| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 29, 2008 WWW.USDOJ.GOV/USAO/CAN |
SAN JOSE – United States Attorney Joseph P. Russoniello announced 12 defendants charged in “Operation Steal Curtain” late last summer have now pled guilty in federal court in San Jose. Steal Curtain was a 23-month undercover investigation conducted jointly between federal and local law enforcement agencies and targeting suspects trafficking in methamphetamine, illegal firearms and stolen vehicles in and around Hollister, California. Participating agencies included the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, San Benito County Sheriff’s Office, Hollister Police Department, California Highway Patrol, California Department of Justice, Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement, and the California Department of Insurance, Fraud Division.
Operation Steal Curtain culminated in August 2007, when more than 90 law enforcement agents executed 12 federal and 7 state arrest warrants.
Today, the final defendant in the case, Ricardo Saez, pled guilty to distribution of methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1), and 841(b)(1)(B)(viii). The plea was entered before United States District Judge James Ware. In addition to Mr. Saez, the following defendants have now entered guilty pleas as a result of this operation:
- DAVID RAY HERNANDEZ - conspiracy to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1), and 841(b)(1)(B)(viii)
- DANIEL ROBLEDO - conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1), and 841(b)(1)(B)(viii).
- ROLANDO BARRIENTOS - distribution of 5 grams or more of pure methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(B)(viii).
- SAUL MAXIAS NIETO - conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1), and 841(b)(1)(B)(viii).
- ROBERT VILLARREAL - possession of unregistered sawed-off shotgun in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 5861(d).
- STEVEN MORENO - distribution of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C.841(b)(1)(B)(viii).
- MICHAEL SAEZ - possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(b)(1)(A)(viii).
- STEVEN ANTHONY COTA - conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1), and 841(b)(1)(B)(viii).
- JORGE MARTINEZ- distribution of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §841(b)(1)(B)(viii).
- ROBERTO GARCIA MORALES - distribution of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C.841(b)(1)(B)(viii).
- CEFERINO ORTIZ - conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1), and 841(b)(1)(A)(viii).
The defendants’ respective sentences imposed thus far have been as follows:
- MICHAEL SAEZ - CR 07-00527 10 years imprisonment, 5 years supervised release
- SAUL MAXIAS NIETO - CR 07-00525 10 years imprisonment, 8 years supervised release
- STEVEN ANTHONY COTA - CR 07-00502 5 years imprisonment, 4 years supervised release
- JORGE MARTINEZ- CR 07-00522 5 years imprisonment, 4 years supervised release
- ROBERT VILLARREAL- CR 07-00506 37 months years imprisonment, 3 years supervised release
- STEVEN MORENO - CR 07-00507 36 months years imprisonment, 3 years supervised release
- ROBERTO GARCIA MORALES CR 07-00505 37 months years imprisonment, 3 years supervised release
- DANIEL ROBLEDO - CR 07-00523 36 months years imprisonment, 3 years supervised release
The following convicted defendants are scheduled to be sentenced as follows:
- RICARDO SAEZ, CR 07-00524 - July 7, 2008
- DAVID RAY HERNANDEZ CR 07-00506 - June 2, 2008
- ROLANDO BARRIENTOS CR 07-00504 - June 2, 2008
- CEFERINO ORTIZ CR 07-00524 - June 2, 2008
Saez, Hernandez, and Ortiz face mandatory minimum sentences of 10 years imprisonment; Barrientos faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years imprisonment, all to be followed by a period of supervised release. Parole has been abolished in the federal system.
The statutory penalties for a violation of 21 U.S.C. 841(b)(1)(B)(viii) are as follows: maximum prison sentence of 40 years (mandatory minimum 5 years); maximum fine of $2,000,000; maximum supervised release term of life (mandatory minimum: 4 years).
The statutory penalties for a violation of 21 U.S.C. 841(b)(1)(A)(viii) are as follows: maximum prison sentence of life (mandatory minimum 10 years); maximum fine of $4,000,000; maximum supervised release term of life (mandatory minimum: 5 years).
The referenced mandatory minimum sentences may be enhanced based upon a defendant’s prior felony drug conviction.
However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the Court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
United States Attorney Russoniello said:
“This successful prosecution epitomizes how federal, state and local law enforcement agencies can work together, pooling their limited resources, to dismantle criminal enterprises that terrorize law abiding citizens and wreak havoc in the community. It continues to be a priority of this office to support state and local law enforcement agencies in their continuing effort to diminish narcotics and firearms trafficking in this district. Whenever possible, if local law enforcement seeks federal assistance to address a particular serious crime problem in their communities, I want them to know that we are ready to help. Operation Steal Curtain shows that such collaborations are effective. I want to thank and commend each one of the agencies involved – the San Benito County Sheriff, Hollister Police Department, California Highway Patrol, California Department of Justice, Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement, and the California Department of Insurance – for their participation and support. I also want to recognize and thank the excellent work of the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for its outstanding work during this investigation.”
Thomas M. O’Connell is the Assistant U.S. Attorney who is prosecuting the case with the assistance of legal technician Tracey Anderson.
Further Information:
A copy of this press release may be found on the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s website at www.usdoj.gov/usao/can.
Electronic court filings and further procedural and docket information are available at https://ecf.cand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
Judges’ calendars with schedules for upcoming court hearings can be viewed on the court’s website at www.cand.uscourts.gov.
All press inquiries to the U.S. Attorney’s Office should be directed to Joshua Eaton at (415) 436-6958 or by email at Josh.Eaton@usdoj.gov.