Gang suspect arrested at Tahoe in CCSO-assisted operation

The South Lake Tahoe Police Department, El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, El Dorado District Attorney’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Douglas County Sheriff’s and the Carson City Sheriff’s Office completed a multi-year investigation named Operation Bear Trap leading to the arrest Monday in South Lake Tahoe of suspected Surenos gang member Jose Medina.

Medina

“Today’s arrest of Jose Medina marked the third arrest of a Sureno gang member in South Lake Tahoe,” law enforcement officials said in a news release. “To date, Operation Bear Trap has totaled 76 arrests.”

Operation Bear Trap targeted narcotics and illegal firearms sales, uncovering Sureno-affiliated gang members operating within the Lake Tahoe Basin. The multiple agencies participated in the FBI Safe Streets Task Force (SSTF) to coordinate the investigation.

“During the lengthy investigation, Medina illegally sold FBI Safe Streets investigators narcotics, firearms and illegal parts which convert a semi-auto firearm into an illegal fully automatic firearm,” according to the release. “A search and arrest warrant were issued for Jose Medina and his residence. Due to the nature of the investigation, the South Lake Tahoe Police Department Crisis Response Team was utilized to serve the search and arrest warrant in the 2500 Block of Chris Ave in South Lake Tahoe. Jose Medina surrendered to officers on scene without incident.”

Officials said Medina is a convicted felon, prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.

“Medina is on active probation through El Dorado County for being a prohibited person in possession of firearms,” officials said. “During a search of the residence, the following items were recovered: cocaine packaged for sales, an illegal short-barreled AR-15-style rifle, a Glock handgun with an illegal 30-round magazine and illegal parts to convert a semi-automatic firearm into a fully automatic firearm.”

Medina is being held without bail at the El Dorado County Jail on the following charges, all felonies: Prohibited person in possession of a firearm; prohibited person in possession of ammunition; sales of cocaine; sales of methamphetamine; possession and transport of machine guns; and sales of machine guns.

Operation Bear Trap previously yielded arrests of two other local Sureno gang members, according to the release.

“After illegally selling FBI Safe Street investigators cocaine and illegal parts designed to transform a semi-automatic firearm into an illegal fully automatic firearm, Oscar Nunez was arrested in Carson City on March 24, 2023,” officials said. “On Oct. 4, 2021, Carlos Perez was arrested at his residence in South Lake Tahoe during the execution of a search warrant. Perez, also a known Sureno gang member in South Lake Tahoe, was arrested for being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and possession of child pornography.”