News Release [print friendly page]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 30, 2002

Contact: Osvaldo Amaro, Public Information Officer
Phone: 915-832-6130 (office) 915-204-2291 (cellular)

CANUTILLO COCAINE FAMILY BEHIND BARS

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Sandalio Gonzalez is pleased to announce the arrest of the four principal members of a cocaine and marijuana trafficking organization based in Canutillo, Texas. This trafficking organization was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Investigation (OCDETF) entitled Operation Power Play. These traffickers distributed over 35 kilograms of cocaine from Canutillo and El Paso, Texas to other U.S. cities.

On August 28, 2002, the following individuals and others were indicted in the Western District of Texas on federal charges of Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, and the Use of a Telephone in Furtherance of a Criminal Act:

On August 29, 2002, these four individuals were arrested in a joint operation by the DEA, the FBI, the US Marshal's Service, the El Paso Sheriff's Office and the El Paso Police Department. A federal search warrant was executed at the residence of Chester and Sheila ENNIS located at 7050 Gato Road, Canutillo, Texas, where agents seized approximately 500 pounds of marijuana and $16,000 in U.S. currency. Other search warrants were executed at the residence and business of Alberto SEGURA located at 105 South Highway 28, Anthony, New Mexico, and 1975 McNutt, Sunland Park, NM.

"These arrests are significant because Chester ENNIS is a twice convicted drug trafficker who has been dealing drugs in the West Texas area for many years. This case clearly showed that he and Alberto SEGURA were well-established local traffickers with the ability to distribute cocaine and marijuana on a national level. I am very pleased with this case and I sincerely thank our local partners in the Sheriff's Office and the Police Department, and our federal colleagues in the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service for their invaluable assistance" said Gonzalez.

An indictment is an accusation by a federal grand jury and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. If convicted on all charges, these defendants will face long federal prison terms.

Please direct further inquiries to Supervisory Special Agent Osvaldo Amaro, DEA Public Information Officer, at 915-832-6130, or to El Paso Assistant Special Agent in Charge Larry Holifield at 915-832-6102.

Also, for more detailed information, please visit our website at www.dea.gov.