The sounds of concussion grenades woke a quiet neighborhood in Gregory Wednesday morning as the FBI and other law enforcement agencies conducted a raid to crack down on prison gang members.
19 people from throughout the Coastal Bend, all alleged members of the Texas Mexikan Mafia, were charged in a six-count federal indictment. They are accused of conspiring to violate the racketeer influence corrupt organization statute, otherwise known as the RICO Act.
The indictment, which was handed down a week ago, was unsealed as each suspect was taken into custody. Among the arrests were one Gregory resident, four Corpus Christi residents, two Victoria residents, two Sinton residents, three from Port Lavaca, one from Robstown, one from Taft, two women from Ingleside, two from Aransas Pass and one from Brownsville.
One man identified as 51-year-old Robert Anthony Trevino from Victoria has not been arrested and is considered a fugitive.
Charges against the suspects include conspiring to deal drugs, ordering assassination contracts, prostitution and robbery. The indictment also includes specific drug and firearms charges.
All of the suspects face up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to a quarter of a million dollars each.