It was a significant blow to illegal weapons trafficking in Phoenix last month when Arizona State Gang Task Force detectives concluded a lengthy investigation that led to multiple arrests and the seizure of an arsenal of firearms. According to a press release by the Arizona Department of Public Safety, detectives executed five residential search warrants on September 26, that netted 32 firearms, including several stolen pieces, as well as stolen goods from various burglaries within the Valley, cash, and illegal narcotics.
The operation had been months in the making, meticulously drawing to gather intelligence and coordinate among several law enforcement bodies. In a culminating move, authorities managed to swiftly apprehend four suspects believed to be deeply entangled in the weapons trade. Each of them now faces an array of felony charges ranging from trafficking in weapons to money laundering and illegal control of an enterprise. Among those items seized were stolen suppressors and a modified Glock capable of automatic firing, often referred to as a Glock switch.
The suspects taken into custody include a spectrum of Phoenix residents: Charles P. Mendoza, 22; Luis A. Pizano, 21; Christopher J. Lopez, 18; and Jasmine T. Olivas, 19, who was additionally charged with narcotic drug possession and for possessing a weapon during a drug offense. There was also a fifth individual apprehended on an outstanding warrant. The names and ages of the suspects were provided in the Arizona DPS report…