DEA And Texas DPS Arrest 13 In Operation Tangled Web
EL PASO, Texas - Today, the Drug Enforcement (DEA) and Texas Department of Public (DPS) conducted a round up, dubbed Operation Tangled Web. A total of 13 defendants were arrested for Texas state drug and other crimes with one additional defendant already in custody. Operation Tangled Web consists of 10 investigations conducted by DEA agents, diversion investigators, and task force officers from DEA and Texas DPS over the last year. The investigations focused on the diversion of pharmaceutical drugs by individuals who used schemes such as doctor shopping, calling in fraudulent prescriptions, and passing fraudulent or altered prescriptions at pharmacies in order to illegally obtain pharmaceutical drugs, to include hydrocodone, tramadol, hydromorphone, and oxycodone.
Officers and agents arrested five women and seven men identified as:
Ronald Navarrette, 28, Canutillo, TX,
Christian Remes, 37, El Paso, TX
Timothy Danielewicz, 47, El Paso, TX
Danny Gonzalez, 31, El Paso, TX
Maria Rodriguez, 50, El Paso, TX
Maria Rae, 80, Canutillo, TX
David Acuna, 63, El Paso, TX
Jessica D. Conrad, 30, El Paso TX
Greivin E. Brenes, 36, El Paso, TX
Monica Becerra, 42, El Paso, TX
Vanessa Villalba, 29, El Paso, TX
Roberto Cera, 23, El Paso, TX
Jizel Coats, 25, previously in custody
All defendants were booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility and charged for Prescription Fraud, Possession of Penalty Group 1 Controlled Substance or Sale of Stolen Regulated Materials.
The DEA and Texas DPS would like to thank the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in this investigation. This investigation will be prosecuted by the office of District Attorney Jaime Esparza.
Charges in indictments and criminal complaints are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
