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A Starr County man is among 23 people arrested in a federal case filed against alleged members of the Texas Syndicate prison gang.

The Associated Press reported that the 23 were arrested on federal drug trafficking charges across the State of Texas while warrants have been issued for four other suspects.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that 32-year-old Alvaro Garza of Rio Grande City is among the suspects arrested in the sweep.

A federal criminal complaint filed in Fort Worth earlier this week alleges that the 27 conspired to possess for distribution and distributed cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana.

Federal prosecutors said the alleged acts of drug trafficking began before May 1, 2007, and continued until the present day.

Prosecutors said the prison gang was formed in the 1970s by native Texas inmates to deal with other prison gangs and members are bound by strict rules that ensure loyalty and participation in criminal gang activities.

The arrests involved alleged Texas Syndicate members from Fort Worth, Arlington, Grand Prairie, Hico, Houston, Rio Grande City and Waco:

Fort Worth

• Robert Losoya a.k.a Minnesota, 44
• Ricardo Ruiz Jr. a.k.a Rick Ross, 28
• Jimmy Guidry a.k.a Güero, 39,
• Isiquio Herrera a.k.a Zeke, 35,
• Jimmy Portillo a.k.a Perro, 37
• Daniel Ramos a.k.a Danny, 35,
• Ruben Guajardo a.k.a Guero G, 24
• John Paul Figueroa, 26
• Richard Rubio a.k.a Chino, 26
• Flora Dayton, 51
• David Ramos, 38
• Kim Herrmann, 48
• Lorenzo Azua, 34
• Eli Palacios, 42

Arlington

• Harry Aguilar, Jr., a.k.a Charlie Brown, 34
• Walter Smith, a.k.a., Puff, 26
• Selwyn Martin, a.k.a Red, 43
• Andres Vasquez, Jr., a.k.a. Andy, 42

Other Texas Cities

• Juan Fuentes a.k.a Juanillo, 34, Grand Prairie
• Timothy Russell, 48, Hico
• Faustino G. Fernandez, 31, Houston
• Alvaro Garza, 32, Rio Grande City
• Bobby Bradford of Waco

Source: Fort-Worth Star-Telegram