MANHUNT MONDAY 09/07: MICHAEL TORRES AKA “HEX”

MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER 7, 2009 

 MICHAEL TORRES  AKA “HEX”

(PREVIOUS BOOKING PHOTOS ABOVE OF FUGITIVE TORRES)

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO ON FUGITIVE MICHAEL TORRES

The Manhunt is on for MICHAEL TORRES AKA “HEX”.

TORRES is wanted for the OFFENSE of:

POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE (COCAINE) - $100,000 BOND

EL PASO, TEXAS- This week’s Manhunt Monday Fugitive is an individual who was featured on “MANHUNT” earlier this year. The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office is assisting the FBI in searching for fugitive at large- MICHAEL TORRES AKA “HEX”.

For the past year and a half, the FBI/DEA Strike Force, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (EPCSO) Metro Narcotics unit and the El Paso Police Department (EPPD) Narcotics unit, have been investigating the drug trafficking activities of GUALBERTO MARQUEZ, also known as (aka) "Bird", herein referred to as the MARQUEZ DRUG TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATION (MDTO). Through investigation, MARQUEZ has been identified as a confirmed member of the Barrio Azteca (BA) criminal enterprise.

Several undercover narcotic purchases were conducted by the EPCSO Metro Narcotics unit and the EPPD Narcotics unit which assisted in identifying MARQUEZ’ “drug runners” and the vehicles utilized to deliver the narcotics.

In February 2009, it was determined that MARQUEZ was the leader of a well-organized drug trafficking organization operating in El Paso, Texas. MARQUEZ had several drug runners working for him which operated a 24/7 cocaine/crack distribution cell in northeast El Paso. MARQUEZ was also shipping cocaine and bulk marijuana to Midland, Texas.

In April 2009, it was confirmed that MARQUEZ’ supplier was importing the cocaine from Juarez, Mexico.

After four search warrants and four arrest warrants were issued, GUALBERTO MARQUEZ, Jose Montes, Raul Godoy and Sergio Pena were arrested on May 1, 2009. All four subjects were charged with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine.

On May 13, 2009, a grand jury returned a 16 subject indictment.

On May 15, 2009, six drug runners were arrested.

On May 16, 2009, one more runner turned himself in.

Out of the 16 subjects indicted 15 are already in custody and one remains at large (MICHAEL TORRES). TORRES was considered MARQUEZ’ right hand man who ran day to day operations for the MARQUEZ Drug Trafficking Organization, as well as managing the ‘drug runners.’

TORRES knows he is wanted & is believed to be hiding in our area as he continues to elude capture.

If anyone has seen or knows the whereabouts of MICHAEL TORRES “HEX” - they are urged to call Crime Stoppers of El Paso at 566-TIPS (8477). Callers will remain anonymous & may be eligible for a reward if the information provided leads to the apprehension of the individuals featured.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW PREVIOUS MANHUNT MONDAY FEATURE ON MICHAEL TORRES AKA “HEX” FROM 05-18-09

Below are the Mug shots of  all arrested in the MARQUEZ  Drug Trafficking Organization

AS OF MAY 16, 2009-  15  AFFILIATED WITH BARRIO AZTECA ARE IN CUSTODY ON FEDERAL DRUG DISTRIBUTION CONSIPRACY CHARGES

• 23-year-old Elizabeth Vaquera (aka “Liz,” “Chicken Head”)
• 31-year-old Javier Soto (aka “Buddha”)
• 29-year-old Miguel Hernandez Reyna (aka “Smurf”)
• 29-year-old Raul Castro (aka “Listo”)
• 29-year-old Alberto Provencio (aka “Menace”)
• 20-year-old Lee Villegas-Marquez (aka “Lee”)
• 22-year-old Felipe Jesus Davila (aka “Flip”)-

Eight co-defendants, already in custody prior to the above arrests on 05-15-09, include the alleged leader of the drug trafficking organization:

• 34-year-old Gualberto Marquez (aka “Bird”)
• 29-year-old Raul Cabral Godoy (aka “Puppet”)
• 40-year-old Jose Armando Montes (aka “Chuco”)
• 32-year-old Gerardo Reyna (aka “Shorty,” “Gerardo Aguilar”)
• 31-year-old Paul Alvino Reyna (aka “Gordo”)
• 43-year-old Jaime Velasco-Perez
• 42-year-old Jamie Andrade Castrejon (aka “Tocayo Jaime,” “El Chonte”)
• 68-year old Gilberto Sanchez-Porras (aka “El Tio”)

GUALBERTO MARQUEZ

 END OF FEATURE FOR "MANHUNT"

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office in March of 2001 was the first Sheriff’s Office in the State of Texas to be Internationally Accredited from CALEA and is now the recipient of the First CALEA Tri-Arc award in Texas (4^th in the Nation) to have accreditations in: Law Enforcement, Communications, Training Academy.