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APD Gang Unit Makes Several Key Arrests

APD gang detectives have made several key arrests in recent weeks as part of the department’s ongoing gun violence prevention initiative.

May 29, 2019

APD is addressing gang-related activity in three ways:

  • The department’s traditional Gang Unit with undercover detectives has combined with the NIBIN Unit, which uses ballistics technology to track the use of guns in longer-term investigations.
  • APD also has Gang Suppression Officers, or field officers who receive extra training in gang-related investigations. They can assist gang investigations in addition to their primary field duties, which provides a force multiplier.
  • APD also has a Gun Violence Reduction Unit that works on short-term investigations. The Unit works with the District Attorney’s Office to identify primary drivers of gun violence.

“Gang activity is at the center of much of Albuquerque’s gun violence and the trafficking of narcotics,” said Mizel Garcia, Commander of APD’s Special Investigations Division, which oversees the gang unit. “Under Mayor Keller and Chief Geier’s leadership, we have invested resources and manpower into this problem, and we are seeing results. We are also working as partners with federal, state and local law enforcement, as well as prosecutors, to ensure we are attacking gun violence from all sides.”

Four Family Members Arrested

Detectives from the Gang Unit and the Gun Violence Reduction Unit located and apprehended four family members who were involved in a brutal beating with a firearm that stemmed from an earlier fight between two 17-year-old females. One of the females (Faith Winter) involved her father (Ryan Winter) and two brothers (Kevin and Keith Winter) after the initial fight. All three Winter children are known gang members. After the initial fight on Feb. 9, 2019, the family members tracked down and blocked in the female victim and a male friend at the Chevron Gas Station at 1535 Coors Blvd NW. Ryan Winter pinned the male victim to his vehicle while Kevin and Keith Winter struck the female victim several times with a firearm. One of the brothers then struck the male friend with the firearm. Ryan Winter retrieved a shotgun and pressed it into the male victim’s face.

Detectives used APD’s NIBIN program, a ballistics-tracking technology, to connect the offenders to 11 separate shooting events. Those investigative leads helped detectives obtain arrest warrants for all four family members for the following charges: Robbery, Aggravated Battery with Deadly Weapon, and Aggravated Assault with intent to commit a violent felony, Tampering with evidence, conspiracy, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and child abuse. The Gang Unit and Gun Violence Reduction Unit arrested the offenders in April.

Ramon Garcia

On May 14, 2019, gang detectives conducted a background investigation into Ramon Garcia. During investigations the Gang Unit viewed Garcia on social media posts firing handguns within the city limits of Albuquerque. Gang detectives received information Garcia was located at his school, inside a classroom. Detectives set up in the area and later arrested Garcia on campus without incident. After Garcia was arrested, detectives located a Glock handgun and two high-capacity magazines containing 49 rounds of 9mm ammunition. There was one round in the chamber and a mounted laser on the weapon found inside his backpack. Due to the quick action by the Gang Unit, a mass school shooting may have been averted. Garcia was arrested on a felony warrant, unlawful carrying a weapon on school premises, unlawful possession of a handgun by a person, and tampering with evidence.

Cesar Marquez and Adrian Marquez

On May 7, 2019, Southeast officers responded to a juvenile with a firearm running around in the Walmart parking lot. As officers entered the parking lot they heard multiple gunshots. While contacting subjects who appeared to be fleeing the area, officers were advised the gunshots were being fired from a dark Ford Mustang.  Officers quickly located a blue Ford Mustang and conducted a felony stop on the vehicle. Both occupants exited the vehicle without incident and were detained. While speaking with officers the driver stated there was a firearm inside his vehicle.

Adrian Andres Marquez was identified as the subject who fired at least three rounds from a handgun. Marquez has had multiple prior felony arrests, including narcotics and aggravated assault. The Gang Unit assisted with a search warrant for the Ford Mustang, and discovered a Glock 22 (.40 caliber) with 13 rounds and approximately 1 ounce of powder cocaine were located inside the vehicle.

Chris Salcido

In November 2018, gang detectives identified a suspected gang member involved in several shootings in the Southwest Area Command. Gang detectives conducted an investigation and arrested Salcido on felony drug charges. In March 2019, Chris Salcido was identified by the Gang Unit as a “Driver of Crime and Gun Violence” in the Albuquerque area. He was associated with numerous calls for service and shooting investigations that tied to several NIBIN leads. Police records showed a high volume of calls for service (approximately 36, dating back to 2016) involving shots fired, suspected narcotics trafficking and aggravated battery. On May 9, 2019, detectives from the Gang Unit, Gang Suppression officers, Gun Violence Reduction Unit, ATF Agents, Central Narcotics, and Problem Response Team officers conducted a joint operation to arrest Salcido who was in possession of three ounces of cocaine, two handguns, and one reported stolen AR rifle. ATF Agents took custody of Chris Salcido and charged him federally for drug and weapon violations.

Dana LaMonda and Juan Carlos Pacheco

On May 9, 2019, detectives were notified of possible gang activity at 1405 Corriz Dr SW, and suspected some of the occupants may have been involved in several shootings. After several days of conducting surveillance on the home, one suspect was identified and had several felony warrants. He was previously convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

LaMonda faces a charges for a felony warrant for Aggravated Burglary of a firearm. Pacheco faces charges for felon in possession.

Donald Crapse

On April 16, 2019, gang detectives conducted surveillance at 6800 Gonzales Road SW. Detectives observed a male subject, who was riding a 3-wheeled motorcycle, meet with another waiting vehicle in the parking lot. Detectives observed the rider of the motorcycle, later identified as Donny Crapse, get off his motorcycle and get into the waiting vehicle. Crapse was observed being involved in activity consistent to ingesting narcotics through his nose. A short time later Crapse got back on his vehicle and drove away.


Detectives conducted surveillance and called to have a unit stop the vehicle. Tactical units responded to assist in stopping the vehicle at the corner of Charleston and Central SW. As officers contacted Crapse, he was found to be sitting on top of a firearm. Gang Detectives spoke with Crapse who admitted he had narcotics on him and it was in his wallet. Crapse is a self-admitting motorcycle gang member. Detectives retrieved the narcotics from Crapse’s wallet and it was field tested with results presumptive to methamphetamine-based substance. Crapse was later booked without incident and charged with possession of methamphetamine.

Jamil Lewis

APD officers arrested Jamil Lewis, 21, for Possession of a Controlled Substance (Felony - Narcotic Drug), and two felony warrants. Lewis is an ALeRT offender who was identified by a multi-agency program that tracks offenders who continuously commit crimes in the community.

On 5/18/2019, Officers were dispatched to the area of 300 Menu Blvd NW in reference to a male subject, later identified as Jamil Lewis, with outstanding Felony warrants. Lewis, a known gang member, was positively identified by officers and placed under arrest. While searching Lewis’s person upon arrest, officers found nine small black tar-like substances wrapped in plastic. Using a field test kit, the substance tested presumptive positive for Heroin. There was also a plastic bag containing a crystal like substance, which tested presumptive positive for Methamphetamines. Lewis was booked into MDC without incident.

Lewis has six felony arrests for Aggravated Assault (Deadly Weapon), Aggravated Battery (Deadly Weapon), Assault With Intent to Commit a Violent Felony Attempt to Commit a Felony, to wit: Armed Robbery, Burglary of a Vehicle, Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Assault (Deadly Weapon), Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Assault, Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Battery (Deadly Weapon), Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery, Conspiracy to Commit Criminal Damage to Property (Over $1000), Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering (Conduct or Participate), Conspiracy to Commit Receiving/Transferring Stolen Motor Vehicles, Conspiracy to Commit Shooting at a Dwelling or Occupied Building, Conspiracy to Commit Shooting at or from a Motor Vehicle (Great Bodily Harm), Conspiracy to Commit Tampering with Evidence, Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, Criminal Damage to Property (Over $1000), Possession of a Controlled Substance (Narcotic Drug), Possession of a Firearm or Destructive Device by a Felon, Racketeering (Conduct or Participate), Receiving or Transferring Stolen Motor Vehicle, Receiving Stolen Property, Receiving Stolen Property - Retain (Over $500 but not more than $2,500), Shooting at Dwelling or Occupied Building, and Shooting At or From a Motor Vehicle (Great Bodily Harm).

Lewis has been booked into Metropolitan Detention Center. He will appear before a Metropolitan Court Judge in the near future.