Riverside, Calif. – Today the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Los Angeles Division announced the arrest of four
members of the Eastside Riverside gang, including its leader, Ernie “Gordo”
Hernandez, 55. Ernie Hernandez and his three associates were charged earlier
this week in federal court with distribution of methamphetamine.
The other defendants arrested this morning – Angel “Bundy”
Hernandez, 34, who is the son of Ernie Hernandez; Gilberto Diaz, 30; and Bryan
Deniz, 25 – are also named in a criminal complaint that alleges they
distributed methamphetamine from July 20 through August 9. Several of the drug
transactions discussed in the complaint affidative occurred at Primestone Tires
Auto Repair on 14th Street in Riverside.
“Criminal street gangs that claim its territory and attempt
to traffic drugs and use firearms to bring violence into our communities for
their profit will not be tolerated,” said ATF Los Angeles Special Agent in
Charge Eric Harden. “ATF has zero tolerance for this criminal activity and will
continue to eradicate it from our communities.”
The arrests stem from an ATF-led investigation targeting
violent activity in and around the Riverside area. Eastside Riverside gang
operates between the 91 Freeway and Chicago Avenue, Iris Street to Third
Street. The gang can be identified in its writings by using the symbol
"ESR."
The criminal complaint filed by the United States Attorney’s
Office on Wednesday alleges that the defendants engaged in two transactions
each involving approximately one pound of methamphetamine and another
transaction involving about one-half pound of the drug.
As charged in the complaint – if convicted Ernie Hernandez,
Bryan Deniz, and Gilberto Diaz all face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10
years and a sentence of up to life. Angel Hernanez faces a mandatory minimum
sentence of five years and a sentence of up to 40 years. The four defendants
arrested this morning made their initial court appearances this afternoon in
federal court in Riverside.
The Riverside Police Department and Los Angeles Police
Department were both instrumental in the Eastside Riverside investigation.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment