Drive-by shootings and other threats to the general public usually are frowned upon by the gang's leaders in prison for bringing more police scrutiny, so some of the recent violent acts have been attributed to factions of younger members, some investigators said. Michael Golson, Sr, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Dallas, said, This was a cooperative effort to combat armed narcotics traffickers and to make the streets of North Texas safer., The partnership between the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, local law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Attorneys Office has brought about these criminal charges. Today, the U.S. Attorney's office announced the indictment of 14 members of the notorious prison gang. Texas Legislature Online - Senate Members Yet another, nicknamed Third Eye for a scar on his forehead, was shot in Houston as he sat outside a strip joint in his black Ford Mustang. Back in February, Texas Syndicate member Ernesto Medrano and some 20 of his fellow gang members were in a Dallas federal courtroom receiving multi-year prison sentences for importing hundreds of kilos of cocaine into the U.S. -- using military transport flights from Columbia to Ft. Bliss, Texas. [2], Texas Syndicate members abide by a constitution requiring members to:[1], Additionally, gang leadership is determined by democratic elections, requiring a unanimous decision. Though TMM members continue to uphold. A separate investigation by other agencies in September went after Texas Syndicate operatives in Uvalde and Hondo and also netted then-Bandera County sheriff's Deputy Thomas Cuellar, who's charged with unlawful use of a government computer for allegedly giving criminal background information and other sensitive law enforcement intelligence to the gang. United States Attorney Richard B. Roper Daniel Arredondo, a.k.a. The FBI is committed to the disruption and dismantlement of these organized violent gangs through our continued multi-agency Task Force concept, said Robert E. Casey, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Dallas FBI. This case resulted from an investigation conducted by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, Austin Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety and the Gonzales Police Department. Davenport was found dead in the 600 block of Waverly Avenue in Martinez Creek, shot in the head multiple times, the San Antonio Express-News reported. Four Uvalde Texas Syndicate Members Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison Instead, this category is interpreted more narrowly to exclude child molesters and those who fail to follow the rules of the Texas Syndicate. The Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex was one of 10 target areas in the U.S. chosen to receive $2.5 million in grant funds for a comprehensive anti-gang initiative to devote extensive resources to defeating some of the most violent and pervasive gangs in the country. This investigation reflects DEAs commitment to make sure communities across Texas are safe and prevent gang members involved in drug distribution and other violent criminal activity from establishing a foothold in our neighborhoods. Get the latest updates in news, food, music and culture, and receive special offers direct to your inbox. The 2023 NFL Draft runs April 2729 live from Kansas City, Missouri. Although the rules of the Texas Syndicate exclude shady or devious characters, members who commit murders, aggravated assaults, robberies, or traffic in illegal drugs are not classified as being of bad character. In this photo, a corrections officer keeps watch outside the Huntsville Unit prison, Huntsville. DALLAS - A federal indictment was unsealed on Friday that charges 14 members of the Texas Syndicate prison gang with conspiring to participate in a violent enterprise responsible for murders, attempted murders, conspiracies to commit murder, robbery, drug trafficking, and other crimes in North Texas and other areas, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Among the alleged crimes were attempted hits on members of the rival Tango Orejn/Orejones gang, which has endured its own federal crackdown since mid-2010. Mendoza had been drinking, and the two had an argument that quickly escalated. Javier Soliz, a.k.a Payaso, 37 Beaver, age 37 Syndicate in prison, sentenced for drug possession in 2000. independent local journalism in Dallas. Convicted killer Mike Mendoza Jr. shows his only "free-world" tattoo - "TS" for Texas Syndicate - in an interview. Guillermo has also worked in Central America, Mexico, New Mexico, Arizona and California and his work has appeared in various publications, including the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, New York Post, Newsday, Denver Post and the Albuquerque Journal. Evidence presented during the trial revealed that Rodriquez, Cassiano and Velasquez, along with eleven other Texas Syndicate members and associates, conspired since 2002 to commit three murders, one attempted murder, extortion, plus distribution of controlled substances. Generator vs power station: Which one is right for you? The rules require that a member continue his . Sex Offender Faces up to 40 Years after Being Nabbed in Online Child Porn Sting. Piedra, 31 of Weslaco, TX, an alleged soldier of the Texas Syndicate, was arrested this morning, Tuesday, April 3, 2007, is also set for a detention . TEXAS SYNDICATE PRISON GANG. at Oakdale. The indictment alleges violations of the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. Below them in Tier 2 are the Aryan Brotherhood, Bloods, Crips and Surenos. He instead charged at the deputy while continuing to swing the weapon, a district attorneys office spokesman said. [2] As a street gang, heavy activity has been reported in Austin, Corpus Christi, the Rio Grande Valley and the Dallas Fort Worth area in Texas. president resides, and their numbers continue to reach into state Hec; a.k.a. All of the defendants remain in federal custody. It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. U.S. Attorney Roper praised the excellent investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the North Texas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Dallas Police Department. unit is controlled by a chairman, who oversees a vice chairman, Lorsque vous utilisez nos sites et applications, nous utilisons des, authentifier les utilisateurs, appliquer des mesures de scurit, empcher les spams et les abus; et. The indictment alleges that the defendants are responsible for distributing controlled substances from July 2020 to September 23, 2020. The Texas Syndicate or Syndicato Tejano was the first prison gang to heavily impact the prison system in Texas. 6 of 9 7 of 9 Jerry Donel (in black) is one of six alleged members of the Texas Syndicate that had a hearing at John Wood Federal Courthouse on charges of racketeering on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011. Isaac Rodriguez; a.k.a. This is a carousel. [3] Syndicate members have been known to carry out contract killings for Los Zetas, the paramilitary wing of the Gulf Cartel. ', Dallas Officer, K-9 Shot Overnight in Pleasant Grove, Suspect Reportedly Killed, Police, Fire Associations Split on Dallas City Council Endorsements, Forensic Hypnosis Could Soon Be Only a Memory in Texas Criminal Cases. A marginal amount of contraband and drug trafficking has also been registered. Texas Syndicate: Prison Gang Profile Texas Syndicate: Prison Gang Profile Reported US prison locations In 1978, in California, making the Texas Syndicate the oldest prison gang in Texas' history. Because four murders are included in the charges, the case could become a death-penalty prosecution if Attorney General Eric Holder signs off on it a first for the DEA in San Antonio, Fernandez told reporters. [1] The Texas Syndicate has approximately 1,300 members, the majority of whom are Mexican American males aged between 20 and 40. Get a 42-inch oscillating fan for 15% off with this deal. Several of the above-listed defendants were convicted in the Northern District of Texas in a large-scale drug distribution conspiracy case, U.S. v. Roy Arredondo, et al., 3:05CR075, and are presently serving federal prison sentences ranging from 15 years to life in prison. "Even though they are considered criminals and that kind of stuff, the ones I grew up with, it was all about respect.". Of the handful of prison gangs in Texas, the TS had operated mainly in the other big cities in the state -- Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth and Austin. The most significant gangs, listed as Tier 1 or those posing the greatest gang threat all have a presence in Travis County. The mafia got weakened so much and lost its street cred, said one source familiar with the latest investigation. Throughout that specific decade, the state of California saw the birth of several criminal organizations. USAO - 110830 - Salas et al - United States Department of Justice in the 80s for a prison-murder. Hits are sanctioned against fellow gangsters by a majority vote of other members in a prison unit or city. The gang built an alliance with . Although the rules of the Texas Syndicate exclude shady or devious characters, members who commit murders, aggravated assaults, robberies, or traffic in illegal drugs are not classified as being of bad character. Our nation-wide commitment to reducing gun crime in America, Report Waste, Fraud, Abuse or Misconduct to the Inspector General, Find Help and Information for Crime Victims, Register, Apply for Permits, or Request Records, Monitor Selection for Corporate Criminal Enforcement. In 2000, reports indicated the existence of roughly 20000 members. The Texas Syndicate emerged in 1958 at Deuel Vocational Institute in California. The Texas Syndicate, a prison gang that operates in and outside of penitentiaries, is considered by state law-enforcement officials to be among the most dangerous criminal organizations in. "There is no one in the Texas prison system who does any time who doesn't know you better show some respect to them," Darby said during an interview at another state prison near Huntsville. of cocaine, and distributing more than 80 pounds per week. The Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex was one of 10 target areas in the U.S. chosen to receive $2.5 million in grant funds for a comprehensive anti-gang initiative to devote extensive resources to defeating some of the most violent and pervasive gangs in the country. Fourteen Members or Associates of Texas Syndicate Prison Gang Charged At the heart of that case: A Syndicate gangster turned federal informant was taken to Hooters by his buddies. Texas Syndicate and help keep the future of the Observer, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our, Dallas Observer's The Morning After Brunch. toward the gang in prison. Allies: Texas Mafia, Los Zetas; against the historical "building tenders" in prison. When violent criminals band together to run their criminal organization like a business, this office will use every statute at its disposal to defeat the objective of the criminal enterprise. Members and associates of the Texas Syndicate committed crimes to achieve the enterprises economic goal of making money as well as to enforce the rules of the organization. The six arrested Thursday are: Identified as shooters are Francisco Pancho Arroyo, 32; Ramiro Ram De La Rosa, 25; Mark Anthony Kilo Jimenez, 25; Mancha and Chavez. Homicide, age 34, Arnulfo Rodriguez, a.k.a. They're dangerous.. Join the Observer community and help support Victims of the violent crimes were often those who transgressed Texas Syndicate rules regardless of whether it was done knowingly or unknowingly. A Texas Syndicate gang member has been charged with aggravated assault of a public servant after he was accused of swinging a knife at a sheriffs deputy. members in prison are automatically demoted to the level of soldier Hunstville, Texas. The indictment alleges that the conspiracy began in the mid-1990's and continued up to the date of this indictment. and receiving a unanimous vote. Tri-City Bombers The street gangs caught up with me," said Mendoza, who while in prison used ash, shampoo and a needle to ink his first Syndicate tattoo. [1], Development of the Texas Syndicate was initially motivated by self-protection against the historical "building tenders" in prison. He said that while old-school gangsters were known for keeping a low profile, a new breed is more brash and willingly draws the attention of law enforcement.