Complaint describes drug dealers with ties to Mexico and Honduras who transported drugs from Los Angeles to the Bay Area and Seattle

SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged nine defendants, many members of the same family, with engaging in a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Chris Nielsen.  The charges were made in a complaint filed July 26, 2019 and unsealed Wednesday following the arrest of eight defendants.

The complaint, described by U.S. Attorney Anderson in a press conference today, is one of the first steps in the Federal Initiative for the Tenderloin (FIT).  The initiative seeks to reduce crime in the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco and is described here.

The complaint describes a conspiracy involving a large-scale drug trafficking organization, a network extending across the Bay Area.  According to the complaint, between March 4, 2019, and July 26, 2019, Eduardo Alfonso Viera-Chirinos, a/k/a “Rojo”, worked with his family members Victor Viera-Chirinos, a/k/a “Mojarra”; Jorge Alberto Viera-Chirinos; Jorge Enrique Torres-Viera, a/k/a “Enrique”; and Karen Castro-Torres, a/k/a “Delany Ellieth Cardona Velasquez”, a/k/a “Belanie Elyzabeth Artiaga”, to obtain drugs.  The defendants brought the drugs from Mexico through Los Angeles to the Bay Area.  The defendants then repackaged the drugs for redistribution both in the Bay Area and in Seattle.  The complaint also describes the execution of search warrants in June 2018 by the Richmond and San Francisco Police Departments and how Jorge Alberto Viera-Chirinos thereafter remained in the Bay Area to run the family drug-trafficking business while Eduardo Alfonso Viera-Chirinos and his partner, Karen Castro-Torres, moved to Seattle.

Also described in the complaint is how Karen Castro-Torres, Cilder Velasquez, and Jorge Enrique Torres-Viera coordinated housing for individuals who redistributed drugs for the drug-trafficking organization.  Drug redistributors, including Gustavo Adolfo Gamez-Velasquez and Luis Almicar Erazo-Centeno, allegedly placed orders for drugs on a regular basis from Cilder Velasquez and Jorge Enrique Torres-Viera.  The complaint includes excerpts from calls and text messages intercepted over federally authorized wiretaps.  According to the complaint, the Viera family obtained drugs in Los Angeles, packaged them for local redistribution in Livermore, Calif., and then shipped the drugs to the Seattle area.  Eduardo Alfonso Viera-Chirinos, speaking with an individual using a Honduras-based area code, also allegedly plotted to murder an individual in Honduras.  The complaint also describes a traffic stop in Washington State during which Alexander Gonzalez-Vasquez and Eduardo Alfonso Viera-Chirinos allegedly concealed cocaine and heroin in a hidden compartment inside Gonzalez’s truck.

DEA Special Agent in Charge Chris Nielsen stated, “Street-level drug dealing has, unfortunately, become somewhat ‘normalized’ in the Tenderloin. As for me and my law enforcement partners, and I suspect most people in this community, we are tired of drug traffickers preying on and profiting from the vulnerable. This case and the Federal Initiative for the Tenderloin is a sustained effort, and we are focused on drug dealers, their sources of supply and anyone else who assists them, while keeping in mind we need to help those suffering from addiction.  Our message is simple: we will continue to do our best to prevent these bold criminals from destroying any more lives.  There is much work to be done.”

All defendants are charged with engaging in a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C).  If convicted, defendants face up to 20 years’ imprisonment and between 3 years and a lifetime term of supervised release.  Further, additional fines, forfeitures, and restitution may be ordered; however, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

The complaint contains allegations only, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Several of the defendants were arrested on July 26, 2019, as part of a criminal enforcement operation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie Garcia, Sailaja Paidipaty, and Ryan Rezaei are prosecuting the case.  The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the DEA, San Francisco Police Department, and Richmond Police Department.

Nicole Hernandez. Photo by Richmond PD.

By Richmond Police Department

On 07-18-2019, 33-year-old Nicole Marie Hernandez was convicted of pimping two women and sentenced to three years in State Prison. The victims were originally intercepted by the Richmond Police while loitering for prostitution in the 23rd Street Corridor on March 21. Hernandez had rented them a room at the nearby Civic Center Motel. Forensic analysis of the victims’ cell phones revealed that the two were working as prostitutes for Hernandez. One of the victims even referred to Hernandez as “boss lady” in evidence recovered from her cell phone.

Human Trafficking Unit Supervisor Dana Filkowski prosecuted the case for the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office. She emphasized that “just as pimping and pandering crimes don’t respect jurisdictional boundaries, they also don’t respect gender boundaries. Women can be pimps just like men and they will be prosecuted and held accountable just like men.”

If you or someone you know is being pressured or encouraged to engage in prostitution to benefit or help support another person, help is only a phone call away. Contact Community Violence Solutions at 800-670-7273to speak to a confidential counselor. Or visit the Contra Costa Family Justice Centers in Richmond, Concord or Antioch to talk to a Navigator about a variety of services and support available right here in Contra Costa County. The Family Justice Centers are a family-friendly one-stop center serving victims of human trafficking, domestic violence and other types of interpersonal violence. No appointment is needed and the centers are located at 256 24th Street in Richmond, 2151 Salvio St., Ste. 201 in Concord or 3501 Lone Tree Way in Antioch.

To learn more about human trafficking in Contra Costa County, visit the Contra Costa Human Trafficking Coalition’s webpage at www.contracostacoalition.org.

Stephen McDonald. Photo by Hercules PD.

By Hercules Police Department

On June 24, 2019, at approximately 1:05 pm, an Officer attempted to stop a red, 2015, Nissan Altima, on San Pablo Avenue near Sycamore Avenue for speeding. The vehicle did not yield for the officer’s emergency lights and turned east onto Sycamore Avenue. The vehicle started to cut in and out of traffic while still ignoring the Officers emergency lights. The vehicle drove through a red traffic light and then continued to weave in and out of traffic east bound on Sycamore Avenue. The vehicle finally yielded in the Rite Aid Parking lot near the Turquoise Drive entrance.

The driver, 53-year-old Stephen McDonald from Hercules, was detained. McDonald displayed objective signs of being intoxicated. McDonald was placed under arrest for Evading the Police and DUI and ultimately transported to jail.

From post on Hercules PD Facebook page on Wed., July 17, 2019.

Shaneta Brown. Photo by Hercules Police.

By Hercules Police Department

On July 10, 2019, at 5:12 A.M., the Hercules Police Traffic Officer was conducting traffic enforcement in the area of John Muir Parkway. He noticed a Honda Civic that was described as a felony vehicle and trailed it to westbound I-80 at the Appian Way off ramp. Dispatch confirmed the felony vehicle and he initiated a felony stop. The Honda was used as a getaway vehicle in an armed robbery that occurred in Antioch on July 9, 2019. The driver, 26-year-old Shaneta Brown, of Pittsburg was detained.

She had an unrelated warrant for theft out of Antioch. Antioch P.D. arrived to take custody of the Honda and Brown was transported to Martinez Detention Facility.

During the felony stop, a traffic break was initiated and lasted approximately five minutes.

Lynette Williams. Photo by Hercules Police.

By Hercules Police Department

On July 10, 2019 at 10:09 a.m. An Officer did a traffic enforcement stop on a Silver ’97 Honda Civic on Sycamore Ave. at Taco Bell for a traffic violation. The driver was contacted and gave the Officer a California Driver’s License (CDL) falsely identifying herself as another person. The Officer looked at the photo on the CDL and saw the photo did not match the drivers characteristics. The driver insisted she was the person photographed but, was detained. The driver then falsely identified herself as another female. The driver eventually admitted her true identity and was identified as (A) Lynette Williams (DOB 07/24/67) of Vallejo.

Williams was found to have a total of 7 outstanding Misdemeanor Warrants for theft related crimes out of both Solano and Napa Counties. Williams was arrested and during a search of the vehicle, several credit cards, California driver’s licenses and social security cards were located, none of which belonged to Williams.

Several victims got their property back thanks to you.

Photo by Richmond PD.

By Richmond Police

Auto Burglary

An auto burglary took place on June 26th around 10:40PM. Officers responded to Railroad Ave and E. Richmond Street and discovered broken glass. The victim’s car window was shattered, and the following equipment was stolen:

+ (2) Drones: DJI Mavic 2 Zoom + Mavic 2 Pro

+Nikon D800

+Lenses: 24-70, 70-200, 60, 85, 10.5, SB-800 Speedlight

+Light meter

+Apple Macbook Pro

+Apple Macbook Air

+Black Pelican case

Officers are currently looking for a potential suspect(s). If you have any information, please contact Dt. Martin at (510) 672-0611.

As a friendly reminder, be sure to remove all visible valuables from your vehicle.