Tango Blast Gang

Tango Blast

Tango Blast, a.k.a. Puro Tango Blast. Tango Blast includes Tangos from the four original cities as well as the West Texas and Rio Grande Valley areas. Tango Blast differs from Tangos in that separate Tango Blast gangs sometimes band together to help one another. The gang’s rapid growth poses a significant new security threat, and elements of Tango Blast within TDCJ appear to be challenging Texas Syndicate for control of illegal prison activities. Tango members appear to return to their local street gangs when released from prison, rather than continue their prison-based affiliation.

TANGOS/TANGO BLAST GROUPS 
Austin Tangos (ATX; Capirucha)
Corpus Christi Tangos (Corpitos; Charco)
Dallas Tangos (D-Town)
El Paso Tangos (EPT)
Fort Worth Tangos (Foritos; Foros)
Houston Tangos (Houstone; H-Town)
Rio Grande Valley Tangos (Valluco)
San Antonio Tangos (San Anto; Orejones)
West Texas Tangos (WTX)



Texas prison officials first noted the presence of a gang known as Four Horsemen in 1998. Some Hispanic gang members entering the TDC from the cities of Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston were not interested in joining an established prison gang and established Four Horsemen to protect one another and to engage in illegal activities, particularly drug trafficking, to make money. Four Horsemen became known as Tangos, because its members wore tattoos that reflected the town (or tango) in which they resided prior to incarceration. As interest in Tangos grew among Hispanic gang members entering TDCJ from other areas of Texas, Tangos from West Texas, the Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio and El Paso were accepted. Of the eight groups now recognized as Tangos, only six are part of Tango Blast.

Symbols: Houston Astros star, Dallas Cowboys star, Houstone, 713, TB, the Four Horsemen, 214, Foritos, H-Town, D-Town, A-Town
Territory: Houston, Dallas, Ft. Worth, Waco, Austin, West Texas
Alliances: West Texas Tango
Members: 700
Ethicity: Hispanic

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"West Texas Puro Tango Blast" -- Not As Much Fun As It Sounds
By Robert Wilonsky in Crime and Punishment
Dec. 5, 2008

Only a few days ago, The Dallas Morning News ran a piece about Texas' Tango Blast gang, which was formed within the confines of the state's penitentiaries and "could change the Dallas landscape because it rejects old notions of prison gang exclusivity and lifelong commitments," wrote Tanya Eiserer. (The D-Town Tango Blast members sport tattoos like the one above, a reference to the Dallas Cowboys.) Five days later, the U.S. Attorney sends word that 13 of the Tango Blast-ers -- including a 28-year-old from Arlington who goes by the name "Burrito" -- were arrested today for allegedly running so mammoth a cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking organization that it took a dozen local, state and federal law enforcement agencies two years to bring it down. The full details concerning the bust-up of an operation that extended from Abilene to North Texas are after the jump. --Robert Wilonsky

ARRESTS DISMANTLE COCAINE AND METHAMPHETAMINE TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATION IN ABILENE, TEXAS
Defendants Arrested are Members of the West Texas Puro Tango Blast Prison Gang

ABILENE, Texas - Ten members of the West Texas Puro Tango Blast prison gang allegedly involved in a major cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking organization operating in the Abilene, Texas, area, and throughout North Texas, were arrested without incident this morning by federal, state and local law enforcement officers in an early morning round-up, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. The arrests were made in the Abilene area as well as in Brownsville, Arlington, and Corpus Christi, Texas.

Two additional alleged members of that organization are already in custody on related charges; another alleged member is a fugitive. All 13 defendants are charged in a 13-count federal indictment returned in Lubbock last month and unsealed this morning. U.S. Attorney Roper said, "Today's enforcement action, the culmination of a nearly two year investigation, has effectively shut down a dangerous drug trafficking organization operating in Abilene. Once again, an operation such as this demonstrates the commitment of federal, state and local law enforcement to work together to aggressively address drug dealing and take the profit out of illegal narcotics sales."

"Today marks the culmination of a successful two year investigation into the criminal activity of the West Texas Puro Tango Blast prison gang," said Robert E. Casey, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas FBI. Casey continued, "This collaborative effort on the part of the federal government and local law enforcement to aggressively deal with drug, gun and violent gang activity here in West Texas continues to achieve positive results. The FBI remains committed to the disruption and dismantlement of these organized violent gangs through the continued multi-agency Task Force concept. I would specifically like to thank the efforts of the Texas Department of Public Safety, Abilene Police Department, Taylor County Sheriff's Office, Stephens County Sheriff's Office, Arlington Police Department, Brownsville Police Department, Texas Department of Criminal Justice-Security Threat Group, West Central Texas Inter-Local Task Force, U.S. Marshal's Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration."

Those defendants arrested this morning are:

* Ricardo Valdiviez, a/k/a "Ricky," 24, Brownsville, Texas
* Ramiro Olivo, a/k/a "Burrito," 28, of Arlington, Texas
* Steven Ildefonso Flores, 33, of Abilene, Texas
* Larry Villareal, 32, of Abilene, Texas
* Serafin Moreno, a/k/a "Serf," 31, of Corpus Christi, Texas
* Eric Tonche, a/k/a "Quat," 27, of Abilene, Texas
* Jacob Adam Garcia, a/k/a "Little Jake," 25, of Abilene, Texas
* Lorenzo Barela, 29, of Abilene, Texas
* Rolando Solis, 27, of Abilene, Texas
* Jennifer Grace Cortez, 26, of Abilene, Texas

Defendant Fidel Hernandez Gomez, a/k/a "Gordo," 44, an illegal alien who resided in Abilene, is already in custody on federal charges and defendant Joe Anthony Diaz, 26, of Abilene, Texas, is in custody on state charges. Defendant David Rodriguez, 34, a/k/a "Super Dave," remains a fugitive.

James L. Capra, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) Dallas Division, said, "The arrests and seizures made today will significantly impact and disrupt this large scale drug trafficking organization. Today's actions of determined federal, state and local agencies ensure that our communities will be safer. Illegal drugs do not discriminate, and they attack the very core of our society. The people of the Abilene area need to know that we are committed to serving this fine community and we will be relentless in our efforts to ensure that our communities continue to be safe and a great place to live and raise children."

All of the defendants will make their initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Abilene, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Philip R. Lane, on Tuesday, December 9, 2008. Defendants Ricardo Valdiviez, David Rodriguez, Ramiro Olivo, Steven Ildefonso Flores, Joe Anthony Diaz, Larry Villareal, Serafin Moreno, Eric Tonche, Jacob Adam Garcia, and Jennifer Grace Cortez are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. Defendants Fidel Hernandez Gomez, Ramiro Olivo, Steven Ildefonso Flores, Larry Villareal, Serafin Moreno, Eric Tonche, Jacob Adam Garcia, and Rolando Solis, are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.

Several of the defendants are also charged in substantive counts and defendants Eric Tonche and Lorenzo Barela are also charged with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Defendant Rolando Solis is also charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

The indictment alleges that participants in the conspiracy, as members and associates of the West Texas Puro Tango Blast criminal organization, distributed, and possessed with intent to distribute, cocaine and methamphetamine. They would acquire large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine, transport it to various locations, and then store it at various locations.

An indictment is an accusation by a federal grand jury and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty. However, if convicted, each of the defendants, with the exception of Lorenzo Barela, faces a maximum statutory sentence of life in prison and a fine of up to $4 million. Barela, who is not currently charged in the conspiracy, faces a maximum statutory sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

While stating the investigation is ongoing, U.S. Attorney Roper praised the excellent investigative efforts of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), FBI, DEA, Texas Department of Public Safety, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, West Central Texas Interlocal Crime Task Force, Abilene Police Department, Taylor County Sheriff's Office, Stephens County Sheriff's Office, and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Security Threat Group Gang Intelligence Unit.

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In 1998, the Tango Blast prison gang is formed in the Clemens state prison in Brazoria, Texas. (Gang Intelligence 101)

In 2001, both the Tango Blast and Barrio Azteca engage in a gang fight in a gymnasium at the Torrez state prison in Hondo, Texas. Both gangs settle a truce soon after. (Associated Press)

On January of 2002, members of the Barrio Azteca brutally stab a Tango Blast member while the victim is using the restroom at the Robertson state prison in Abilene, Texas. A gang war between the two gangs erupts state wide soon after. (Associated Press)

On June 2002, the Tango Blast retaliates against the Barrio Azteca by severely beating 4 of its members in the John B. Connally state prison in Kenedy, Texas. (Gang Intelligence 101)

In mid 2002, the Texas Syndicate declares war on the Tango Blast prison gang. (Gang Intelligence 101)

In April 2002, members of the Texas Syndicate murder a Tango Blast member at the J.B. Connally state prison. (Gang Intelligence 101)

On August 7, 2005, Tango Blast member Rolando Vasquez murders Juan Rodriguez, a member of the Varrio Northside street gang in Houston, Texas. (Vasquez v. State, No. 2-06-409-CR (Tex. App. 9/4/2008)

On August 31, 2006, several Tango Blast members are arrested for drug distribution and trafficking in Dallas, Texas. (Aguilar v. State, No. 05-07-00660-CR (Tex. App. 8/18/2008)

In October 2007, Tango Blast member William Linzer kidnaps and rapes a teenage girl in Houston. (Associated Press)

On May 2007, Tango Blast member Jesus Elizondo, 22, shoots and kills a 15-year-old boy in Dallas. (Associated Press)

In June 2008, The Tango Blast prison gang attack Texas Chicano Brotherhood members in the J.B. Connally state prison. (Gang Intelligence 101)

On November 16, 2008, Tango Blast members murder Alejandro Vasquez in a nightclub in downtown Dallas. (Associated Press)

On December 2008, ten members of the West Texas Tango gang are arrested in a major cocaine and meth trafficking ring. (U.S. Department of Justice Press Release)

In 2009, four members of the Tango Blast gang are arrested by FBI officials in Houston for possession of more than five kilos of cocaine. Agents seized fire arms, high end cars and jewelry. (Associated Press)