Drug, gang sweep nets 12 in LV area, L.A.

Jen Lawson

Thursday, Dec. 11, 2003 | 11:24 a.m.

Twelve people were arrested by federal authorities Wednesday as part of a major drug and gang sweep in the Las Vegas area and Los Angeles.

Authorities released little information on the arrests, which included charges of drug trafficking, conspiracy and money laundering, until the suspects had their first hearings in U.S. District Court this afternoon.

Drug Enforcement Agency officers raided six locations in the Las Vegas area with assistance from Metro and North Las Vegas police, Los Angeles DEA spokesman Jose Martinez said. Southern Nevada is included in the DEA's Los Angeles territory.

Eleven were arrested in the Las Vegas area and one was arrested in Los Angeles on charges including drug trafficking and conspiracy, Martinez said. Authorities were still searching for one other person who was wanted in connection with "Operation Armed and Dangerous," as authorities are calling multi-agency investigation.

The arrests "mean we have now removed dangerous gang members off the streets. They were dealing in high-level narcotics trafficking that was a detriment to the Las Vegas community," Metro Sheriff Bill Young said in a press release issued this morning by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Neither Metro, North Las Vegas or Henderson police would answer questions about the raids or arrests because federal authorities are handling the investigation.

Court documents for the case remained sealed this morning.

According to the press release from the U.S. Attorney's office:

The Las Vegas residents arrested and charged with a variety of cocaine possession and distribution charges included: Roxana Arteaga, 20, of the 5600 block of Ruby Creek; Davion Brooks, 31, of the 6200 block of Waterleaf; Graylon Dillon, 31, of the 3900 block of Blue Wave Drive; Damon James, 24, of the 5200 block of East Stewart Avenue; Johnny Jones, 25, of the 9800 block of Ridgehaven Avenue; David Keith, 29, of the 1200 block of Jefferson Street; Jose Antonio Morales, 24, of the 5600 block of Ruby Creek; and Henry Villa-Chavez, 25, 6900 block of South Paradise Road.

North Las Vegas residents Arphaxad Carroll, 33, of the 6000 block of Carlton Sea Court, and Kohath Carroll, 30, of the 3900 block of Champagne Wood, were also arrested and charged with cocaine base distribution.

Lavonne Norwood, 30, of the 6200 block of Waterleaf, was arrested and charged with money laundering, and Eliso Villa, 27, of Compton, Calif., was charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to distribute cocaine base.

Search warrants were issued for four bank accounts and approximately 10 vehicles in connection with the sweep, authorities said.

The locations of the Las Vegas raids were homes in the 6200 block of Waterleaf, in the 3100 block of South Valley View and in the 2200 block of Cambridge Elms, as well as an apartment at 4350 Terrace Hills.

North Las Vegas homes in the 6000 block of Carlton Sea and in the 3900 block of Champagne Wood were also raided.

A neighbor who lives near a house on Cambridge Elms Street that was raided and did not want to be identified said the area is normally quiet.

The home had been rented by the owner, the neighbor said.

"All I saw was a K-9 unit and two cops standing in front of the house," the neighbor said.

Last Christmas Eve someone broke into another home and stole cash, jewelry and a gun.

The Buena Vista Springs apartment complex near Martin Luther King Boulevard and Carey Avenue was one of the locations raided.

The sweep was part of a multi-agency task force involving agents from the DEA, FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Marshal Service and local police.