Operation Bear Trap

Rascals of Tahoe and a Case of Leniency

Now, dear reader, let us turn our attention to a tale of crime, justice, and a rather curious brand of leniency that has settled upon the shores of Lake Tahoe like an unwelcome fog. The principal character in this drama is one Edgar Ivan Trejo-Mendoza, a man with a knack for bad company and worse decisions, who now finds himself convicted and awaiting deportation after a grand multi-agency operation charmingly dubbed “Operation Bear Trap.”

Trejo-Mendoza’s luck ran out on February 8, when authorities plucked him from his roguish pursuits in Cool, Calif.—though one might argue a more fitting name for his hideaway would have been “Not-So-Cleverly-Disguised.” His arrest was the result of a multi-year investigation that sought to untangle the web of violent crime, illicit drug peddling, and gun-running in the Tahoe region.

Authorities wasted little time in compiling an impressive list of charges against him, including possession of a firearm while being legally barred from doing so, courtesy of a domestic violence restraining order, the unlawful sale of an assault weapon to a felon, illegal entry into the United States, and the ever-fashionable title of fugitive from justice.

Yet, dear reader, if you were expecting a tale of swift and resolute justice, you may wish to temper your expectations. On February 18, Trejo-Mendoza pleaded guilty to a single felony count—unlawful transfer of a firearm—in El Dorado County Superior Court. His punishment? Time served–a total of 17 days in the county jail–and a probationary pat on the head. No sooner had he stepped back into the fresh air of freedom than he found himself whisked away by the diligent hands of the FBI and ICE, who promptly set about the business of initiating deportation proceedings.

Now, lest you assume Trejo-Mendoza was a lone wolf in his misdeeds, allow me to introduce some of his charming compatriots—men whose dealings in machine guns, narcotics, and other unsavory enterprises have earned them sentences so light they might float away on the Tahoe breeze.

Among them is Carlos Alfredo Perez Guerra, convicted of possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material and a firearm, despite his felonious status, originally sentenced to four years but now enjoying the comforts of probation after a mere two. Oscar Arreola Nunez, a man with sixteen felony convictions under his belt, including selling machine guns and narcotics across from South Tahoe Middle School—presumably an effort in early career development. He received a seven-year sentence, though four got graciously suspended, and after serving a measly year and a half, he, too, waltzed into probation.

Then there’s Jose Medina Vazquez, a collector of felonies in the double digits, himself convicted of crimes including possession of a machine gun, felon in possession of a firearm, and narcotics distribution. His seven-year sentence should, by current trends, land him back in circulation by spring 2026. Bryan Antunez Gonzalez, convicted of carjacking and robbery, at least earned himself a six-year stint in prison before the promise of deportation upon release.

And let us not forget the four federal defendants swept up in Operation Bear Trap back in 2022, who are still awaiting trial for methamphetamine trafficking—presumably because justice must first take its afternoon tea.

In the face of such an impressive collection of lawbreakers, one might expect the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office to throw its hands up in despair.

Yet they assure us they remain steadfast in their mission to combat illegal firearm trafficking, gang activities, and violent crime. They have promised continued collaboration with federal agencies, including the FBI and ICE, to apprehend, prosecute, and, when necessary, deport those with a penchant for lawlessness.