Grand jury charges 11 in smuggling Drug, Illegal Immigrant and Firearms ring

A federal grand jury indictment was unsealed today charging 11 people with conspiracy to distribute large amounts of marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine that was obtained from Mexico and brought into the Tulsa area.

The alleged ringleaders, Manuel and Mario Bonilla, also face charges of operating a continuing criminal enterprise, commonly known as the federal drug kingpin law, according to U.S. Attorney David E. OMeilia.

Two of the defendants, Manuel Bonilla, 36, and Omar Cruz, 27, both of Mexico, are being sought by authorities.

The remaining nine defendants are in custody.

They are: Mario Bonilla, 23, of Tulsa; Holly King, 29, of Wann, Okla.; Cecilia Lorena Bonilla, 20, of Tulsa; Michelle Moreno, 27, of Tulsa; Francisca Bonilla, 63, of Mexico; Jose Silos, 47, of Mexico; Selene Soto, 31, of Odessa, Texas; Felix McVay, 51, of Haskell, Okla.; and Victor Poras, 36, of Kansas City, Mo.

O'Meilia said the investigation that led to the indictment spanned over two years and was dubbed Operation Icepack.

The indictment alleges that from about March 2001, the Bonilla family orchestrated the transportation of drugs across the border into the United States, primarily through the El Paso, Texas, area.

The drugs were ultimately brought into the Tulsa area and Kansas City with the help of Illegal Immigrant, where the organization maintained locations for storing, manufacturing,distributing and selling the drugs.

Also, they are accused of smuggling firearms and Illegal Alien from Mexico into the United States.