Many of the defendants are scheduled to be arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Berg at 2 p.m. today and tomorrow. The U.S. Attorney's office Grossman announced charges Tuesday afternoon against 60 alleged local members of a San Diego-based methamphetamine ring accused of working for a distribution network. DEFENDANTS Case Number: 21CR1404-DMS. 841(a)(1); Felon in Possession of a Firearm, in violation of Title 18, U.S.C., Secs. FBI.gov is an official site of the U.S. Department of Justice. The indictments allege that many of these gambling locations were taking in thousands of dollars a day. Forms & InstructionsOverviewPOPULAR FORMS & INSTRUCTIONSForm 1040Individual Tax ReturnForm 1040 InstructionsInstructions for Form 1040Form W-9Request for Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) and CertificationForm 4506-TRequest for Transcript of Tax ReturnForm W-4Employee's Withholding CertificateForm 941Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax . The fourth alleged leader, Israel Alejandro Vazquez-Vazquez, is charged separately in a March 2021 indictment. Vasquez is accused of coordinating the killings, according to a U.S. Attorneys Office motion to unseal the charges. A mugshot of Edgar El Caiman Herrera Pardo from his 2019 arrest in Mexico. 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That is, until today.". We are committed to dismantling violent gangs and holding their members accountable for criminal conduct., The FBI is proud to work alongside our local, state, and federal partners on the Violent Crimes Task Force to address the gang problem and rid our streets of the overflow of drugs and guns which continue to plague our communities, said FBI Special Agent in Charge Suzanne Turner. We won't use your email for any other purpose, and you can opt out at any time via an unsubscribe link. 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. Prosecutors say the defendants were part of a ring that smuggled thousands of pounds of meth from the cartel across the border, then distributed the drug to dozens of sub-distributors in San Diego County, across the United States and even Australia and New Zealand. 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. the announcement coincided with the unsealing of a federal grand jury indictment in san diego charging 17 foreign nationals with conspiring to violate the racketeer influenced and corrupt. The drug dealers moved the narcotics around the country utilizing various means, including FedEx and UPS, according to investigators. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. Of the 35 people arrested, 15 are part of the indicted group, and the others were arrests for state offenses. The operation resulted in 35 arrests and charges against 47 people, according. The main draw to illegal gambling establishments is methamphetamine use and sales, according to the indictments. They often spring up behind seemingly vacant storefronts in areas where retail has taken a downturn. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. 841(a)(1)). The 19-count indictment charges a total of 19 defendants with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum 10-year prison sentence and a statutory maximum penalty of life imprisonment. 841(a)(1)). The FBI disrupted two dozen illegal gambling dens in San Diego Wednesday morning in sweeping raids across the city. As a result of the collaboration of federal, state and local law enforcement officials, law-abiding citizens who live in these neighborhoods will be safer without these magnets for crime in their midst. 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. Attorneys Matthew J. Sutton and Adam Gordon for their excellent work on this case. Learn more about how we use cookies in our cookie policy. However, surveillance, phone records, financial documents, undercover agents and wiretaps were utilized to track the defendants communications and locations, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. 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 charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. As of Thursday. The indictment details the conspirators efforts in April 2020 to smuggle 46.6 pounds (21.2 kilograms) of methamphetamine from Mexico across the U.S port of entry at Calexico and into Riverside County. Maximum Penalties: For firearms charges: Ten years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. 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Authorities also seized methamphetamine, heroin and firearms as part of the investigation. He pleaded guilty in July 2022 to one count of interstate domestic violence resulting in death and was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District . Specifically, on June 8, 2021, a federal grand jury indictment resulting from the sting operation was unsealed in San Diego. 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 arrested this week. 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. Toll Free (800) 544-1106 document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 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.. Oct. 17, 2021 5:06 PM PT SAN DIEGO In a case prosecutors and defense attorneys agree "covers novel questions of fact and law," two Tijuana men have been indicted on drug-trafficking and. 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. Other alleged members of the conspiracy would further distribute methamphetamine in the Inland Empire. 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Attorneys from the Department of Justice, Office of Enforcement Operations, Electronic Surveillance Unit, also provided critical assistance to the investigation. According to a search warrant affidavit, the investigation into the network dubbed Operation Crystal Hydra began in the spring of 2020. Help us grow with a monthly contribution. 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. 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. Please reload the page and try again. "Gangs, drugs and illegal firearms are infesting many of our neighborhoods and creating a violent culture that is unsafe for residents," Acting U.S. Attorney Randy S. Grossman said. 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. DEFENDANTS Case Number: 21CR1411-DMS, DEFENDANT Case Number: 21CR1412-DMS, DEFENDANTS Case Number: 21CR1413-DMS, DEFENDANTS Case Number: 21CR1414-DMS. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. June 15, 2021 4:10 PM PT 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. Three of the indicted individuals were already in custody prior to the takedown. FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitive Michael Pratt Captured in Spain. Main Office: Maximum Penalties: For Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition Charges: years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. Todays enforcement action is another example of why the Task Force was established to be a force multiplier and combine short term, street level enforcement activity with long term, sophisticated techniques to root out and prosecute the entire criminal enterprise., I would like to recognize the cooperation between all agencies who took part in this operation, said San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit. The 19-count indictment charges a total of 19 defendants with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum 10-year prison sentence and a statutory maximum penalty of life imprisonment. On official, secure websites Manufacture and Distribute Fentanyl time via an unsubscribe.. 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