OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. - A Jefferson City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a firearm and methamphetamine to distribute. Specifically, on June 8, 2021, a federal grand jury indictment resulting from the sting operation was unsealed in San Diego. Alexander Michael Randise, 29, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court last year to a fentanyl distribution charge, stemming from the December 2021 death of Tyber Joseph Lustig, U.S. District Court Judge Larry Burns ruled the 2021 law did not violate gun owners rights under the Second Amendment, Preliminary hearing of Larry Millete, who has pleaded not guilty to murdering his missing wife Maya Millete, could run two weeks or longer. This prosecution underscores that coordinated criminal activity will be met with a coordinated and focused law enforcement response by the U.S. Attorneys Office and our law enforcement partners at the federal, state, and local level. Maximum Penalties: For Felon in Possession of Firearm Charges: Ten years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. This yearlong investigation involved federal wiretaps, dozens of undercover drug and gun buys and extensive surveillance. Attorneys from the Department of Justice, Office of Enforcement Operations, Electronic Surveillance Unit, also provided critical assistance to the investigation. Please reload the page and try again. DEFENDANTS Case Number: 21CR1404-DMS. Both were arrested in April on charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and are currently in federal custody. Random Lengths News Operation 'Wipe Out:' Narcotics and Firearms Charges For 13 Defendants Named in Four Federal Indictments - The Los Angeles Harbor Area's Only Independently owned news magazine serving San Pedro, Wilmington, Carson, Lomita, Torrance, Long Beach, Rancho Palos Verdes and Harbor Gateway. It is common for employees to hand out small amounts of methamphetamine and comp customers to keep them playing and coming back for more, reads the warrant. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Dont buy a teeth whitening gel before reading these reviews. In total, law enforcement seized more than 150 pounds (68 kilograms) of methamphetamine and $31,035 in cash during this investigation. If you sell drugs in San Diego, we will find you and prosecute you to the full extent of the law.. Domestic Cannabis Suppression / Eradication Program, Red Ribbon Toolkit - Resources For Your Community, DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Intelligence Research Specialist Job Announcements, Schedule A Hiring Authority: Intelligence Research Specialist, Privacy Impact Assessment and Management Information Systems, Victim Witness Assistance Program Resources. An official website of the United States government. Two additional defendants were charged in separate indictments in March in connection with this case, bringing the number of defendants charged so far to 21. The drug-trafficking organization, known by its Spanish initials CJNG, has risen in influence in recent years and has been battling the more entrenched Sinaloa Cartel for control of the lucrative Tijuana-San Diego smuggling route. "One method utilized was moving tens of thousands of dollars in narcotics proceeds to the network's leaders via Paypal, Zelle, Venmo and Cash App accounts, in addition to shipping bulk cash.". ) A San Diego man who killed his boyfriend by stabbing him 93 times was sentenced today to life in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. The indictment also charges some of the defendants with conspiracy to import methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, being a felon in possession of ammunition, and attempted international money laundering. The investigative work led by the Violent Crimes Task Force and the arrests made have created a safer environment for all of our communities.. Our team of experts has selected the best teeth whitening gel out of hundreds of options. According to the indictment returned on May 5 and unsealed today, from April to August 2020, lead defendants Timoteo Gomez, 48, of Riverside, and Javier Rodriguez, a.k.a. The main draw to illegal gambling establishments is methamphetamine use and sales, according to the indictments. The war for Tijuana has grown into an intense three-way battle with the involvement of two remnant factions of the once-controlling Arellano Flix Organization one is aligned with the CJNG against Sinaloa and the other is hoping to subdue both major cartels. Grossman said that Assistant U.S. Attorney and Matthew J. Sutton will be one of the lead prosecutors on the case. 922(g)(1). Those arrested today include the owners of the businesses and employees who acted as doormen, security and bankers; those who audit the machines; and those who collect the money. Maximum Penalties: Importation of Methamphetamine Charges: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a $10 million fine. Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of California Randy Grossman was joined at 2 p.m. by officials from the DEA, IRS, San Diego County Sheriff's Department and others for a news conference, which was held at the DEA's office on Viewridge Avenue. Maximum Penalties: For Possession with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of Methamphetamine Charges: Forty years imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a $5 million fine. 619-232-4311. Maximum Penalties: Importation of Methamphetamine Charges: life in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a $10 million fine. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. As of Thursday. This serves as another example of what happens when you bring together dedicated law enforcement professionals using a comprehensive approach to detect, disrupt, and dismantle these criminal operations., Numerous crimes have been linked to the illegal gambling operations, said SDPD Chief David Nisleit. They have been linked to drugs and violent crime. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. They also seized methamphetamine, heroin and firearms as part of the investigation. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Callery said that the targets of Operation Crystal Shield were purchasing over 100 pounds of meth a week, "which is an enormous amount for any city in the United States, Callery said. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Four defendants are fugitives. Maximum Penalties: For Distribution of Methamphetamine Charge: Forty years imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a $5 million fine. Maximum Penalties: Importation of Methamphetamine Charges: Forty years imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a $5 million fine. Importation of Methamphetamine (Title 21, U.S.C., Secs. Assistant U. S. Attorneys Matthew J. Sutton (619) 546-8941 and Adam Gordon (619) 546-6720. One has pleaded guilty and the other is awaiting trial. Please reload the page and try again. As of Thursday afternoon, 17 of the 23 defendants -- all identified as San Diego residents ranging in age from 23 to 60 -- were in federal or state custody, with a dozen of the defendants. Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substance, in violation of Title 21, U.S.C., Secs. To protect their illegal operations, the defendants used encrypted communications services to communicate with each other. 856(a)(1)), Distribution of Methamphetamine (Title 21, U.S.C., Sec. Many of these gang have long-standing ties to the Mexican Mafia. Main Office: Christopher Alexis Gomez, 17, and Juan Suarez-Ojeda, 18, both U.S. citizens from San Diego, and Angel Said Robles, 17, of Tijuana were in a Tijuana apartment when a group of people burst in. We have taken down the illegal gambling dens, and we have lifted a weight off our neighborhoods, said Acting U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. TTY: (619) 557-3450. According to court records, it is common for gambling den owners to pay rent in cash to the owners of these properties and, in some cases, a percentage of the profits to cast a blind eye to all the foot traffic. TTY: (619) 557-3450. Your email address will not be published. All rights reserved, Beaches Up and Down San Diego County Closed After Sewage Spills, Watch Live: Maya Millete Case Updates During Larry Millete's Hearing on Murder Charge, SUV Appears Split in Half After Oceanside Crash That Killed Mom, 6-Year-Old, Injured 4 Others, That's Where She Told Me That She Needs a Place to Live,' Maya Millete's Sister-in-Law Testifies. "From the evidence gathered in this case, the IRS and our law-enforcement partners were able to identify the mechanics of the money-laundering organization," Korner said at the news conference. 371 Conspiracy), Illegal Gambling Business (Title 18, U.S.C., Sec. The investigative work led by the Violent Crimes Task Force and the arrests made have created a safer environment for all of our communities., This joint operation is a prime example of what can be accomplished when law enforcement works together to respond to community concerns over increased crime in their neighborhoods, said San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan. Juan Manuel Alvarez-Inzunza, 39, was indicted by a federal grand jury in 2015, and charged with conspiracy to launder monetary instruments and conspiracy to import and distribute cocaine and methamphetamine. Get FBI email alerts Whoops! Officials also announced seizures of more than 220 pounds of meth and other drugs, 90 firearms and more than $250,000 in cash. Drug proceeds were returned to the networks leaders through a variety of means, including bulk cash, structured cash deposits into bank accounts and money transfers through apps like PayPal, Zelle, Venmo and Cash App, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. An official website of the United States government. The gambling dens continued to operate during the pandemic. Edgar Herrera Pardo oversaw a group of enforcers called Los Cabos who worked to secure the Baja California corridor for the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, according to prosecutors. Our DA team worked tirelessly with the Violent Crimes Task Force and the U.S. Attorneys Office assisting with critical search warrants during the course of this operation.. The members of the ring will face firearm, money-laundering and drug-distribution charges. The indictments are part of a yearlong investigation involving wiretaps, undercover drug and gun purchases and "extensive surveillance," according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. DEFENDANT Case Number: 21CR1406-DMS, DEFENDANT Case Number: 21CR1407-DMS, DEFENDANTS Case Number: 21CR1408-DMS. Reporters Notebook: California border remains top fentanyl trafficking gateway into U.S. Judge sentences boat pilot to 18 years in prison for three smuggling deaths, Truth or a simple dream? Long is a reputed member of the V-Boys Vietnamese street gang, who has previous convictions for illegal gambling and drugs, according to the affidavit. Those arrested are slated to be arraigned in San Diego federal court Friday afternoon. Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. maps_and_photos_4-14-21x.pdf unsealed_sw_21mj1300.pdf Three other defendants were already in federal or state custody on unrelated charges, and federal prosecutors will seek to have them brought into federal court. For firearms charges: Ten years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. So far, 44 of the 60 defendants are already in state or federal custody, the prosecutor said. Doctor and Office Manager Indicted in Scheme to Defraud Medicare, Manufacture and Distribute Fentanyl. As of today at 1 p.m., 17 of the 23 defendants are either in federal or state custody. Maximum Penalties: For Possession with Intent to Distribute Charge: Forty years imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a $5 million fine. SAN DIEGO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - A man from San Diego was indicted in a federal court after a search of his residence revealed his connection to illegal sales of firearms and possessing. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. 880 Front Street, Room 6293 Maximum Penalties: For Distribution of Methamphetamine Charges: Forty years imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a $5 million fine. FBI.gov is an official site of the U.S. Department of Justice. "They're also supplying a deadly stream of methamphetamine and other deadly drugs. Acting U.S. Attorney Randy S. Grossman noted that gangs, drugs and illegal firearms have infested many of our neighborhoods, which creates a violent culture that is unsafe for residents.. Maximum Penalties: For Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition Charges: years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. 841(a)(1)). Members are nominated by Superior Court Judges to serve one-year terms. Nearly a dozen federal indictments were unsealed in San Diego Thursday charging 23 documented gang members and associates with trafficking drugs and firearms. Criminal Records and Contact Info aggregated from real law enforcement agencies and government court houses. SAN DIEGO Federal authorities unsealed indictments Thursday against 85 alleged members of East San Diego County drug distribution and money laundering networks linked to the Sinaloa Cartel, with more than half of the defendants currently in custody. Maximum Penalties: For Illegal Gambling Business Charge: Five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. 952 & 960). Ryan Korner, who is the Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigations Los Angeles Field Office, described how the criminal moved the money across international borders. Subscribe A locked padlock 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2); Maximum Penalties: For firearms charges: 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. An official website of the United States government. He pleaded guilty in July 2022 to one count of interstate domestic violence resulting in death and was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District . ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. The defendants largely hail from gangs operating in the South Bay. news, guides, reviews and information since 1995. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Official websites use .gov Additional partner agencies participating in the takedown. Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine (Title 21, U.S.C., Sec. With the generous support of readers like you, Times of San Diego publishes timely and accurate news coverage for a better-informed community. for adult inmates in San Diego, California in San diego that opened in 1974. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. In May 2020, another co-conspirator allegedly attempted to drive a load of 90.4 pounds (41 kilograms) of methamphetamine into the United States from Mexico through the San Ysidro port of entry. Slaphouses are named for the button-bashing sound made by patrons playing on illegal machines. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Maximum Penalties: For firearms charges: Ten years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. The San Diego teens had told family they were going to Ensenada for a barbecue the night before but didnt return home as planned. 880 Front Street, Room 6293 These collaborative efforts continue to make our communities safe.. Prosecutors said many of the defendants are either members or associates of gangs -- many of which have "longstanding ties to the Mexican Mafia" -- operating out of National City, San Ysidro and other areas. "Together, these cities account for about 75% of all methamphetamine traffic within the United States.". Name, email and comment will be stored in our database. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 922(g)(1). Vasquez is accused of coordinating the killings, according to a U.S. Attorneys Office motion to unseal the charges. The cartel was an early adopter of trafficking fentanyl into the U.S. as a cheaper, more reliable alternative to heroin and, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office, is also a prolific methamphetamine producer and chemical importer, using precursors procured from China and India.. The FBI disrupted two dozen illegal gambling dens in San Diego Wednesday morning in sweeping raids across the city. Incentives for staying, playing and dining local, Local students can apply for 140+ college scholarships, Lisa Marie Presleys death deferred by L.A. coroner, Family of O.C. A consumer advocacy group had sought emails, meeting schedules and other records after The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that the insurance commissioner had accepted political contributions from insurers and intervened in administrative cases to benefit some donors. Authorities also seized methamphetamine, heroin and firearms as part of the investigation. The FBIs Inland Empire Safe Streets Task Force investigated this matter. Randy Dalo says he awoke during neck surgery at UCSD Hillcrest and has suffered from nightmares ever since. Maximum Penalties: For Distribution of Methamphetamine Charges: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a $10 million fine. April 14, 2021 - SAN DIEGO - A federal grand jury has indicted 47 people who are allegedly associated with illegal gambling establishments that are closely tied to gangs, drugs, and. The defendants arrested today are expected to make their initial appearances this afternoon in the United States District Court in Riverside and downtown Los Angeles. Agents and officers from the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force-Gang Group, San Diego Police Department, San Diego Sherriffs Department, National City Police Department, Chula Vista Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, San Diego County Probation and the San Diego County District Attorneys Office collaborated on this investigation. The investigation leading to these federal charges focused on the criminal activities of the Riverside-based Casa Blanca Rifa criminal street gang to combat drug trafficking and associated violence in Riverside and the surrounding community. ) A San Diego man who killed his boyfriend by stabbing him 93 times was sentenced today to life in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. If you want to make sure you have the necessary supplies on hand to treat a future breakout, acne patches are the answer. Assistant United States Attorney Robert S. Trisotto of the Riverside Branch Office is prosecuting this case. Matthew Brehm (619) 546-8983. Maximum Penalties: For Maintaining Drug Involved Premises Charges: Five years imprisonment and a $500,000 fine. The fourth alleged leader, Israel Alejandro Vazquez-Vazquez, is charged separately in a March 2021 indictment. The operation resulted in 35 arrests and charges against 47 people, according to federal indictments unsealed Wednesday. SAN DIEGO Eleven federal indictments unsealed in San Diego today charge twenty-three documented gang members and associates with heroin, methamphetamine and firearms trafficking. We won't use your email for any other purpose, and you can opt out at any time via an unsubscribe link. 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2). According to an FBI search-warrant affidavit, at least nine of the 24 businesses raided belonged to one man, Long Ngoc Tran, 41, also known as Long Tu.. 60 Members of Alleged San Diego Meth Ring Linked to Sinaloa Cartel Indicted, Top Sinaloa Cartel Money Launderer Sentenced to Over 15 Years in Prison, MexicoArrests Ovidio Guzman, Son of El Chapo and Sinaloa Cartel Leader, Alleged Drug Trafficker Extradited to San Diego From Argentina, U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California, Opinion: Three Ways that California Can Prepare for Future Atmospheric Rivers, Sister-in-Law of Missing Chula Vista Woman Testifies at Millete Hearing, San Diego State University Launches Online Cyber Tech Academy, Husband-and-Wife Team to Star in Disney on Ice in San Diego, San Diego Foundation: $3.5 Million in Scholarships Available, Santee YMCA Closing Early, Fearing Rally Clashes Over Teen's Report, Trans Rights, Opinion: SunbreakRanchIs the Answer to San Diego -- and Americas -- Homeless Crisis, Opinion: Latest Chargers Loss a Reminder of Why San Diego Fans Let Them Leave, Family of 6, Including New Baby, Dead in Drug Cartel Massacre in Central Valley, San Diego Police Shoot, Kill Man, 77, Sought in Younger Woman's Fatal Stabbing, Parcels Near Cal State San Marcos Sold for Nearly $6M in Area Slated for Redevelopment, Fundraiser for Former San Diego Police Officer Darnell Calhoun Passes $150K, Heavy Rain Runoff and Sewage Spills Close Beaches Across San Diego Area, Three More Arrests Made in Alleged Large-Scale Theft, Robbery Ring, California Braces for Last 2 'Atmospheric River' Storms Amid Hopes for Drought to Ease, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. Alexander Yoichi Duberek, 25, was indicted in September 2021. Enter address: This website, like most media sites, uses small files called cookies to anonymously customize the advertising that you see. The FBI disrupted two dozen illegal gambling dens in San Diego Wednesday morning in sweeping raids across the city. Four men alleged to be leaders in a Mexican cartel enforcement cell have been indicted in San Diego on drug-trafficking charges and are accused of orchestrating a wave of violence in Tijuana, including the murders of two San Diego teenagers in 2018, according to federal prosecutors. Grossman praised federal prosecutors Dale Blankenship and Matthew Brehm as well as the Deputy District Attorneys, FBI Special Agents, San Diego Police Department detectives and officers and other state, federal and local law enforcement agencies who worked so hard on this investigation. The "massive" San Diego network moved "tons" of meth around the nation, including to Hawaii, Arizona, Texas, Kansas, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, as well as to Australia and New Zealand, Grossman said. Early this morning, more than 450 members of the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force - Gang Group, the San Diego Police Department and many other law enforcement agencies made 35 arrests and searched 24 locations, mostly illegal gambling dens in East San Diego neighborhoods. Earlier this month, a man who allegedly laundered drug money for the Sinaloa Cartel was arraigned in San Diego federal court on conspiracy charges. Some of that violence was aimed at three teenagers on Nov. 24, 2018. 841(a)(1) and 846; Conspiracy to Import Heroin, in violation of Title 21, U.S.C., Secs. He was previously designated under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act for allegedly laundering money for top cartel leaders, including Joaquin "El Chapo'' Guzman Loera, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. SAN DIEGO - A federal grand jury has indicted 47 people who are allegedly associated with illegal gambling establishments that are closely tied to gangs, drugs and violence in San Diego neighborhoods. San Diego, California 92101-8807, Telephone: (619) 557-5610 According to the warrant, the use and sale of methamphetamine is intrinsically linked to slaphouses and acts as a draw to bring customers to the venues. Have a question about Government Services? The CJNGs rapid expansion of its drug trafficking activities is characterized by the groups willingness to engage in violent confrontations with Mexican government security forces and rival cartels, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administrations most recent National Drug Threat Assessment report. The indictments are part of a yearlong investigation involving wiretaps, undercover drug and gun purchases and "extensive surveillance," according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, San Diego County District Attorneys Office, Southern District of California A locked padlock Lock SAN DIEGO A federal grand jury has indicted 47 people who are allegedly associated with illegal gambling establishments that are closely tied to gangs, drugs and violence in San Diego neighborhoods. RIVERSIDE, CA Law enforcement authorities today arrested 12 defendants charged in a federal grand jury indictment alleging they conspired to traffic large quantities of methamphetamine from their suppliers in Mexico into and throughout the Inland Empire. Grossman also praised Assistant U.S. Assistant U. S. Attorneys Matthew J. Sutton (619) 546-8941 and Adam Gordon (619) 546-6720 NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY - May 27, 2021 SAN DIEGO - Eleven federal indictments unsealed in San Diego today charge twenty-three documented gang members and associates with heroin, methamphetamine and firearms trafficking. Sutton said that the lead defendant in the case, Reyes Espinoza, was the one with the alleged ties to the Sinaloa Cartel and was the main supplier and served as a conduit, the main source of supply for the meth ring, responsible for importing hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine into San Diego every week. Today we sent a message to drug traffickers in our community, U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer said. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS With the generous support of readers like you, Times of San Diego publishes timely and accurate news coverage for a better-informed community. *The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. He NEVER lets me be by myself. These establishments are equipped with electronic gambling machines which are programmed with several games of chance such as poker, blackjack, keno, jacks or better, and slot games.