According to officials, the Howard County Sheriff's Office, Big Spring Police Department and agents with ICE recently joined forces in a joint operation that ended Wednesday with the arrest of 20 individuals suspected to have ties to gangs both in and out of the United States.

Those arrested and the charges they face are:

• Isaac Ray Willborn,  possession of marijuana – more than 2 ounces, less than 4 ounces.

• Derrick Drake,  possession of marijuana – two ounces or less.

• Casey Fraley,  possession of marijuana – two ounces or less.

• Kathrene Chavarria, credit/debit card abuse.

• Manuel Escamilla, theft – more than $50, less than $500.

• Gloria Gibson,  failure to identify – giving false information.

• Gilbert Gonzales, failure to maintain financial responsibility and failure to appear.

• James Hodnett, bail jumping – fcailure to appear.

• Natalie Dawn Johnson, possession of marijuana – two ounces or less.

• Steven Kyle Johnson, driving while license invalid.

• Manuel Lozano, driving while license invalid with a previous conviction.

• Ernesto Muniz, failure to appear (two counts).

• Charles Nicholson, possession of marijuana – more than 2 ounces, less than 4 ounces.

• Daniel Rios, theft of property – more than $50, less than $500.

• Rene Rodriguez, possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Carol Scaggs, failure to maintain financial responsibility, failure to change address within 30 days and violation of a promise to appear.

• Oscar Solis,  failure to register as a sex offender.

• Sally Solis,  hindering the apprehension/prosecution of a known felon.

• Ruben Trevino, manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance – more than 4 grams, less than 200 grams and manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance – more than 1 gram in a drug free zone.

• Prince Vanderbilt, possession/delivery of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana – two ounces or less.

• Daniel Parker White, hindering the apprehension/prosecution of a known felon.

“This is the latest joint local action of an ongoing national initiative of ICE’s National Gang Unit called Operation Community Shield,” said Howard County Sheriff Stan Parker. “The initiative partners ICE with other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to target the significant public-safety threat posed by street gangs, many with transnational ties.

“During this operation, all of those arrested are U.S. citizens who live in Big Spring. Eight had outstanding arrest warrants; the others were arrested on various criminal charges. Of those arrested, 15 were active gang members or their associates of gangs which operated in Big Spring.”

Parker said gangs operating within Howard County's borders include the Bloods, Mexican Mafia, Tango Blast and Aryan Brotherhood.

“The sheriff's department got involved in this operation through the police department,” said Parker. “They contacted us and told us ICE was coming to town and asked if we'd like to be involved, and I felt this was an excellent way to help make our streets safer. It is important that we work together, pool our resources, and let criminals know we will not tolerate their activity, and a great deal of the credit for the success of this initiative goes to the police department.”

BSPD Chief Lonnie Smith said joint efforts such as these show criminals while they may stand together, so will law enforcement agencies.

“This initial operation was successful and appreciated,” said Smith. “The joint effort goes to show gang members that law enforcement at all levels are committed to make our community safe for all.”

John Chakwin, special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Dallas, oversees 128 counties in north Texas and Oklahoma, and said multi-agency operations such as this one are routine within his agency.

“Street gangs pose a significant threat to public safety nationally and to the local residents of Big Spring,” said Chakwin. “Our ICE agents routinely work with local law enforcement agencies to share information and pool our resources to help remove criminals from our communities.”

Parker said several major arrests were made during the course of the investigation.

“A Mexican Mafia member was arrested on outstanding state felony warrants relating to sexual predator offenses,” said Parker. “He had illegally removed a court-ordered ankle monitor. A gang associate was also arrested after trying to help the gang member escape.

“The leader of the Big Spring West Texas Tango Blast gang was also arrested on outstanding state felony arrest warrants relating to delivering a controlled substance. A Mexican Mafia member was also arrested on outstanding state felony warrants relating to narcotics and weapons offenses.”

According to Chakwin, the National Gang Unit at ICE identifies violent street gangs and develops intelligence on their membership, associates, criminal activities and international movements to deter, disrupt and dismantle gang operations by tracing and seizing cash, weapons and other assets derived from criminal activities.

“From the inception of Operation Community Shield in February 2005 through Aug. 31, 2009, ICE agents working in conjunction with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies nationwide have arrested more than 14,500 street gang members and associates belonging to more than 900 different gangs, and representing 5,831 criminal violations,” said Chakwin. “More than 170 of those arrested were gang leaders and 2,483 were MS-13 gang members or associates.”

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