17 alleged drug dealers arrested after “large scale” drug bust in Abilene (2024)

by: Erica Garner

Posted: Feb 22, 2024 / 03:49 PM CST

Updated: Feb 22, 2024 / 04:10 PM CST

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Seventeen alleged drug dealers have been arrested following a “large scale” drug bust in Abilene.

A press release from the United States Department of Justice reveals the following suspects were arrested and charged after an investigation that led to the seizure of 29 kilos of methamphetamine, 721 grams of cocaine, 1,370 grams of fentanyl, and 60 firearms:

• Diana Nichole Perez, aka Diana Santana, charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and with distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
• Orson Rolando Ortegon, charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
• Rafael Perez, charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and with distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
• Eddie Ochoa Lomas, charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
• Angel Alvarez, charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
• Hannah Rai Gongora, aka Hannah Alvarez, charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; and possession of firearms (a Taurus 9 mm semi-automatic pistol and a Sarsilmaz 9mm semiautomatic pistol missing a serial number) in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
• Jacob Lee DeLeon, charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and with distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine
• Jason Eugene DeLeon, charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and with distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
• Nathaniel Deal, charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
• Lisa Ann Beckham, charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
• Gloria Santibanez, charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
• Petra Soliz, charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and with distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
• Alexandrea Delgado, charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
• Laura Trevino, charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
• Juan Manuel Oliveros, Jr., charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
• Joseph Brassell, charged with possession to distribute fentanyl
• Joshua Gosson: charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and with possession of a firearms (a Rohm, RG10 Model, .22 caliber short barrel revolver) in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime

The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Division, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office, the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, and the Abilene Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives’ Dallas Field Division, and the IRS – Criminal Investigations all assisted in this investigation.

Taylor County Sheriff Ricky Bishop held a press conference on the drug bust, saying that it began in 2020 and has “blown up” and gotten more complex over the past couple of years.

He also said that every suspect arrested has connections to the Mexican cartel and this investigation is directly linked to the border crisis.

More arrests are expected to come in connection to this bust.

Sheriff Bishop also confirmed that a raid at Mary’s Paleteria on S Treadaway Boulevard Wednesday was connected to this investigation.

No further information has been released.