U.S. Attorney Sofer Announces Operation Undaunted in San Antonio

 Operation Undaunted, a program designed to apprehend dangerous criminals, interrupt violence, protect innocent life and restore peace to local neighborhoods, is underway in San Antonio, announced U.S. Attorney Gregg N. Sofer.

“We simply cannot, and will not, stand idly by and watch as violent criminals take over the streets of our communities and harm innocent victims,” said U.S. Attorney Sofer.  “Despite the challenges of the coronavirus and the unfair vilification of the entire law enforcement community, we remain undaunted in our commitment to protect the residents of central and west Texas.”

Operation Undaunted is a four-prong approach that draws on the partnerships among federal, state and local law enforcement coupled with prosecution authorities to combat violence.  The first component is to increase the use and exploitation of the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) to focus on the most violent offenders in local communities—shooters. Aggressively comparing ballistics evidence gathered from crime scenes as well as from recovered firearms to uncover ties between offenders and violent crimes is of utmost importance.  The second component is to focus on removing from our communities incorrigible, repeat offenders who fail to rehabilitate, continue committing violent acts, including domestic violence, and pose an ongoing danger to law-abiding citizens and victims.  The third component calls for assertive federal prosecution of the most violent and serious robbery cases including those in which a firearm was used, that was committed by gang members, cartels or crews, or that involved thefts from gun stores and other federal firearms licensees spanning multiple jurisdictions. The fourth component is to engage in collaborative investigation and prosecution with military authorities to address violent crimes that occur on military bases while adhering to Posse Comitatus.

Operation Undaunted represents federal, state and local law enforcement’s commitment to combat violence and restore peace to central and west Texas communities.  “Taking violent actors off the street is a priority,” said U.S. Attorney Sofer.  Recently local and federal law enforcement joined forces to arrest and charge three repeat violent offenders:

• A federal grand jury on Wednesday returned an indictment charging 31-year-old San Antonio resident Asia Victor Tsatenawa with one count of possession with intent to distribute “crack” cocaine; one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine; two counts of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm; and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  Court records allege that on December 3, 2020, Tsatenawa possessed an AK-47 style pistol. When Tsatenawa was arrested on December 8, 2020, by the San Antonio Police Department he was also in possession of cocaine, crack cocaine and two 9 mm pistols. Upon conviction of the charges, Tsatenawa faces between five years and life in federal prison.  Tsatenawa, a documented gang member, was previously convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possession of cocaine in Bexar County and being a federal felon in possession of a firearm in the Western District of Texas.
• A federal grand jury indicted 45-year-old San Antonio resident Charles Allen Scott last month for being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition.  According to the indictment, Scott was in possession of a single round of .357-caliber ammunition on October 6, 2020.  Court documents allege that a spent shell casing recovered at a scene where Scott fired a gun is linked via NIBIN to three other separate shootings in the San Antonio area. Upon conviction, Scott faces up to 10 years in federal prison.  He remains in federal custody.  Scott was previously convicted four times of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in Bexar County.
• Dylan James Rivas is charged by a federal grand jury indictment with being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm. According to court records, Rivas was in possession of a Glock 9 mm pistol on April 17, 2020.  That same 9 mm pistol is linked via NIBIN to two shootings in San Antonio. Rivas, a documented gang member, was previously convicted of aggravated robbery and assault family violence in Bexar County. Rivas remains in federal custody pending his trial currently scheduled for next month.