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At least 20 arrested in Guadalupe Co. raids, including Mexican Mafia lieutenant

An 18-month joint investigation led by Seguin police has led to raids at numerous homes throughout the area Friday.

An 18-month joint investigation led by Seguin police has led to raids at numerous homes throughout the area Friday.

According to law enforcement, about 20 arrests have been made in the raids, including a high-ranking lieutenant in the Mexican Mafia in Guadalupe County.

Seguin Deputy Police Chief Bruce Ure spoke about the impact of the raids.

"The problem with gangs is that every gang that you take down, there's ten more people that are willing to step up and take over. But when they do, if you're in this region, if you're the next ten, we're going to take you down too," said Ure, adding this was the largest criminal investigation conducted by the Seguin Police Department.

Several local agencies, as well as state and federal authorities, assisted Seguin Police in the raids, which stretched from San Antonio to Houston. The details were straight out of a classic mafia movie.

"One of our suspects, in his garage had the typical picture of Al Pacino in 'Scarface,'" Ure said.

Police have not released specifics, but said they confiscated marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, weapons, and cash.

"There's a significant amount (of cash). We're unable to count it by hand. So we're going to have to use machines to count it," said Ure.

Names of some of the suspects have been released by authorities. They are:

  • Joey Mertz Gonzales (aka “Wheel Chair”), age 47, of Seguin;
  • Mario Leal, age 34, of Seguin;
  • Jeffrey Ozell Sarabia (aka “Guero”), age 43, of Seguin;
  • Eddie Flores (aka “Lil E”), age 29, of Seguin;
  • Carlos Rios, age 45, of Live Oak, TX;
  • David Phillip Urdiales (aka “Termite”), age 37, of New Braunfels;
  • Cruz Carlos Acosta, age 36, of New Braunfels;
  • Noel Arce, age 44, of Mario, TX;
  • Mario Albert Leal, Jr. (aka “Lil Man”), age 34, of Seguin.
  • Nathan Gomez, age 34, (aka "Luck"), of Seguin;
  • Bryan Pelcastre, age 28, (aka "BP"), of Seguin;
  • Jerry Sarabia, age 32, (aka "Flaco"), of Seguin;
  • Damien Clack, age 30, of Seguin;
  • Sam Flores, age 33, (aka "Little Sammy"), of Seguin, and
  • Jose Saenz, age 41, of Seguin

The suspects were taken to area jails to be booked.

Ure said he believes the raids will make a dent in gang activity in the area.

"If you know anything about the Mexican Mafia, they're a vicious, vicious gang. And our philosophy in this region and in Seguin is 'Not in my community. Not here,'" said Ure.

In a press release, the Seguin Police Department said: "The individuals arrested are established members of a treacherous, violent criminal organization that has deep roots inside Texas’s prison system."

The press release goes on to say that the majority of the federal and state arrest warrants were for manufacture and delivery of controlled substances, in addition to federal organized criminal activity charges.

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