26 INDICTED ON DRUG, MONEY LAUNDERING CHARGES

More Than Two Dozen Facing Drug, Other Charges In Dallas Area

A federal grand jury in Dallas has indicted more than two dozen people on
drug conspiracy and money-laundering charges, disrupting what authorities
say was a major local narcotics ring with ties to a notorious Mexican cartel.

An eight-count indictment unsealed Wednesday alleges that 26 people, many
of them living in the Dallas area, conspired beginning in 1998 to
distribute marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine.

Authorities arrested 11 men late Tuesday and early Wednesday in Dallas,
Grand Prairie, Arlington and elsewhere. Four men were already in custody on
related charges.

Federal authorities also have issued arrest warrants for 11 others. Their
names were redacted from the indictment.

The arrests cap a nearly three-year investigation by the North Texas
High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, a federal, state and local task force
financed by the White House.

Dubbed Operation Lone Star, the case started in late 2001, when authorities
began investigating Fabian Martinez, who is accused of being the ringleader
of the conspiracy.

Federal authorities said members of Mr. Martinez's organization imported
and sold more than 50 kilograms of cocaine and several hundred pounds of
marijuana a month.

Investigators seized drugs, hundreds of thousands of dollars in currency,
vehicles and guns. They also found links in the conspiracy to the Gulf
Cartel, an organization suspected of smuggling thousands of kilograms of
narcotics into the country through northeastern Mexico, authorities said.

Dallas-based U.S. Attorney Richard Roper praised members of the task force
in a news release, saying the arrests "demonstrate our commitment to tear
down large-scale narcotics trafficking in our neighborhoods."

In addition to Mr. Martinez, the indictment charges Abelardo Camero,
Richard Chung, Marland Cooper, Gregory Franks, Raymond Garcia, Federico
Guerrero, Adrian Martinez, Armando Medrano, Esequiel Medrano, Miguel Perez,
Jose Rico, Rafael Rodriguez and Agustin Soto with conspiracy.

Fabian Martinez, Esequiel Medrano, Mr. Perez, Mr. Rico, Mr. Rodriguez and
Mr. Soto also were charged with conspiracy to launder money.

Mr. Chung is accused of methamphetamine distribution and money laundering
by making 115 deposits of alleged drug money to automated teller machines,
according to the indictment.

If convicted, the men face lengthy prison terms. Adrian Martinez, Fabian
Martinez and Abelardo Camero also face forfeiture of some property.