Forty-three of the 46 federally charged suspects from Operation Garlic Press – the 39-agency, 16-month undercover investigation led by Gilroy Police in 2011 – have been sentenced to terms in prison ranging from six months to 20 years.
A total of 118 suspects were arrested as a part of OPG. About 90 percent of the remaining 72 cases that were sent to state court have not been closed, according to Police Sgt. Joseph Deras, who lead the investigation. The federal cases, however, moved faster.
The average prison sentence for the 43 federal cases is 6.44 years.
Deras said he is pleased with the swiftness in which the federal cases were prosecuted.
“Normally cases take a lot longer than that in my experience,” Deras said. “But the evidence we had on them was overwhelming, so it moved pretty fast.”
Arianna Baca pled guilty on July 26, 2012, to violations of 21 USC 841 and 846. Baca was sentenced Nov. 1, 2012, to 78 months in prison, to be followed by 48 months of supervised release.
Izaeus Banda pled guilty on March 12, 2012, to a violation of 21 USC 841. Banda was sentenced on June 4, 2012, to 60 months in prison, to be followed by 60 months of supervised release.
Scott Burns pled guilty on March 12, 2012, to violations of 18 USC 922(g)(1), 26 USC 5861, and 21 USC 841. Burns was sentenced on June 4, 2012, to 100 months in prison, to be followed by 60 months of supervised release.
Frank Cardenas pled guilty on April 23, 2012, to violations of 18 USC 922(g)(1) and 21 USC 841. Cardenas was sentenced on July 9, 2012, to 60 months in prison to be followed by 60 months of supervised release.
Arturo Cervantes pled guilty on April 2, 2012, to violations of 26 USC 5861 and 21 USC 841. Cervantes was sentenced on Aug. 6, 2012, to 60 months in prison to be followed by 60 months of supervised release.
Christina Chavez pled guilty on Aug 6, 2012, to a violation of 21 USC 844(a). Chavez was sentenced on Nov. 5, 2012, to 24 months in prison to be followed by 12 months of supervised release.
Yvonne Chavez pled guilty on July 9, 2012, to violations of 21 USC 841 and 846. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 7, 2013.
Juan Chavez-Ornelas pled guilty on March 5, 2012, to violations of 21 USC 841 and 846, as well as 8 USC 1326. Chavez-Ornelas was sentenced on Aug. 6, 2012, to 87 months in prison, to be followed by 60 months of supervised release.
Rodolfo Contreras pled guilty on March 14, 2012, to a violation of 21 USC 841. Contreras was sentenced on May 30, 2012, to 60 months in prison, to be followed by 60 months of supervised release.
Melissa Duarte pled guilty on July 19, 2012, to violations of 21 USC 841 and 846. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 17, 2012.
Dagoberto Duran pled guilty on March 22, 2012, to violations of 21 USC 841 and 846. Duran was sentenced on Aug. 9, 2012, to 72 months in prison, to be followed by 60 months of supervised release.
Desiree Flores pled guilty on June 28, 2012, to violations of 21 USC 841 and 846. Flores was sentenced on Nov. 15, 2012, to 60 months in prison, to be followed by 60 months of supervised release.
Joshua Flores pled guilty on March 7, 2012, to violating 21 USC 841. He was sentence on May 23, 2012, to 180 months in prison, to be followed by120 months of supervised release.
Raymond Gallegos pled guilty on Oct. 1, 2012, to violations of 21 USC 841; and 846. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 17, 2012.
Adrian Gamino pled guilty on Dec. 21, 2011, to violations of 21 USC 841 and 846. He was sentenced on March 7, 2012, to 240 months in prison, to be followed by120 months of supervised release.
Lorenzo Garcia pled guilty on April 18, 2012, to violations of 21 USC 841 and 846. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 13, 2013.
Jose Gonzalez pled guilty on Aug. 29, 2012, to violations of 18 USC 922(g)(1) and 21 USC 841 and 846. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 23, 2013.
Miguel Gonzalez pled guilty on Dec. 21, 2011, to violations of 21 USC 841 and 846. He was sentenced on March 7, 2012, to 240 months in prison, to be followed by 120 months of supervised release.
Gustavo Hernandez pled guilty on May 14, 2012, to violations of 21 USC 841 and 846. He was sentenced on Sept. 10, 2012, to 60 months in prison, to be followed by 48 months of supervised release.
Maria Hernandez pled guilty on Oct. 31, 2012, to violations of 21 USC 841 and 846. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 23, 2013.
Simon Hernandez pled guilty on May 21, 2012, to violating 21 USC 841. He was sentenced on Aug 6, 2012, to 84 months in prison, to be followed by 120 months of supervised release.
Frank Herrera pled guilty on April 2, 2012, to violations of 18 USC 922(g)(1) and 922(k). He was sentenced on June 18, 2012, to 57 months in prison, to be followed by 36 months of supervised release.
Henry Jones pled guilty on March 5, 2012, to violations of 18 USC 922(g)(1) and 922(k). He was sentenced on May 21, 2012, to 57 months in prison, to be followed by 36 months of supervised release.
Ricardo Landecho pled guilty on Dec. 3, 2012, to violations of 21 USC 841and 846. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 25, 2013.
Frank Machado pled guilty on Jan. 19, 2012, to violations of 21 USC 841 and 846. He was sentenced on March 22, 2012, to 60 months in prison, to be followed by 60 months of supervised release.
Diana Mayoral pled guilty on May 10, 2012, to violations of 21 USC 841 and 846. She was sentenced on Nov. 29, 2012, to 6 months in prison, to be followed by 48 months of supervised release.
Rosa Martinez pled guilty of June 7, 2012, to violations of 21 USC 841 and 846. She was sentenced on Nov. 15, 2012, to 70 months in prison, to be followed by 48 months of supervised release.
Joshua Moore pled guilty on April 19, 2012, to violations of 21 USC 841 and 21 USC 846. He was sentenced on Nov. 29, 2012, to 60 months in prison, to be followed by 60 months of supervised release.
Addel Montero pled guilty on June 18, 2012, to violating of 21 USC 841 and was sentenced on Oct. 1, 2012, to 72 months in prison, to be followed by 48 months of supervised release.
Hugo Mora pled guilty on July 11, 2012, to violating of 21 USC 841. He was sentenced on Sept. 26, 2012, to 68 months in prison, to be followed by 48 months of supervised release.
KC Pries pled guilty on March 12, 2012, to violations of 18 USC 922(g)(1) and 26 USC 5861. Pries was sentenced in June 4, 2012, to 63 months in prison, to be followed by 36 months of supervised release.
Enrique Quintero pled guilty on July 9, 2012, to violations of 21 USC 841 and 846. He was sentenced on Oct. 15, 2012, to 240 months in prison, to be followed by 120 months of supervised release.
Rigoberto Ramirez pled guilty on July 16, 2012, to violations of 18 USC 922(g)(1) and 21 USC 841. He was sentenced on Oct. 22, 2012, to 60 months in prison, to be followed by 120 months of supervised release.
Robert Reddick pled guilty on Feb. 23, 2012, to violating 18 USC 922(g)(1). He was sentenced on June 7, 2012, to 9 months in prison, to be followed by 24 months of supervised release.
Cala Remick pled guilty on July 12, 2012, to violations of 21 USC 841 and 846. Remick is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 12, 2012.
Everardo Robles pled guilty on Feb. 16, 2012, to violations of 18 USC 922(g)(1) and 21 USC 846. He was sentenced on May 3, 2012, to 108 months in prison, to be followed by 120 months of supervised release.
Jose Romero pled guilty on July 26, 2012, to violations of 18 USC 922(g)(1), 26 USC 5861(d) and 21 USC 841. He was sentenced on Nov. 5, 2012, to 84 months in prison, to be followed by120 months of supervised release.
Michael Ruelas pled guilty on April 18, 2012, to violations of 18 USC 922(g)(1) as well as 21 USC 841 and 846. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 13, 2013.
David Sainz pled guilty on July 26, 2012, to violations of 21 USC 841 and 846. He was sentenced on Nov. 5, 2012, to 188 months in prison, to be followed by 60 months of supervised release.
Jimmy Sandoval pled guilty on March 1, 2012, to violations of 21 USC 841 and 846. He was sentenced on May 31, 2012, to 70 months in prison, to be followed by 48 months of supervised release.
Leonardo Silga pled guilty on March 19, 2012, to violations of 18 USC 922(g)(1) and 21 USC 846. He was sentenced on Oct. 1, 2012, to 240 months in prison, to be followed by 120 months of supervised release.
Paul Zabala pled guilty on March 29, 2012, to violations of 21 USC 841 and 846. He was sentenced on July 12, 2012, to 180 months in prison, to be followed by120 months of supervised release.
Legend
18 USC 922(g)(1) Fugitives from justice
18 USC 922(k) Firearms
21 USC 841 Prohibited acts
21 USC 844(a) Possession of illegal substances
21 USC 846 Conspiracy
26 USC 5861 Prohibited acts
