David Hellums, aka CutThroat, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 100 kilograms or more of marijuana. Hellums entered the plea before U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings.

According to court reports, Cummings ordered a pre-sentencing investigation be conducted and completed before a sentencing date is set. Hellums faces between 10 years and life in prison.

An alleged member of the "Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation" street gang, Hellums' plea agreement joins a number of other guilty pleas that have come on the heels of investigations by federal, state and local authorities.

Other Big Spring residents having pleaded guilty in the case, including Guerrero Olivas, aka "Screech," 26; John Guzman, 30; Reynaldo Nava, aka "Rat," 27; and Carol Ann Rivas Nava, 20.

The indictment in the investigation, which charged a total of 17 defendants and was unsealed Feb. 26,  alleged that from 2001 until Dec. 13, 2008 — when six of the defendants were arrested — the alleged members of the Latin Kings conspired to distribute multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine and marijuana throughout Texas and elsewhere.

“The 11-count indictment ... charges each of the defendants with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana,” said acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas James T. Jacks shortly after the indictments were unsealed. “Three defendants are also charged with conspiring to deal in firearms. The indictment also includes drug distribution charges and various firearms charges, including using and carrying a firearm to commit murder during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.”

Officials with the BSPD say the Latin Kings are believed to be responsible for the May 4, 2008, drive-by shooting that claimed the lives of Valerie Garcia, 20, and Michael Cardona, 21, both of Big Spring, and injured several others.

Jose Robledo Nava — allegedly the Texas leader of the Latin Kings — along with Gabriel Lee Gonzales, Eduardo Daniel Mares, James Johnathan Cole and Robert Allen Ramirez are currently under federal indictment for the slaying of Garcia and Cardona, according to court documents.

According to the indictment — which was engineered by Jacks and Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division — the defendants acquired the cocaine and marijuana from Mexico and brought it to the South Texas region, where it was packaged, stored and transported to Big Spring, Lubbock and Midland for further distribution.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody L. Skipper of the Lubbock division of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas and Trial Attorney Joseph A. Cooley of the Criminal Division's Gang Unit are prosecuting the case, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Contact Staff Writer Thomas Jenkins at 263-7331 ext. 232 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it