Several Las Vegans nabbed in federal drug trafficking investigation
Twelve homes and a bank in the Las Vegas area were raided last week as federal authorities executed search warrants targeting drug traffickers and a well-known New Mexico prison gang.
At least nine people from Las Vegas have been charged with federal crimes.
Those arrested in Las Vegas following the raids include Rose Ann Romero, 36; Jonathan Vigil, 27; Luis Sanchez, 31; Amanda Silva, 33; Genevieve Atencio, 24; Janaya Atencio, 25; and Marcos Ruiz, 40. Ruiz was already in custody at the San Miguel County Detention Center on charges of murder and attempted murder. He will be transferred into federal custody to face the charges in the federal indictment, according to the Department of Justice.
Sergio Valdez, 28, was arrested Sept. 23.
Federal authorities are still searching for 27-year-old Ashley Romero.
Last week’s raids were the result of two extensive investigations by agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the FBI. The raids were carried out with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Marshals Service and New Mexico State Police. Padilla was apprehended Thursday in Albuquerque.
The FBI operation targeted several members and associates of the Syndicato de Nuevo Mexico prison gang, while the DEA operation targeted 42-year-old Robert Corbin Padilla, the alleged kingpin of a drug trafficking organization that operated out of Las Vegas, and stretched from Albuquerque to as far north as Colorado Springs, Colo.
A recently unsealed search warrant affidavit filed in U.S. District Court offers many details of the DEA investigation into Padilla and his operations in Las Vegas.
Beginning in October 2018, federal authorities secured warrants for wiretaps on six phones belonging to Padilla, and one phone belonging to Rose Ann Romero.
According to the affidavit, Rose Ann Romero stored drugs for Padilla at her home in the 1000 block of Railroad Avenue. Agents also allege she helped distribute drugs and collect money for Padilla from her home.
Agents later secured a warrant to monitor Padilla’s Xfinity Home Security camera system in Albuquerque, and placed surveillance cameras in strategic positions around Las Vegas to aid agents in the investigation into Padilla.
That investigation culminated on Sept. 19 when DEA agents searched the home of Rose Ann Romero; the home of Jonathan Vigil in the 1500 block of Romero Street; a suspected stash house in the 900 block of Commerce street; the home of Marcos Ruiz in the 600 block of Union Street; and the Wells Fargo branch on Mills Avenue.
According to the affidavit, Padilla was dating the Wells Fargo branch manager, Sharlett M. Martinez, and agents believe Martinez helped Padilla launder drug money through her position as the bank’s branch manager.
In March, agents intercepted a phone call between Padilla and an unknown man. The man said he had money for Padilla, and Padilla instructed him to give the money to Martinez.
Surveillance by DEA and IRS agents shows Martinez made “multiple same-day financial transactions in small individual amounts that add up to a much greater total,” according to the affidavit.
On April 10, agents had a confidential informant buy 10 ounces of crack cocaine and 10 ounces of powder cocaine from Padilla, using $20,000 in official advanced funds — money that comes from the DEA’s annual funding.
On April 11, Padilla contacted a real estate agent in Las Vegas to purchase a mobile home and land listed for around $21,000.
Padilla offered $10,000 in cash for the property, and even offered to send the real estate agent a photo of the cash to prove he had it.
On the same day, DEA agents intercepted a phone call between Padilla and Martinez where the couple discussed how to purchase the property. Padilla instructed Martinez to withdraw $10,000 from her 401(k) account, which agents allege was an attempt to launder the drug money, making it appear as though Martinez was purchasing the property with cash from a retirement account.
DEA agents executed a search warrant for a room at the Best Western Plus on Grand Avenue on Aug. 15. Through surveillance and GPS data from Padilla’s phone, DEA agents believed Padilla was in a room at the hotel with Martinez.
However, Padilla was not in the room. Inside, agents found Martinez and her two juvenile children. A search of the room turned up $9,950 in cash.
At this time, Martinez does not appear to be in custody, and she has not been charged with a crime.
Wells Fargo did not respond to requests for comment, and attempts to reach Martinez were unsuccessful.
Padilla, Rose Ann Romero, Ashley Romero, Vigil, Ruiz, Sanchez, Silva and Valdez are charged with distribution of controlled substances.
Padilla is also charged with three counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, six counts of distribution of cocaine and two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
Sanchez is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and faces a separate charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm while committing a crime.
Silva is charged with one count of distribution of cocaine.
Genevieve Atencio and Janaya Atencio are both charged with distribution of cocaine.
Valdez faces one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
Ruiz faces one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, along with charges of murder in the August death of Marcos Carrillo, and attempted murder in the shooting of Gilbert Montoya.
Padilla is being represented by attorney Joe M. Romero, who told the Optic he just recently took on Padilla’s case and would be able to discuss it further in a few days. It is not known if others charged in this investigation have attorneys.
