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Border Patrol Busy Weekend Results in Arrests of Two Dangerous Felon Gang Members

Release Date
Mon, 02/10/2014

Calexico, Calif. —U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the El Centro station apprehended two dangerous gang members over the weekend during separate incidents.  Both men were attempting to make an illegal entry into the United States at the time of their arrests.

The first incident occurred on Saturday, approximately nine miles west of the downtown Calexico Port of Entry.  Border Patrol agents observed the man, later identified as Jeronimo Duque Moreno, a 41-year-old Mexican national as he entered the United States illegally from Mexico.  Agents arrested Moreno without incident.

Moreno was transported to the El Centro Border Patrol station, where it was revealed he was an aggravated felon previously removed from the United States, and an active member of the “18th Street” criminal street gang out of Los Angeles, Calif.  Moreno has convictions for possession for sale of narcotics and for carrying a dagger, receiving a combined prison sentences of more than three years.  Moreno is in Border Patrol custody and will be processed for re-entry of a removed alien.

The second incident occurred on Sunday, at approximately 11:30 a.m., when Border Patrol agents from the El Centro station apprehended a group of seven undocumented aliens near Highway 98 and Mount Signal Road.  Record checks revealed that one of the male subjects, Israel Meza-Zepeda, a 39-year-old Mexican national, had been previously ordered removed by an Immigration Judge on Dec. 17, 2013.  It was also revealed that Meza is an active “Sureno” gang member with an outstanding warrant for homicide out of Whittier, Calif.  Meza has a previous conviction for attempted murder and was sentenced to 11 years in prison.  That prison sentence was extended another six years after Meza committed assault with a deadly weapon while in prison.

Meza is in Border Patrol custody and will be further processed for his illegal entry into the United States.  After prosecution for immigration charges, Meza will then be turned over to the proper law enforcement agency for his outstanding warrant.

The El Centro Sector’s Community Awareness Campaign is a simple and effective program to raise public awareness on the indicators of crime and other threats.  We encourage public and private sector employees to remain vigilant and play a key role in keeping our country safe.  Please report any suspicious activity to the Border Community Threat Hotline at (800)-901-2003.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021