosed.
Tips on the location of the fugitives can be made to the DEA by calling 915-832-6000 or visiting the website https://www.dea.gov/submit-tip or the FBI at 915-832-5000.
The FBI and DEA are searching for three men and a woman wanted for alleged links to the Chuco Tango gang following raids across El Paso, Texas, on Thursday afternoon. They are Jonathan Blanco (from left), Jessica Rodarte, Carlos Flores and Adriel Belmont. Rodarte was later arrested.
"We will continue to pursue them until they are arrested," DEA El Paso Division Special Agent in Charge Towanda Thorne-James said at the news conference.
Since Operation Rock Water began four years ago, there have been 44 arrests, 65 drug seizures, 25 firearms seized and even the seizure of military-grade explosives, FBI El Paso Acting Special Agent in Charge Britton Boyd said.