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Law enforcement has officially identified the five individuals apprehended on Thursday in connection with the raids conducted across Harris County as part of a stolen vehicle investigation.
According to authorities, several of the suspects have affiliations with the infamous and dangerous cartel known as the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación, or CJNG.
Gary Charles and Darius Charles are currently detained in Fort Bend County on charges of felony theft, while Jesus Gutierrez-Escamilla, Bernardo Fernandez-Pereyda, and Edgar Bravo face similar accusations.
Following extensive months of investigation, law enforcement asserts that some of the individuals have links to the CJNG. However, specific details regarding this determination have not been disclosed at this time. Investigators discovered over a dozen vehicles at the raid sites, with a collective value exceeding $1 million.
Major Saul Suarez of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office stated, “Once we determine and process those vehicles, we will be returning them back to their owners.”
In light of this news, members of the community have contacted ABC13 and engaged in discussions on social media, speculating whether their stolen vehicles were among those recovered in the law enforcement operation.
The sheriff’s office has confirmed that investigators will utilize vehicle identification numbers and license plates to reach out to owners and operators. Meanwhile, the investigation into the individuals responsible and the duration of their activities falls under the jurisdiction of the HCSO.
“Several of the suspects also have ties to this cartel. In this particular case, it’s the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación,” Suarez remarked.
Nathan Jones, an associate professor at Sam Houston State University, emphasized that the CJNG is one of Mexico’s most influential cartels.
He added, “Primarily, they try to be very low profile in the United States, so I’m interested in finding out more information from law enforcement about why they believe the CJNG is connected to these chop shops and what those actual linkages are.”
Earlier this week, the CJNG made headlines with 50 indictments related to drug and money laundering charges for 41 individuals, 16 of whom are currently fugitives with connections to Houston.
U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani noted, “The CJNG is not just confined to or in Jalisco. It’s in Houston. It’s folks that are in Houston.”
At present, law enforcement has not disclosed whether any of the individuals arrested in Thursday’s operation are linked to the federal fugitive search conducted by federal authorities. The investigation remains ongoing.