Central Coast Gang Drug Operation Busted, Raided, and Arrested

Eleven members and associates of two Central Coast gangs were arrested Tuesday May 3, 2011 after being charged in federal indictments with drug trafficking.

FBI special agents and local police detectives penetrated the drug trafficking network of a Lompoc-based subset of the Six Deuce Brims Bloods and the Northwest (Santa Maria) street gang, the largest Latino gang on the Central Coast, which is affiliated with the Mexican Mafia prison gang.

The gangs are believed responsible for a significant amount of the region's narcotics dealings and firearms sales, as well as various violent crimes in the coastal communities.

A federal grand jury in Los Angeles recently returned five indictments that charged a total of 10 defendants with conspiracy and distributing methamphetamine. Nine defendants named in the indictments were arrested Tuesday during dawn raids. One federal suspect remained at large.

Two others were arrested Tuesday morning on state violations in connection with the investigation, and two other state defendants were already in custody. They are expected to be prosecuted by the Santa Barbara County district attorney's office.

The nine federal defendants arrested are: Freddie Sutton, 51, of Oceano; Mike Shepherd, 50, of Santa Maria; Christopher DeLong, 50, of Arroyo Grande; Keshon Cole, 34, of Santa Maria; Randy Fuston, 29, of Santa Maria; Melvin Braddock, 40, of Santa Maria; Eduardo Sanchez, 27, of Santa Maria; Jesus Buenrostro, 23, of Santa Maria; and Sergio Godinez, 30, of Santa Maria.

The raids followed a year-long investigation. The nine arrested were charged in federal indictments with conspiracy and distributing methamphetamine; the others were wanted on state charges.  

These charges can result in heavy fines and long term prison time.

If you or someone you know is being charges with a drug offense or  conspiracy, we at Hedding Law Firm have the qualifications and experience to help defend your case.

We place every effort to get the best results possible.
Contact us for a FREE face to face consultation.