HOUSTON -- Ten members of a Houston drug gang have been arrested and another four are being sought for distributing marijuana and cocaine with a street value of up to $40 million, law enforcement officials announced Wednesday.

In a five-count indictment unsealed Wednesday, 14 members of the Houstone gang, an offshoot of the Tango Blast prison gang, were charged with conspiracy to distribute the illegal drugs starting in 2007. Officials also seized marijuana and cocaine, firearms, jewelry, cell phones and $12,000 in cash. Agents also seized several high-priced cars including a Bentley, a Maserati and a Cadillac Escalade.

Authorities say that members of the Houstone gang often tattoo themselves with the Astros logo and an area code. 11 News reporter Jeff Mcshan got an exclusive interview with a Houstone member last April.

“Being a Houstone is all about respect,” the gang member said. “But if others disrespect the Houstone, then it’s going to be dealt with that one.”

11 News photo

Law enforcement officials say they have arrested 10 members of a Houston drug gang and are seeking another four for distributing marijuana and cocaine with a street value of up to $40 million.

The member showed McShan his tattoos and said the gang doesn’t cause trouble unless trouble comes to them first. 

But law enforcement disagrees. HPD says a fight between a Houstone and another gang member led to the death of a teenager in 2007.

The arrests and charges mark the end of a three-year investigation, dubbed Operation Broken Star, as well as the first indictment of 2009 for the Multi-Agency Gang Task Force, which includes the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Houston, the FBI, the Houston Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

“We’re here to wage battle, wage war, on any gang and all gangs that have selected Houston as their turf,” Andrew R. Bland III, the FBI’s special agent in charge in Houston, said at a news conference at the U.S. Attorney’s office. “No gang, no associates, no criminal activity will find safe haven in Houston.”

The multi-agency task force, which is targeting gangs operating in the Houston area, has arrested 59 gang members and seized more than $4.5 million, vehicles and property in previous investigations.

Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt credited the task force’s actions with helping to reduce the number of gang-related homicides in the city by 41 percent over the last year. In 2007, there were 61 gang-related killings in Houston, compared to 36 in 2008, Hurtt said.

“We think the streets are safer because we’ve taken off the streets these 10 people,” said Tim Johnson, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas.

According to the indictment, the government plans to seek forfeiture of $18 million in assets—which officials said was the wholesale value of the drug operation. The indictment also alleges that the defendants conspired to possess, with intent to distribute, 100 or more kilograms of marijuana, and five or more kilos of cocaine.

The conspiracy charge carries for each suspect a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison, a $4 million fine and five years supervised release. The other counts carry an equal or lesser possible sentence.

The busts took place in Houston, Pearland, La Marque, League City, Pasadena, Cypress, Missouri City, Navasota and College Station.

Law enforcement is still looking for four suspects who are all believed to be a part of this drug trafficking ring.

They are Raul Madrigal, Ronnie Jackson, Mario Gonzales and Juan Rangel.

If you have any information on these men and/or their whereabouts, you are urged to call the FBI. The number is 713-693-5000.