Contra Costa Herald

News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California

Alleged Mexico-based meth trafficker from Bay Point transported back to U.S. to face federal charges

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Faces lifetime of imprisonment, $10,000,000 fine

Multi-agency effort by DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Marshals, Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, Secretaría de Seguridad Pública Jalisco and the Instituto Nacional de Migración

Part of Homeland Security Task Force’s “Protecting the American People Against Invasion” initiative

By U.S. Attorney Northern District of California

OAKLAND – The government of Mexico recently deported Julio Cesar Palafox, a United States citizen, to the United States where he was arrested by the United States Marshals on a warrant to appear on charges stemming from his alleged involvement in the distribution of methamphetamine in the Bay Area.  U.S. Marshals Foreign Field Office (FFO) – Guadalajara coordinated the arrest with the Secretaría de Seguridad Pública (SSP) Jalisco and the Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM).  Palafox appeared in court today in Oakland before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ajay S. Krishnan.

On July 11, 2024, a federal grand jury indicted Palafox, 34 (bon 9/27/1991), of Bay Point, CA, in connection with a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy.  The indictment charges Palafox with multiple counts of distribution of 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A)(viii).  According to court documents, Palafox is a Mexico-based methamphetamine trafficker that during the period of the conspiracy was responsible for hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine entering the Northern District of California.

Palafox has been living in the town of Yahualica in the state of Jalisco, Mexico.  Palafox was transported back to the United States on July 24, 2026.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Anna Y. Park on July 28, 2026, in the Central District of California for an initial appearance and arraignment on the indictment and was ordered detained pending trial.  Palafox appeared today before Judge Krishnan for further proceedings in this district and will next appear before the Honorable Araceli Martinez-Olguin on August 17, 2026.

“Julio Palafox’s return to the United States from Mexico sends a clear message to drug traffickers everywhere that they can run, but they cannot hide. This was a complex operation, and we are grateful to the agencies whose hard work led to his capture. We remain firmly committed to protecting our communities from the scourge of illegal drugs and will pursue drug traffickers wherever they may be found,” said U.S. Attorney Craig Missakian.

“The trafficking of methamphetamine in the United States is an ever-present threat to public safety,” said HSI San Francisco Special Agent in Charge Jeff Brannigan. “Homeland Security Investigations, as part of the Homeland Security Task Force, will pursue smugglers and traffickers worldwide to protect our communities in the Bay Area and across the country.”

“This investigation is a testament to great teamwork. This coordinated action was a combination of increased focus on enforcement, intelligence, and domestic and international collaboration,” said Bob P. Beris, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA San Francisco Field Division.  “DEA is relentless in dismantling criminal operations responsible for trafficking poison in our communities with deadly synthetic drugs like methamphetamine. This is another example of a successful operation resulting in arrests and removal of significant amounts of meth. Every arrest we make represents lives saved and communities defended.”

An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.  If convicted, Defendant faces a maximum sentence of a lifetime of imprisonment, a fine of $10,000,000, a lifetime of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  However, any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by a court only after considerations of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF San Francisco comprises agents and officers from DEA and HSI, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maya Karwande and Kevin Yeh are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Sara Slattery and Andy Ding.  The prosecution is the result of an investigation by DEA and HSI, with assistance from the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office and the Salinas Police Department.

According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, five-inch tall, 160-pound Palafox is Hispanic and is being held in the West County Detention Facility on no bail.

According to localcrimenews.com, he was previously arrested in 2016 by the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Substation Deputies in Los Angeles County for transporting a controlled substance.

Further Information:

Case No. 24-CR-00394-AMO

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.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Hayward man convicted of attempted murder in Oakley shooting, faces extradition for 2024 New Zealand murder

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Fourth arrest since 2018; also arrested by U.S. Marshalls, alleged to be hit man for organized crime 

By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office

Martinez, California – On May 18, 2026, a Contra Costa County jury convicted a Hayward man of attempted murder with premeditation, shooting at an occupied vehicle, reckless evasion, and being a felon in possession of a firearm — along with firearm enhancements for personally using a firearm.

The convicted man, 26-year-old Tanginoa Pahulu Tangi, (born 12/31/1999) attacked a victim in Oakley on August 27, 2025. Evidence at trial showed that Tangi drove from Alameda County to Oakley and waited approximately three hours outside the victim’s home. When the victim arrived, Tangi approached the vehicle and fired 17 shots at close range. The victim survived. Tangi then fled the scene and disposed of the firearm. Minutes later, a Contra Costa County Sheriff’s deputy attempted to pull Tangi over, but Tangi refused to yield, leading officers on an 11-mile high-speed chase before law enforcement apprehended him.

According to Oakley Police, after Tangi’s arrest, Oakley Detectives Dombrouski, Gill and Pistello worked tirelessly to determine the motive and the actions of Tangi leading up to the shooting. Through collaborative investigative efforts with other law enforcement agencies, Oakley detectives were able to backtrack Tangi’s movements from Oakley to Alameda County. Detectives also determined Tangi waited for the victim to show up at his girlfriend’s house on Trenton Street for more than three hours before the shooting occurred.

The Antioch Police Department assisted by setting up spike strips on Deer Valley near Prewett Ranch Drive. The suspect vehicle became disabled by the spikes and the driver was taken into custody. (See original Oakley PD press release)

The District Attorney’s Community Violence Reduction Unit prosecuted the case. District Attorney Diana Becton said, “This conviction reflects the outstanding work of our entire team, and we are grateful to everyone who helped bring justice for the victim in this case.”

Oakley Police Chief Paul Beard said “This was a very violent act that represented a significant threat to not only the victim, but also to all of the nearby neighbors on Trenton Street on that very early morning. Throughout this case, our Detectives and Special Service Team Officers worked very hard and we received assistance from the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, Antioch Police Department, and the California Highway Patrol. It is very clear to me that Mr. Tangi is a dangerous person and I am grateful the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office tried the case in the way they did. This case is indicative that you never know who is coming into your neighborhood at night, so families should take precautions for themselves and their personal security. This event is also evidence that the presence of strong police forces that work together cohesively can make all the difference; I am proud to be part of the cohesive nature of the law enforcement agencies in East Contra Costa County. I hope the victim in this case continues to heal from his injuries.”

Tangi’s violent conduct extends beyond the United States. Authorities in New Zealand currently want him for the murder of a courier in Auckland.

His sentencing hearing for the Contra Costa County offenses is scheduled for June 29, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. in Department 4 of the Richard E. Arnason Justice Center in Pittsburg.

Case No. 04-25-01632 | The People of the State of California v. Tanginoa Pahulu Tangi

According to localcrimenews.com, Tangi is Asian Pacific Islander and has been previously arrested three other times in 2018 and 2020 for burglary, robbery and use of a deadly and/or dangerous weapon.

Arrested by U.S. Marshalls for New Zealand Murder as Hit Man

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, he is six-foot, one-inches tall, 225 pounds, and is being held in the Martinez Detention Facility. Tangi was also arrested on Sept. 5, 2025, by U.S. Marshalls for the New Zealand case.

According to the Kaniva Tonga news source in New Zealand, Tonga Independent and Helm.news, Tangi is accused of being sent from California to New Zealand in 2024 to commit murder, leading to the death of an Auckland courier and he now, faces extradition. “Police say a United States national (Tangi) alleged to have acted as a contracted ‘hitman’ in the killing of Auckland courier driver Tuipulotu Kokohu Vi.”

“New Zealand Police alleged the 26‑year‑old flew into the country in August 2024, carried out the fatal shooting, and then fled back to the US before investigators were able to identify him. New Zealand police say he is also the subject of an extradition request relating to the Auckland killing.”

Tangi “is accused of traveling from California to New Zealand in 2024 at the direction of a U.S.-based organized crime group to carry out a murder. He is charged in New Zealand with the fatal shooting of 59-year-old Auckland courier Tuipulotu Vi, who was found dead in his van; police believe Vi was not the intended target. After the incident, Tangi returned to the U.S., where he was arrested in August 2025 following a separate shooting attempt. Extradition to New Zealand is pending, with three others now charged in connection with the case. The investigation remains active, and suppression orders have been lifted, allowing further details to be reported.”

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Domestic disturbance in Concord leads to arrest for illegal gun of man who fled scene

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Photos source: Concord PD

With assistance by U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force

By Concord Police Department

On December 9, 2024, Concord Police responded to a domestic disturbance where a domestic violence incident was confirmed. During a protective sweep of the residence, officers discovered a loaded, illegally modified short-barrel rifle with a high-capacity magazine.

The suspect, who had prior felony convictions, fled the scene. Detectives secured a warrant and worked with federal agencies to track him down. With help from the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, the suspect was located in another city and taken into custody without incident.

Concord Police remain dedicated to ensuring community safety and working with the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office and partner agencies to seek justice for victims.

Fugitive task force arrests Antioch man for violating federal supervised release, failure to appear on gun, drug charges

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U.S. Marshals and Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Deputies on the scene of the arrest on Almondwood Drive in Antioch on Wed., March 27, 2024. Photo by Allen D. Payton

Wanted by Pittsburg Police, has history of arrests

By Allen D. Payton

On Wednesday morning, March 27, 2024, the U.S. Marshals Service with the help of Contra Costa Sheriff’s Deputies arrested a wanted fugitive, Timothy Demetrius Jeffrey of Antioch, on Almondwood Drive in Antioch for escaping federal custody. According to a resident who lives in the neighborhood officers could be heard yelling through a loudspeaker, “You are surrounded. Come out with your hands up.”

According to Abigail Meyer of the United States Marshals Service Office of Public Affairs, “The Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force (PSWRFTF) arrested Timothy Jeffrey, 43, on both his federal Supervised Release Violation warrant and Pittsburg PD Failure to Appear (FTA) warrant, the original charges for both were distribution of dangerous drugs. In addition, his FTA included charges for felon in possession of a firearm, possession of large capacity magazine, and resisting arrest.

The PSWRFTF requested assistance from local law enforcement and a Contra Costa Sheriff’s K9 officer assisted with the rear perimeter.”

According to localcrimenews.com, Jeffrey was arrested by Pittsburg Police on April 25, 2023 for the aforementioned charges. He had previously been arrested on Feb. 29, 2016, by the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department for federal (21 U.S. Code Section 846) attempt  and conspiracy charges. Jeffrey was also arrested in Jan. 2010 by the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department for vehicle theft.

According to the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, 11-inch, 200-pound suspect who is Black, (born 4/24/80) is being held in Santa Rita County Jail in Dublin on no bail.