For as long as a decade, the feds say, brothers Cesar and Gilberto have been the kingpins of a large and violent drug-dealing syndicate in North Texas, known by law enforcement as the Goon Squad. Theirs was a family business.
The brothers worked along with their sister Elva as drug dealers and robbers, the feds say. Cesar ("Bling"), Hilberto ("Gilberto") and Elva -- known by authorities as the Ibarra Siblings -- led the gang in drug distribution, robbery, burglary and "other acts of violence," according to authorities.
Cesar's son, Cesar Jr. ("Chicho"), was also part of the crew, which distributed meth, cocaine and marijuana.
They also robbed their fellow criminal. The FBI alleges that the Ibarra Siblings and the Goon Squad conducted "surveillance and reconnaissance" of rival dealers to plan their robberies, and also surveilled law enforcement figures whom they believed were investigating their gang. According to the feds, the Goon Squad targeted rival drug dealers in robberies because they knew they possessed large quantities of narcotics, cash and firearms, and because they knew the crimes wouldn't get reported.
In the end, though, someone likely talked. The feds, in collaboration with the Dallas Police Department and the U.S. Attorney's Office, have worked together for the past several months to build a case against the Goon Squad. Their work culminated in the dramatic series of arrests last week, hauling off half the Ibarra family and their Goon Squad friends.
After the Thursday night arrests, the Goon Squad members quickly appeared in court on Friday afternoon, and will begin detention hearings this week. They could each face up to 20 years prison.
