FBI joins with local and state law enforcement to disrupt coordinated criminal activity centered in Woodland, California

WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - Today U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced the arrest
of 18 federal defendants on narcotics and weapons-related charges as part of a multi-agency law
enforcement investigation into coordinated criminal activity in Woodland, California. The U.S.
Attorney was joined in announcing the results of the operation by FBI Special Agent in Charge
Sean Ragan, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Secretary Scott Kernan,
Woodland Chief of Police Luis Soler, Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig, and Yolo County
Sheriff Ed Prieto.

Early this morning, a coalition of local, state and federal law enforcement officers
conducted 69 searches pursuant to federal warrants and parole or probation search conditions at
various locations throughout Northern California. Officers arrested 18 individuals on charges
alleged in six separate federal indictments and one federal criminal complaints that were unsealed
today. Three additional, related criminal complaints were filed this week, one in the Eastern District
of California, one in the Western District of Pennsylvania, and one in the District of Oregon. In
addition, local officials arrested more than 10 additional individuals on state charges as part of the
operation. The investigation, led by the FBI, the California Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation, and the Woodland Police Department, focused on coordinated criminal activity that
centered in Yolo County but extended to other Northern California counties and prisons.

Beginning in the spring of 2016, this investigation uncovered organized criminal activity in
Woodland, California with ties to criminal organizations located in California’s jail and prison
system. Although centered in Yolo County, the investigation revealed that at least 9 other
California counties were negatively impacted by these criminal organizatons: Sacramento, Sutter,
Colusa, Yuba, Del Norte, Solano, Fresno, Santa Clara, and Siskiyou.

The investigation focused on intercepting communications of those involved in drug and
firearms offenses – including cellphone communications, social media communications on
Facebook and Instagram, and clandestine communications on Snapchat and other platforms. In
several instances, these modes of communication were used to sell weapons and coordinate the
sales of cocaine, methamphetamine, and prescription drugs. In some instances, it is alleged that
prison inmates directed defendants outside the prisons to smuggle drugs into the prison or to sell
and distribute narcotics outside the prison.

U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott stated, “Today’s operation is the result of a months-long
endeavor involving federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to disrupt coordinated
criminal activity that, although centered in Yolo County, spread to several other Northern
California counties. This operation demonstrates how federal law enforcement can join forces with
our state and local partners to make our communities safer and stop illegal guns and drugs from
flooding our streets.”

“The FBI is committed to joining forces with our state and local partners to effectively
combat the gang and drug-related violence that plagues our communities,” said Special Agent in
Charge Sean Ragan of the FBI Sacramento Field Office. “Our shared goal is stopping gang
violence, getting drugs and weapons off the streets, and helping to bring justice to the victims of
crimes committed in our communities. Today’s arrests demonstrate the strength of successful law
enforcement collaboration and highlight our shared commitment to the public we serve.”

“Our department is committed to putting a stop to illegal activities conducted by prison
gangs in our neighborhoods, schools and communities to further their criminal organizations and
instill fear in people,” said Secretary Scott Kernan, California Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation. “The success of this investigation demonstrates how effective our partnerships are
with local, state, and federal agencies. When we work together, we effectively are able to target
dangerous individuals in and out of prison. I am thankful and proud of the hard work that went into
this operation.”

“Over the last several years, many of the defendants who were arrested today and their
associates have plagued Yolo County with their criminal activity. This operation has helped to
disable their organization at its most basic level and will hopefully have positive long term impacts
on public safety,” said Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig.

Operation Silent Night is the product of an investigation by the FBI, California Department
of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), Yolo County District Attorney, Woodland Police
Department, and the California Highway Patrol. The following agencies provided substantial
assistance: Colusa County Sheriff’s Office, Sacramento Police Department, Sacramento County
Sheriff’s Office, West Sacramento Police Department, Yolo County Sheriff’s Office, Davis Police
Department, Yuba City Police Department, Yuba County Sheriff’s Office, Sutter County Sheriff’s
Office, Solano County Sheriff’s Office, Vacaville Police Department, the Correctional Intelligence
Task Force (CITF), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S.
Postal Inspection Service, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Assistant U.S.
Attorneys Owen Roth and Justin L. Lee are prosecuting the cases.

The federal defendants and their charges are listed below. The charges are only allegations;
the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

• Aldo Arellano, 24, of Marysville, is charged with distribution of methamphetamine.
• Raul Barajas, 21, of Woodland, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to
distribute and to distribute controlled substances, and possession with intent to distribute
methamphetamine.
• Patrick Botello, 31, of Pelican Bay State Prison, is charged with conspiracy to possess with
intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine and heroin and using a cellphone to
facilitate a drug trafficking offense.
• Israel Covarrubias, 25, of Woodland, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to
distribute and to distribute controlled substances after having been convicted of a felony
drug offense, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of
methamphetamine, and using a cellphone to facilitate a drug trafficking offense.
• Milton Escobedo, 28, of Woodland, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to
distribute and to distribute controlled substances, distribution of cocaine, and using a
cellphone to facilitate a drug trafficking offense.
• Rachel Felix, 38, of Woodland, is charged with distribution of methamphetamine.
• Ashley Habash, 28, of Marysville, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to
distribute and to distribute methamphetamine and heroin and using a cellphone to facilitate
a drug trafficking offense.
• Edgar Jimenez, 19, of Sacramento, is charged with distribution of cocaine and using a
cellphone to facilitate a drug trafficking offense.
• Justin Johnson, 33, of Sacramento, is charged with possession with intent to distribute
methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
• Jose Madrigal-Vega, 31, Woodland, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to
distribute and to distribute controlled substances, and distribution of methamphetamine.
• Victor Magana, 24, of Woodland, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to
distribute and to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute
methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, distribution of cocaine, and using a
cellphone to facilitate a drug trafficking offense.
• James Masterson, 28, of Newcastle, is charged with using a cellphone to facilitate a drug
trafficking offense.
• Brenda Miranda, 21, of Napa, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute
and to distribute methamphetamine and heroin and using a cellphone to facilitate a drug
trafficking offense.
• Reginald Pajimola, 23, of Marysville, is charged with possession with intent to distribute
cocaine and using a cellphone to facilitate a drug trafficking offense.
• Mercedez Silva-Sims, 21, of Colusa, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to
distribute and to distribute methamphetamine and heroin and using a cellphone to facilitate
a drug trafficking offense.
• Joshua Sims, 24, of Colusa, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute
and to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, attempted distribution of methamphetamine,
using a cellphone to facilitate a drug trafficking offense, and distribution of cocaine.
• Erica Umbay, 42, of Woodland, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
• Ricardo Villa, 39, of Pelican Bay State Prison, is charged with conspiracy to possess with
intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, and using a cellphone to
facilitate a drug trafficking offense.
• Trevor White, 27, of Sacramento, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to
distribute and to distribute controlled substances and distribution of methamphetamine.

Two additional defendants are being charged in the District of Oregon and the Western

District of Pennsylvania. The Yolo County District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s
Office continue to review possible charges against additional potential defendants.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The
OCDETF program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major
drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. The principal mission of the OCDETF
program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money
laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.

This case is brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that brings
together federal, state and local law enforcement to combat gun and gang crime. At the core of PSN
is increased federal prosecution to incapacitate chronic violent offenders as well as to communicate
a credible deterrent threat to potential gun offenders.