MODESTO, Calif. — Twenty-eight alleged gang members are off the streets in Stanislaus County after a multi-agency operation resulted in arrests, the seizures of 21 guns and over $15,000.
According to the attorney general's office, nearly 30 members of the alleged Norteño street gang have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit kidnapping and robbery, attempted murder, drug trafficking, firearms violations, and gang enhancements.
Charges were filed by the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office. The joint-agency operation was named "Operation Red Desert" and has been in works since February 2019.
Birgit Fladager, Stanislaus County District Attorney, said in the release she is, "extremely proud of the tremendous effort put forward by all the allied law enforcement agencies in this task force in bringing these criminals to justice."
Galen Carroll, Police Chief for the Modesto Police Department, echoed those remarks while adding that this operation is a great example of the "California Department of Justice and California Highway Patrol Special Operations Unit working together with local agencies to combat violent crime and gangs in our community.”
Agencies involved include the California Department of Justice and California Highway Patrol Special Operations Unit, the Modesto Police Department, and the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office.
The following face charges in this operation:
Arthur Campos, 32, of Modesto:
- Felon in Possession of a Firearm
- Carrying Loaded Firearm with Prior Conviction
- Possession of Stolen Property
- Felon in Possession of Ammunition
- Conspiracy /Kidnapping for Ransom
- Conspiracy /Home Invasion
- 3 Strike Felony Enhancement
- Gang Enhancement
- Gang Enhancement
- Gang Enhancement
- Gang Enhancement
Xavier Carmona, 33, of Stockton:
- Possession of Marijuana for sales
- Felon in Possession of Ammunition
- Felon in Possession of a Firearm
Robert Delosrios, 19, of Modesto:
- Carrying Loaded Firearm with Prior Conviction
- Carrying a Concealed Loaded Firearm
Eleuterio Avalos, 27, of Modesto:
- Conspiracy
- 3 Strike Felony Enhancement
- Parole Violation
- Gang Enhancement
- Gang Enhancement
Brandon Bachman, 26, of Modesto:
- Felon in Possession of Ammunition
Robert Delosrios, 19, of Modesto:
- Conspiracy / Home Invasion
- Gang Enhancement
- Gang Enhancement
Joe Ramirez, 39, of Pleasant Valley Prison:
- Conspiracy / Kidnapping for Ransom
- Conspiracy / Home Invasion
- Gang Enhancement
- Gang Enhancement
- Gang Enhancement
Shaun Santos, 22, of Bryon:
- Conspiracy /
- Gang Enhancement
- Gang Enhancement
Joaquin Swank, 36, of Stockton:
- Parole Violation
- Conspiracy / Kidnapping for Ransom
- Conspiracy /
- Conspiracy / Home Invasion
- Gang Enhancement
- Gang Enhancement
- 3 Strike Felony Enhancement
- Gang Enhancement
Willie Torres, 38, of Modesto:
- Parole Violation
- Conspiracy / Kidnapping for Ransom
- Conspiracy /
- Conspiracy / Home Invasion
- Gang Enhancement
- Gang Enhancement
- 3 Strike Felony Enhancement
Jessie Varela, 34, of Modesto:
- Conspiracy / Kidnapping for Ransom
- Conspiracy /
- Conspiracy / Home Invasion
- Gang Enhancement
- Gang Enhancement
- 3 Strike Felony Enhancement
Matthew Nesslage, 26, of Modesto:
- Carrying a Concealed Loaded Firearm
- Carrying Loaded Firearm with Prior Conviction
- Probation Violation
- Conspiracy / Home Invasion
- Gang Enhancement
- Gang Enhancement
- Gang Enhancement
- Gang Enhancement
- Gang Enhancement
- 3 Strike Felony Enhancement
Abel Ortiz, 38, of San Jose:
- Conspiracy /
- Gang Enhancement
- Gang Enhancement
Raymond Ramirez, 39, of Ceres
- Conspiracy /
- Gang Enhancement
- Gang Enhancement
- Gang Enhancement
Juan Ramos, 19, of Modesto:
- Possession of Marijuana for sales
- Possession of a firearm with prior conviction
- Minor in Possession of Firearm
- Gang Enhancement
- Gang Enhancement
Anthony Jeter, 27, of Modesto:
- Possession of a Controlled Substance
Phillip Lopez, 25, of Waterford:
- Conspiracy /
- Gang Enhancement
- Gang Enhancement
- 3 Strike Felony Enhancement
Jacob Montalvo, 26, of Ceres:
- Cultivation of Marijuana
- Gang Enhancement
- Probation Violation
Joshua Montalvo, 26, of Ceres
- Cultivation of Marijuana
- Gang Enhancement
Edgar Gonzalez, 36, of Modesto:
- Conspiracy /
- Gang Enhancement
- Gang Enhancement
- 3 Strike Felony Enhancement
Jorge Gonzalez, 22, of Waterford:
- Carrying Loaded Firearm with Prior Conviction
- Carrying a Concealed Loaded Firearm
- Probation Violation
- Conspiracy / Home Invasion
- Gang Enhancement
- Gang Enhancement
Jose Gutierrez, 18, of Turlock:
- Conspiracy /
- Gang Enhancement
- Gang Enhancement
Danny Hobbs, 34, of Modesto:
- Felon in Possession of a Firearm
- Possession of a Controlled Substance While armed with a Firearm
- Gang Enhancement
David Desmond, 35, of Modesto:
- Conspiracy / Kidnapping for Ransom
- Conspiracy /
- Conspiracy / Home Invasion
- Gang Enhancement
- Gang Enhancement
- Gang Enhancement
- Gang Enhancement
- Conspiracy /
- Gang Enhancement
- Gang Enhancement
Miguel Flores, 21, of Modesto:
- Carrying a Concealed Loaded Firearm
- Carrying Loaded Firearm with Prior Conviction
- Conspiracy / Home Invasion
- Gang Enhancement
- Gang Enhancement
Chrishique Gardner, 34, of Modesto:
- Carrying a Concealed Loaded Firearm
Daniel Gonzalez, 26, of Riverbank:
- Felon in Possession of a Firearm
- Felon in Possession of Ammunition
- Possession of Stolen Property
- Gang Enhancement
- Gang Enhancement
- Possession of Marijuana for sales