After a months-long investigation into a gang in East Contra Costa County that was allegedly transferring firearms illegally, law enforcement officers on Wednesday executed eight search warrants in Pittsburg, Antioch, and Bay Point.
The investigation was led by CASE (Contra Costa County Anti-Violence Support Effort). During the operation, CASE was assisted by Special Agents from the California Department of Justice (Bureau of Firearms), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Marshals, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff, California Highway Patrol, Pittsburg Police Department, Walnut Creek Police Department, Richmond Police Department and Probation Officers from the Contra Costa County Probation Department.
A total of nine people were arrested and booked into the Martinez Detention Facility. They are being held on numerous charges that include conspiracy, gang and narcotics violations, and weapons’ charges including felon in possession of a firearm, possession of an assault rife, prohibited person in possession of a firearm, and illegal transfer of a firearm.
During searches of the locations, law enforcement officers seized one AK-47 style assault rifle, three handguns, high capacity magazines, cocaine, marijuana, and pills.
According to Jimmy Lee, spokesperson for the Sheriffs Office, said the names in this case would not be released.
The CASE Team is a joint effort by the Office of the Sheriff, California Department of Justice, California Highway Patrol, Pittsburg Police Department and Walnut Creek Police Department. CASE was created in November 2011 as a collaborative effort to reduce violent crimes in Contra Costa, especially those related to illegal firearms.
Nov. 18 Update
On November 17, the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff released the names, ages, and locations, as well as some of the charges on those booked in this case.
- Curtis Denton, 25, Antioch
Possession of an assault rifle, prohibited person in possession of a firearm, illegal transfer of a firearm, criminal threats, threatening an executive officer, participating in a criminal street gang.
$1,000,000 bail. In custody. - Curtis Denton (Sr.), 50, Pittsburg
Possession of marijuana for sales
$15,000 bail. Bailed out. - Aurelio Quintero 24, Bay Point
Participating in a criminal street gang, illegal transfer of a firearm, probation violation.
No bail. In custody. - Pecollian Mays, 22, Pittsburg
Illegal transfer of a firearm, armed in possession of a controlled substance, conspiracy, participating in a criminal street gang, possession of cocaine for sale, possession of stolen property.
$285,000 bail. In custody. - David Fregoso, 21, Pittsburg
Gang member in possession of ammunition, participating in a criminal street gang
$50,000 bail (no longer in custody). - Jacob Anastas, 20, Antioch
Participating in a criminal street gang, prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
$50,000 bail (no longer in custody). - Adrian Hurtado, 24, Pittsburg
Participation in a criminal street gang, illegal transfer of a firearm.
$50,000 bail. Bailed out. - Noe Gaytan, 21, Pittsburg
Participation in a criminal street gang, possession of Xanax for sale.
$30,000 bail (no longer in custody). - Devon Owens, 24, Pittsburg
Felon in possession of a firearm, illegal transfer of a firearm, conspiracy, participating in a criminal street gang, possession of a cocaine for sale, and armed in possession of a control substance.
$1,000,000 bail. In custody.
24 comments
Nice work gentlemen and ladies. Nice move in not releasing the names of those arrested, gotta keep their cohorts guessing as to who was actually taken down. I’m assuming that this will give some of those arrested the opportunity to roll over on their “business” associates.
Thinking upstream- baffling law enforcement and military for centuries.
Let’s see, about 2.5 pounds of reefer, ~$500 of promethazine w/ codeine, and some guns that may or may not be registered. And it took 10 agencies for this bust? This is not news-worthy, let alone picture worthy. Makes our law enforcement look petty.
That’s what what left by the time the photo op came, gotta figure some of the proceeds went, huh, missing.
This isn’t newsworthy is the most asinine thing you can say on a news blog. If it isn’t news worthy, why are you bothering to read and comment? It IS news worthy do those of us who want these criminals off the streets. And an AK-47. What a moron.
With all due respect, for how much resources went into this, it shows how ASININE the efforts of the law enforcement can be. This does not solve any problems- just a band-aid on a larger wound. More useless jail time, more resources spent.
“People can comment on whatever they want – good, bad or indifferent. Quit forcing people to try and agree with you. Learn to agree to disagree. All opinions should be respected.
Get a life. Quit worrying that someone doesn’t agree with you. What difference does it make?”
^^^Sound familiar Melanie? Looks like you need to get a life!
Gar Beun – there is more than one Melanie here. I never typed that comment. You need psychiatric help.
There are a lot of Gar Beuns here too. Moron.
There’s another Nick here too. The other Nick thinks everything is “gang related.” There’s millions of people with the same name. Quit being an asshole GB. I suppose you think there’s only one Mark and Johnny? Unbelievable.
I agree with JL’s post, not much of a haul considering the manpower and money invested, at least one of those 30 rd mags is for an AR – 15 not the AK, so these low level bad guys had a couple of street guns and a few buds, you could probably find more guns doing a random stop and frisk in the Sycamore hood on any given day.
Until that gang member comes at your family with an AK 47. Have a wife or kids? How about a mother? Let’s have this conversation after your family is dead.
Puh-leeze.
new mixtape my brothers coming soon featuring keak da sneek
Well, better than nothing. *Yawn
Would of been a huge bust in the 80’s
Just get them off the street – period. Who cares how big of a bust it was. A bust is a bust. If you think you can do a better job, get out there and do it.
Yea Nick, who cares if they bust down every single door or stop and frisk every single resident, they’ll eventually find something! Go for the bread, not the crumbs.
For those of us who don’t live in the hood, this is the bread. I don’t care if they stop and frisk people. It’s not my problem if you have drugs or weapons on you. I don’t glorify violence. For those of you living in gang infested neighborhoods – you’re obviously de-sensitized. Enjoy the life.
Unless you live west of BayPoint Nick, you also live in the hood.
Here is a little lesson on the value of privacy: Whether someone has drugs or weapons is not the entire matter. When we are subject to search for no reason, or anytime our privacy is intruded upon without reason, it diminishes the bounds of our free personality. When we start thinking someone is going to know our personal business, or when we lose our expectation of privacy, we alter our behavior to accommodate. The more common the invasion of privacy, the more we become what others should see, and not who we be.
Mike – We live west of Bay Point. Our daughter lives in Oakley – the reason I read ECT.
“I don’t care”, “it’s not my problem.” are words that do not come from sensitivity.
Breath…take a deep one folks. Seems focus has lost it’s place here.
If you pile a bunch of crumbs together, eventually you will find the bread. Frankly, Anytime you can get any of these scum of the street for a while and get marks on their criminal record, its a good day. Now we just need the D.A. to do their job and send them away.
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