La Familia Gang Members Arrested in Edmonton

December 17, 2014

Edmonton… Members of the La Familia gang, which is allegedly connected to Mexican drug cartels and the Mara Salvatrucha gang, have been arrested in Edmonton following an Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) investigation.

ALERT Edmonton, an integrated team consisting of Edmonton Police Service and RCMP members, allege that the cartel-affiliated group was attempting to gain control of the drug distribution channels in Alberta. Their operation was supplying drug lines in Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Drayton Valley, Lloydminster, and Red Deer.

La Familia, or the The Family, is described as an international support arm for the Mexican drug cartels and has strong ties to El Salvador gang Mara Salvatrucha, also known as MS-13.

The Alberta chapter wore a three-piece patch, similar to outlaw motorcycle groups, and had an established rank structure and club rules. The Alberta president of La Familia, Jose Antonio Monterrey, was arrested on December 11 while attempting to board a flight at Edmonton International Airport.

Three associates of Monterrey, 33, were also arrested, including Peter Alan Griffon, 34, Cody Sterling Tremblett, 28, and Penny Sue Fleming, 34. They are facing a combined 40 drug and weapons related charges.

The arrests coincided with search warrants being executed at three Edmonton homes. ALERT seized $600,000 worth of drugs, including:

• 5 kilograms of cocaine;
• 2.7 kilograms of MDMA;
• 2 kilograms of a buffing agent;
• Oxycodone pills;
• Cocaine press;
• $45,000 in cash proceeds of crime.

A variety of firearms and weapons were also seized, including:

• Two .22 caliber rifles, one equipped with a silencer;
• .44 caliber Desert Eagle handgun;
• Sawed-off shotgun;
• Thousands of rounds of ammunition;
• Body armour vests.

ALERT’s most recent investigation began in August when intelligence identified La Familia as an emerging public safety threat to Albertans. It was believed that La Familia was in the process of aggressively recruit new members and pursuing new markets for drug distribution.

ALERT was established and is funded by the Alberta Government and is a compilation of the province’s most sophisticated law enforcement resources committed to tackling serious and organized crime. Nearly 400 municipal police, RCMP, and sheriffs work in ALERT.

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CRIMINAL CHARGES

Jose Antonio Monterrey – 9 charges:

• Drug possession (x 3);
• Possession of body armour;
• Possession of a prohibited weapon;
• Possession of a prohibited weapon contrary to prohibition order (x 4).

Peter Alan Griffon – 9 charges:

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking (x 2);
• Possession of a loaded prohibited firearm;
• Unauthorized possession of a firearm;
• Careless use of a firearm (x 5).

Cody Sterling Tremblett – 11 charges:

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking (x 2);
• Possession of a loaded prohibited firearm;
• Unauthorized possession for a firearm;
• Careless use of a firearm (x 5);
• Possession of a weapon dangerous to public;
• Possession of body armour.

Penny Sue Fleming – 11 charges:

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking (x 2);
• Possession of a loaded prohibited firearm;
• Unauthorized possession of a firearm;
• Careless use of a firearm (x 5);
• Possession of a weapon dangerous to public;
• Possession of body armour.