NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – September 19, 2019                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

SAN DIEGO – Eight indictments were unsealed today in San Diego federal court charging 85 members of drug distribution networks linked to the Sinaloa Cartel, with federal drug trafficking, money laundering and firearms offenses.

During the coordinated takedown that began early this morning, investigators executed over a dozen search warrants and seized approximately four pounds of methamphetamine and two firearms. As of today at 1 p.m., 47 of the 85 defendants are either in federal or state custody. Authorities are continuing to search for 38 defendants. Many of the defendants are scheduled to be arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Allison H. Goddard at 2:00 p.m. tomorrow.

According to the indictments and other publicly filed court documents, this year-long investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Revenue Service targeted multiple San Diego-based drug distribution and money laundering networks led respectively by Juan Carlos OCHOA, Rene VALDEZ Jr., Ramon CASTILLO, Michael WRIGHT, Alfonso ARROYO, Douglas BOWEN, Samuel BECERRA, and Javier VERGARA. These affiliated networks supplied multi-kilogram quantities of controlled substances (primarily methamphetamine and heroin but also fentanyl) to dozens of subdistributors located throughout Southern California. These networks were also responsible for laundering tens of thousands of dollars in narcotics proceeds back to Sinaloa Cartel-associated drug traffickers in Mexico. During this investigation, agents coordinated seizures of narcotics and drug proceeds throughout San Diego County and across the United States.

To avoid detection by law enforcement, the defendants also utilized various encrypted communication services like Signal and WhatsApp to communicate among themselves. Despite their sophisticated efforts, law enforcement penetrated this network with a variety of investigative techniques, including physical surveillance, obtaining phone records, financial documents, tracking warrants on telephones and vehicles, and undercover agents. Over the course of the investigation, agents obtained dozens of search warrants and conducted a 10-month-long federal wiretap to track the communications and the location of the defendants. In conjunction with the wiretaps, agents ultimately seized approximately 175 pounds of methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl tied to these networks, approximately $50,000 in cash, multiple firearms, and a 2020 Cadillac Escalade (valued at over $115,000).  

“Today we sent a message to drug traffickers in our community. If you sell drugs in San Diego, we will find you and prosecute you to the full extent of the law,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer. “I want to congratulate the outstanding federal, state, and local law enforcement cooperation that has resulted in this highly successful investigation. This case represents yet another critical strike against the Sinaloa Cartel and its U.S.-based networks.”

“Today’s operation was about community care taking,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Karen Flowers.  “We took criminals off the street in South County who were selling drugs and committing violent crimes - robberies - home invasions - identity theft - fraud - and other property crimes.  The void left is an opportunity for the communities in South County to exhale and breathe in fresh air.  Freedom is priceless.  Today South County is free to live without a criminal undertone which eroded their daily quality of life.”

“A significant portion of the indictments unsealed today are alleged money laundering conspiracy violations and the asset forfeiture allegations,” stated Assistant Special Agent in Charge Johnathan Smith.  “Multiple defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering violations, a charge which carries a statutory maximum sentence of 20-years imprisonment.  These are serious crimes that come with serious time.”

This case was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Narcotics Task Force (NTF) and the Internal Revenue Service. The NTF is a DEA-led task force comprised of federal and local law enforcement from the DEA, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department (SDSD), the San Diego Police Department (SDPD), United States Border Patrol (USBP), and the San Diego County Probation Office. Agents and officers from the United States Marshals Service, United States Secret Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons also provided vital assistance for the investigation. Attorneys from the Department of Justice, Office of Enforcement Operations, Electronic Surveillance Unit, likewise provided critical work as part of the investigative team.

This case is the result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership that brings together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, dismantle and prosecute high level members of drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations and enterprises.

The United States is represented in court by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew J. Sutton, and Mario J. Peia.

The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. 

Defendant Information 

19-cr-3624-CAB Indictment - Click HERE

Defendants                                                                                     Criminal Case No: 19-cr-3624-CAB



Defendant Number





Name





Hometown





1





Juan Carlos Ochoa





El Cajon, CA





2





Belinda Maria Menke





El Cajon, CA





3





Oscar Clemente-Perez





El Cajon, CA





4





Anton Dockery





El Cajon, CA





5





Amira Novelo-Torres





Tijuana, MX





6





Guillermo Castellano





El Cajon, CA





7





Monica Alcantar





El Cajon, CA





8





Alberto Frayre





Chula Vista, CA





9





Ivan Rodriguez





El Cajon, CA





10





Brian Perin





San Diego, CA





11





Edward DiBartola





San Diego, CA





12





Juanita Ortiz





El Cajon, CA





13





Lorena Torres





El Cajon, CA





14





Marcus Dewayne Caldwell





San Diego, CA





15





Candace Marie Spears





San Diego, CA





16





Eduardo Lerma





El Cajon, CA





17





Gene Fitzgerald





San Diego, CA





18





Melissa Young





San Diego, CA





19





Jessie Avina





El Cajon, CA



Summary of Charges

Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances (21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846)

Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments (18 U.S.C. §§ 1956(a)(2) and (h))

Maximum Penalties: For the drug charges, term of custody including a mandatory minimum 10 years and up to life in prison, $10 million fine and a lifetime of supervised release. For money laundering charges, term of custody up to 20 years in prison, a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the monetary instrument or funds involved, and three years of supervised release.

19-cr-3625-CAB Indictment - Click HERE

Defendants                                                                                     Criminal Case No: 19-cr-3625-CAB



Defendant Number





Name





Hometown





1





Alfonso Arroyo





San Diego, CA





2





James Anthony Tate





San Diego, CA





3





Alice Chairez





San Diego, CA





4





Zena Marie Gonzalez





San Diego, CA





5





Steven Geiss





San Diego, CA





6





Tommy Diego Duenas





San Diego, CA





7





Josephina Hernandez





San Diego, CA





8





Kajlid Jafar Wilks





San Diego, CA



Summary of Charges

Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances (21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846)

Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments (18 U.S.C. §§ 1956(a)(2) and (h))

Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine (21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1))

Maximum Penalties: For the drug charges, term of custody including a mandatory minimum 10 years and up to life in prison, $10 million fine and a lifetime of supervised release. For money laundering charges, term of custody up to 20 years in prison, a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the monetary instrument or funds involved, and three years of supervised release.

19-cr-3626-CAB Indictment - Click HERE

Defendants                                                                                     Criminal Case No: 19-cr-3626-CAB



Defendant Number





Name





Hometown





1





Samuel Becerra





San Diego, CA





2





Gabrielle Logue





San Diego, CA





3





Kelly Daniels





San Diego, CA





4





Larry Meisner





San Diego, CA





5





Walter Kuttner





Spring Valley, CA





6





Kelly Jean Kelly





San Diego, CA





7





Kurt Roiz





San Diego, CA





8





Rodolfo Andrade





Chula Vista, CA





9





Alfredo Gomez





San Diego, CA



Summary of Charges

Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances (21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846)

Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments (18 U.S.C. §§ 1956(a)(2) and (h))

Maximum Penalties: For the drug charges, term of custody including a mandatory minimum 10 years and up to life in prison, $10 million fine and a lifetime of supervised release. For money laundering charges, term of custody up to 20 years in prison, a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the monetary instrument or funds involved, and three years of supervised release.

19-cr-3627-CAB Inictment - Click HERE

Defendants                                                                                     Criminal Case No: 19-cr-3627-CAB



Defendant Number





Name





Hometown





1





Douglas Bowen





San Diego, CA





2





Erick Cifuentes





San Diego, CA





3





John Bordwell Jr.





San Diego, CA





4





Raya Jaye Kimball





San Diego, CA





5





Stephen Robert Chavez





San Diego, CA





6





Robert David Houser





San Diego, CA





7





Justin Scott Baker





San Diego, CA





8





Janette Lee Taylor





San Diego, CA





9





Emilio Vanegas





San Diego, CA





10





Christopher Nobis





San Diego, CA





11





Maximino Padilla





San Diego, CA





12





Erika Marlene Ramirez-Ramirez





San Diego, CA





13





Heaven Rapp





San Diego, CA





14





Shelley Marie Cobb





San Diego, CA





15





Sarrah Jean Kent





San Diego, CA





16





David Hopkins





San Diego, CA





17





Matthew Bogan





San Diego, CA





18





Emily Uscanga





San Diego, CA





19





Michael Bowen





Colorado Springs, CA





20





Edson Garcia





San Diego, CA





21





Brandon Brooks





San Diego, CA





22





Raheem Jackson





San Diego, CA





23





Heather Kieley





San Diego, CA





24





Yvette Romero





San Diego, CA





25





Bobby Lee Crisp





San Diego, CA





26





Dario Navarro





San Diego, CA



Summary of Charges

Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances (21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846)

Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments (18 U.S.C. §§ 1956(a)(2) and (h))

Felon in Possession of a Firearm (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1))

Importation of a Controlled Substance (21 U.S.C. §§ 952, 960 and 963)

Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine (21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1))

Maximum Penalties: For the drug charges, term of custody including a mandatory minimum 10 years and up to life in prison, $10 million fine and a lifetime of supervised release. For money laundering charges, term of custody up to 20 years in prison, a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the monetary instrument or funds involved, and three years of supervised release.

19-cr-3628-CAB Indictment - Click HERE

Defendants                                                                                     Criminal Case No: 19-cr-3628-CAB



Defendant Number





Name





Hometown





1





Ramon Castillo





San Diego, CA





2





Samuel Jones





San Diego, CA





3





Julio Noriega





San Diego, CA





4





Johanna Trujillo





San Diego, CA



Summary of Charges

Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances (21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846)

Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments (18 U.S.C. §§ 1956(a)(2) and (h))

Maximum Penalties: For the drug charges, term of custody including a mandatory minimum 10 years and up to life in prison, $10 million fine and a lifetime of supervised release. For money laundering charges, term of custody up to 20 years in prison, a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the monetary instrument or funds involved, and three years of supervised release.

19-cr-3629-CAB Indictment - Click HERE

Defendants                                                                                     Criminal Case No: 19-cr-3629-CAB



Defendant Number





Name





Hometown





1





Rene Valdez Jr.





San Diego, CA





2





Araceli S. Lomeli





San Diego, CA





3





David Valdez





San Diego, CA





4





Robert Tate Allen





San Diego, CA





5





Sergio Eduardo Gutierrez Martinez





Tijuana, MX





6





Milton Perez Cruz





Tijuana, MX



Summary of Charges

Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances (21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846)

Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments (18 U.S.C. §§ 1956(a)(2) and (h))

Maximum Penalties: For the drug charges, term of custody including a mandatory minimum 10 years and up to life in prison, $10 million fine and a lifetime of supervised release. For money laundering charges, term of custody up to 20 years in prison, a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the monetary instrument or funds involved, and three years of supervised release.

19-cr-3630-CAB Indictment - Click HERE

Defendants                                                                                     Criminal Case No: 19-cr-3630-CAB



Defendant Number





Name





Hometown





1





Javier Vergara





San Diego, CA





2





Raul Alonso Varela-Ruiz





San Diego, CA





3





Michelangelo Becerra





San Diego, CA





4





Candice Harrington





San Diego, CA





5





Amanda Bitticks





San Diego, CA





6





Eduardo Pardo





San Diego, CA





7





Rose Velasquez





San Diego, CA



Summary of Charges

Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances (21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846)

Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments (18 U.S.C. §§ 1956(a)(2) and (h))

Maximum Penalties: For the drug charges, term of custody including a mandatory minimum 10 years and up to life in prison, $10 million fine and a lifetime of supervised release. For money laundering charges, term of custody up to 20 years in prison, a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the monetary instrument or funds involved, and three years of supervised release.

19-cr-3631-CAB Indictment - Click HERE

Defendants                                                                                     Criminal Case No: 19-cr-3631-CAB



Defendant Number





Name





Hometown





1





Michael Wright





San Diego, CA





2





Rhiannon Hiller





San Diego, CA





3





Michael Branch





San Diego, CA





4





Bryan Carlton





San Diego, CA





5





Charles Moore





San Diego, CA





6





Sara Syverson





San Diego, CA



Summary of Charges

Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances (21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846)

Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments (18 U.S.C. §§ 1956(a)(2) and (h))

Maximum Penalties: For the drug charges, term of custody including a mandatory minimum 10 years and up to life in prison, $10 million fine and a lifetime of supervised release. For money laundering charges, term of custody up to 20 years in prison, a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the monetary instrument or funds involved, and three years of supervised release.

AGENCIES

Drug Enforcement Administration, Narcotics Task Force

Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation

San Diego County Sheriff’s Department

United States Marshals Service

United States Border Patrol

United States Secret Service

United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Federal Bureau of Prisons

San Diego Police Department

El Cajon Police Department

Chula Vista Police Department

San Diego County Probation Office

San Diego County District Attorney’s Office

Department of Justice, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces

Department of Justice, Office of Enforcement Operations

U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska

U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado