March 03, 2011 10:41 PM

http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/money-123506-charges-drug.html

Six Brownsville residents facing charges of drug trafficking or money laundering were denied bail Thursday morning after a federal judge deemed them “flight risks” and “a danger to the community.”

U.S. Magistrate Felix Recio ordered that Arturo Gomez, 31, Magda Zendejas, 28, Reyna Ceballos, 21, Julio Gonzalez, 45, David Alcala, 30, and Vanessa Weaver, 28, be remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

The defendants were arrested Wednesday by a task force made up of federal and local law enforcement at several locations in the Brownsville area after a federal indictment was unsealed detailing charges stemming from an investigation dubbed “Operation Stained Glass.”

Gomez is a Brownsville native with a family who runs a local auto glass business. From January 2009 to February 2011, he is accused of conspiring to possess and distribute more than 5 kilograms, or more than 10 pounds, of cocaine and transporting money from Atlanta to Mexico for drug trafficking. The charges carry sentences, respectively, of 10 years to life in prison and a maximum of 20 years, according to Recio.

Gomez is also accused of violating federal reporting guidelines by concealing $47,205 to send to Mexico. Recio said the charge carries a maximum of five years in prison. On a fourth count, the government intends to seek a judgment against Gomez for any money laundered and any property bought with that money.

During Wednesday’s arrest, federal authorities seized $524,000 in cash and 2 kilograms, or 5 pounds, of cocaine at a residence on the 500 block of Salvatierra in the Brownsville Country Club area.

Zendejas, Ceballos, Gonzales and Alcala were charged in the same conspiracy to traffic cocaine. Weaver is charged with one count of attempting to smuggle $16,530 in cash to Mexico.

Thursday’s proceedings revealed that Ceballos, dressed in blue scrubs in the courtroom, was employed by a Brownsville physical therapy office and is the daughter of Gonzalez, one of the other suspects. She is a U.S. citizen with a 2-year-old son, officials said.

Gonzalez, officials said, is a self-employed resident alien construction worker who has lived in Brownsville since 1985. He has a family of six children, they said.

Officials at the hearing said Weaver is a mother of two and married to a Mexican citizen. She was born in San Benito, they said. She is represented by local attorney Ed Stapleton.

The other defendants requested court appointed counsel.

A detention hearing for the six defendants is scheduled for March 7 before Recio.

Sonia Iveth Garcia-Medina was arrested Wednesday during the federal investigation on charges unrelated to drug trafficking or money smuggling.

She is charged with re-entering the United States illegally on March 2 after being deported previously.