Southern District of California
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Twenty-two Charged in Imperial Valley Takedown of Violent Drug Trafficking Organization Linked to Beltran Leyva CartelRead the Press Release
EL CENTRO – Twenty-two alleged members of a sophisticated transnational drug trafficking organization with ties to the Sinaloa-based Beltran Leyva Cartel were indicted by a federal grand jury for importing and distributing more than a ton of methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine into the United States, laundering the illicit proceeds, and attempting to export firearms from the United States into Mexico.
In a coordinated takedown this morning in California, Arizona, Iowa, and Colorado, more than 150 federal, state, and local law enforcement officials arrested 10 defendants and executed six search warrants in Imperial County. As of this afternoon, the search continues for 12 fugitives.
Including seizures today and throughout this long-term investigation, authorities have confiscated more than 1,000 kilograms (about 2,204 pounds) of drugs, including methamphetamine, cocaine, and over 750 kilograms (about 1,653 pounds) of fentanyl, 10 firearms, and more than $250,000 in narcotics proceeds.
“We have literally seized a ton of drugs that were destined to hit our streets and harm our community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden. “By disrupting this prolific, cartel-linked trafficking network, we are preventing the devastation and violence it brings.”
“Today’s enforcement action marks the culmination of a complex, long-term HSI investigation, demonstrating the strong collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies nationwide,” said Shawn Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of HSI San Diego. “Our local communities are undoubtedly safer today, and we remain committed to aggressively pursuing criminal organizations that threaten our country.”
“Close coordination and aggressive action amongst allied law enforcement agencies just made communities nationwide safer places to live and work,” said El Centro Border Patrol Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gregory Bovino. “The well executed takedown of this drug trafficking organization heralds a new day in homeland security where we will relentlessly apprehend and prosecute transnational threats.”
According to search warrants, the defendants belonged to a Mexicali, Mexico- and Imperial County-based transnational criminal organization that operated as a distribution cell for the Beltrán Leyva Cartel, specifically associated with Fausto Isidro Meza Flores aka El Chapo Isidro. Using undercover operations and multiple rounds of wiretaps, agents conducted numerous controlled purchases, traffic stops of personal vehicles and tractor trailers, and searches of houses and stash locations leading to large seizures of narcotics.
Additionally, during the fourth round of wiretaps, one of the wiretap targets, an Imperial County-based narcotics subdistributor, was shot multiple times in Mexicali and died several months thereafter. Investigators believe that the subdistributor was lured from the United States to Mexico and shot by a co-conspirator in relation to their drug trafficking and money laundering activities.
According to federal search warrants:
In one instance on January 23, 2023, authorities seized approximately 1.4 million fentanyl pills after intercepting phone conversations about moving fentanyl pills in a semi-truck. Federal agents watched the transaction from afar, then conducted a traffic stop on the drug-laden tractor-trailer. Law enforcement officials located eight duffel bags containing approximately 148.53 kilograms (327.45 pounds) in the trailer of the truck.
In another instance, on May 9, 2023, authorities seized approximately 483,000 fentanyl pills after intercepting phone conversations about moving narcotics in a semi-truck. Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on the drug-laden tractor-trailer and located bags containing approximately 48.30 kilograms (106.48 pounds) of fentanyl pills in the truck.
Shortly thereafter, on May 25, 2023, authorities seized approximately 480,000 fentanyl pills, 72.29 kilograms of methamphetamine, and a loaded 9mm handgun with a 10-round magazine inserted and a round in the chamber. After intercepting phone conversations about coordinating the movement of narcotics in a semi-truck, federal agents surveilled the narcotics being loaded into the tractor-trailer, then conducted a traffic stop. Law enforcement officials located six duffel bags containing approximately 72.29 kilograms (159.37 pounds) of methamphetamine and 48.6 kilograms (107.14 pounds) of fentanyl in the trailer of the truck.
In another instance, on October 9, 2023, investigators seized approximately 139,000 fentanyl pills and 36.66 kilograms (80.82 pounds) of methamphetamine following federal agents’ surveillance of defendants unloading and transporting the narcotics.
On March 14, 2024, after a traffic stop conducted by a Brawley police officer, law enforcement seized approximately 59.48 kilograms (131.13 pounds) of methamphetamine.
Federal agents also seized firearms and ammunition during the investigation, including two gold plated AR-15 semi-automatic rifles hidden inside a 55-gallon barbeque grill on August 3, 2023, and two rifles, two pistols, approximately 2182 ammunition rounds, and seven magazines destined for Mexicali-based drug traffickers.
Additionally, according to court records, five of the charged defendants are tied to alien smuggling activity, having been either arrested and/or previously prosecuted for immigration-related crimes, such as alien smuggling, accessory after the fact to illegal entry, and selling or offering to sell a Visa.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Loren G. Renner.
DEFENDANTS
Case Number 24cr2399
Irving Alberto Lopez Valdes Age: 36 Mexicali, Mexico
Raul Salome Valdez-Orduno Age: 46 Mexicali, Mexico
Case Number 24cr2400
Jesus Damian Lizarraga Sanchez Age: 28 Mexicali, Mexico
Case Number 24cr2434
Elizabeth Millan Age: 46 San Diego, California
Brandon Garcia Age: 27 Calexico, California
*Seven unnamed defendants are fugitives
Case Number 24cr2431
Roberto Marrufo Age: 40 Calexico, California
Case Number 25cr0785
Ricardo Miramontes Nava Age: 35 Calexico, California
Case Number 25cr0786
Jacob Rodiles Age: 21 El Centro, California
Roberto Fernandez Age: 70 Calexico, California
Raul Martinez Jimenez Age: 56 Mexicali, Mexico
Julian Banuelos Age: 19 Imperial, California
Alain Alejandro Robles-Murrieta Age: 19 Mexicali, Mexico
*Three unnamed defendants are fugitives
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841(a) and (b)(1), 846
Maximum penalty: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a $10 million fine.
Money Laundering Conspiracy – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1956(h)
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and a $500,000 fine
Attempted Transfer of a Firearm for Use in a Drug Trafficking Crime – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1924(h)
Maximum penalty: Fifteen years in prison and a $250,000 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Homeland Security Investigations, Calexico - Imperial Valley Border Enforcement Security Taskforce (IV-BEST)
Homeland Security Investigations, Riverside, CA
Homeland Security Investigations, Denver, CO
Homeland Security Investigations, Yuma, AZ
Homeland Security Investigations, Sioux City, IA
United States Border Patrol, El Centro Sector Intelligence Unit
Customs and Border Protection, Calexico Intelligence Division
Imperial County Narcotics Task Force
Drug Enforcement Administration, Imperial County Office
Drug Enforcement Administration, Phoenix Office
Federal Bureau of Investigations, Imperial County Office
United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations
United States Marshals Service
Calexico Police Department
Imperial County Sheriff’s Office
Imperial County District Attorney’s Office
Brawley Police Department
California Highway Patrol
El Centro Police Department
San Diego-Imperial Valley HIDTA
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program, created by Congress with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, provides assistance to Federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug-trafficking regions of the United States. This grant program is administered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). There are currently 33 HIDTAs, and HIDTA-designated counties are located in 50 states, as well as in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.
This investigation is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
North County Residents Indicted for Using Children to Manufacture and Distribute Hallucinogenic DrugsRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Randal Vance and his longtime friend, Keir Ceballos-Rivera, were indicted by a federal grand jury on charges that they employed children to help them cultivate, produce and distribute psilocybin mushrooms at locations in Fallbrook and Bonsall.
Also indicted was Rebecca Vance, wife of Randal Vance. The trio made their initial appearances in federal court today on an array of federal drug-trafficking charges. Randal Vance and Ceballos are charged with conspiring to use and employ minors to produce a controlled substance; all defendants are charged with conspiring to distribute a controlled substance and conspiring to obstruct justice by destroying evidence; and Randal Vance is charged with distributing a controlled substance to minors and possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
At today’s hearing, prosecutors told the court the children were 9 and 11 when the alleged conspiracy to harvest psilocybin at the locations on Ash Street in Fallbrook and Lilac Road in Bonsall began. Psilocybin mushrooms are a controlled substance that act as hallucinogenic drugs, inducing altered states of consciousness and vivid sensory experiences.
All three defendants were arrested yesterday. At today’s hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Valerie E. Torres granted the government’s request that Randal and Rebecca Vance be detained without bond because they are a flight risk. A detention hearing for Ceballos-Rivera is set for March 25, 2025.
The United States told the Court that Randal Vance informed customers and co-conspirators that the minors assisted him in producing psilocybin. For example, on or about October 18, 2023, Vance texted a photograph of one of the minors holding a large psilocybin mushroom in front of his face at the Ash Street location and said that the “11 year old helps me grow them.”
One of the minors informed Randal Vance on May 31, 2024, that he was selling a psilocybin capsule to a friend for $3. At the time, the boy was a student at Lincoln Middle School in Oceanside. Randal Vance responded: “Nice! Make sure your friend’s parents don’t find out or you and I are in big big trouble.”
Randal Vance boasted of dosing the children with psilocybin and advised others to do likewise, the indictment said. For example, on or about October 13, 2023, Randal Vance messaged a co-conspirator a photo of one of the minors holding a large psilocybin mushroom and stated that an 11-year old “cultivates and microdoses. It’s good for kids’ brains.” Later in the conversation, Randal Vance identified the other minor as nine years old and said, “Yeah I usually do a half dose of microdose capsules for them” and “.05 every other day for them. It’s such a difference too.”
Ceballos-Rivera sent Randal Vance a photograph of another child at the Ash Street location holding a large psilocybin mushroom and covering part of his/her face on or about September 7, 2024. Ceballos-Rivera wrote: “From earlier today haha” and “‘No face, no case.’”
Randal Vance is also charged with illegally possessing a Glock 34 pistol, a Walther P22 pistol, a Henry Survival AR7 rifle, a Smith and Wesson revolver, an H&R Model 900 revolver, and a Browning 30-06 rifle in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
On October 4, 2024, law enforcement executed search warrants on the Fallbrook and Bonsall locations. At the Ash Street location, law enforcement recovered approximately 204 pounds of fresh psilocybin mushrooms, 53 pounds of dried psilocybin mushrooms, 35 pounds of psilocybin chocolate bars, 18 pounds of inoculated substrate to grow psilocybin mushrooms, and equipment used to grow, harvest, and process psilocybin mushrooms.
At the Lilac Road location, law enforcement recovered approximately 25 pounds of dried psilocybin mushrooms, five pounds of psilocybin chocolates, and five pounds of psilocybin capsules, as well as molds used to make the psilocybin chocolate bars.
Law enforcement officials also seized six firearms from the Lilac Road location: a Glock 34 pistol, a Walther P22 pistol, a Henry Survival AR7 rifle, a Smith and Wesson revolver, an H&R Model 900 revolver, and a Browning 30-06 rifle. None of the firearms were locked up, and loaded magazines were found next to the Glock 34 and Walther P22.
Randal Vance was arrested that day. Prior to his federal arrest, he was out on bond pending state charges. After Randal Vance’s arrest by local law enforcement, the defendants are alleged to have conspired together to destroy evidence by deleting phone messages and taking down websites Randal Vance had used to distribute psilocybin.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Benjamin and Dana Segal.
If you are concerned that your child may have been exposed to illegal drugs as a result of the activities alleged in this case, please contact the DEA at https://www.dea.gov/submit-tip.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 25-CR-817-RSH
Randal Vance Age: 42 Fallbrook, CA
Rebecca Vance Age: 41 Oceanside, CA
Keir Ceballos-Rivera Age: 33 Oceanside, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Employ or Use Minors to Violate the Controlled Substances Act – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841, 846, and 861(a)
Maximum penalty: Mandatory minimum one year to 40 years in prison
Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance- – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841 and 846
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison
Distribution of a Controlled Substance to Minors– Title 21, U.S.C., Section 859(a)
Maximum penalty: Mandatory minimum one year to 40 years in prison
Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense- – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 924(c)
Maximum penalty: Mandatory minimum five years to life in prison
Conspiracy to Obstruct Justice- – Title 18, U.S.C., Sections 1503(a), (b)(3), and 371
Maximum penalty: Ten years in prison
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Drug Enforcement Administration
San Diego Sheriff’s Department
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Defense Contractor President Pleads Guilty to Bribery Scheme Involving $16 Million in Small Business Government ContractsRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Philip Flores, the owner, president and chief executive of Intellipeak Solutions, Inc., a former defense contractor based out of Fredericksburg, Virginia, pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting that he participated in a bribery scheme with former Naval Information Warfare Center employee James Soriano.
According to his plea agreement, Flores gave various things of value to Soriano, including expensive meals at restaurants in San Diego and Washington D.C., field level tickets and parking passes to Game 5 of the 2018 MLB World Series in Los Angeles, and tickets to the 2019 NFL Super Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia. The cost of tickets to these premier sporting events totaled over $18,000.
In return, Soriano used his position as a contracting officer’s representative at the Naval Information Warfare Center to ensure that Intellipeak was awarded numerous no-bid government contracts through the Small Business Administration’s 8(a) program. Soriano secured the contracts by falsifying technical evaluations, providing high ratings to Intellipeak to do the contracted work, and approving Intellipeak’s invoices on the awarded contracts, despite knowing that Intellipeak was not doing the work but instead subcontracting out all or most of the work to non-8(a) companies in violation of the SBA 8(a) rules.
Soriano also exploited competitive contracting through the SBA 8(a) program to benefit Intellipeak over other contractors. For example, Soriano secretly allowed Flores to draft contract discriminators to ensure that Intellipeak was selected as a winning bidder on a competitive contract. Soriano also allowed Flores to secretly draft procurement documents for an $86 million competitive contract and then performed multiple steps to attempt to award the contract to Intellipeak even though its bid was $6 million higher than another contractor.
According to his plea agreement, Flores also exploited Intellipeak’s 8(a) small business status by marketing Intellipeak to other defense contractors, who were not part of the 8(a) program, as a way for those companies to get access to 8(a) sole source contracts, generally in exchange for “pass through” fee that was equal to 6 to 8 percent of the contract value. Flores charged his 6 to 8 percent fee to the government, which Soriano approved, even though both knew that Intellipeak was not doing the work on the contracts and the fee did not reflect performed work.
According to Flores’s plea agreement, as a result of the conspiracy, the government paid Intellipeak more than $16 million to perform work on approximately 26 government contracts and task orders. The profit Intellipeak made from these contracts and task orders was conservatively estimated to be between $550,000 and $1.5 million. Further, as part of his plea agreement, Flores has agreed to pay restitution to three small businesses that were foreseeable victims of the bribery scheme.
Flores is scheduled to appear before U.S. District Judge Todd W. Robinson for sentencing on June 13, 2025.
“Those who undermine the integrity of the government procurement process will be held accountable,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden. “As this guilty plea demonstrates, we will continue to prosecute those individuals who put their own personal gain ahead of the system that supports our nation’s warfighters and at the expense of American taxpayers.”
“Mr. Flores’s plea agreement is a positive step toward accountability for his role in this illicit scheme,” said John E. Helsing, Acting Special Agent in Charge for the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Western Field Office. “Mr. Flores sought to enrich himself and his company at the expense of the American taxpayers. DCIS remains committed to working jointly with the United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners to investigate and deter public corruption within the Department of Defense.”
“Mr. Flores’s participation in an illicit scheme to bribe a public official in exchange for unlawful enrichment in contract awards undermines the Department of the Navy’s commitment to a fair and unbiased procurement process,” said Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the NCIS Economic Crimes Field Office. “NCIS and our investigative partners remain committed to ensuring the continued integrity of the Department of the Navy’s acquisitions process.”
“Mr. Flores intentionally undermined the DoD contracting process,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher, IRS Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office. “The DoD contracting process ensures our warfighters get the best equipment available and that American tax dollars are spent in a responsible manner. IRS-CI is committed to deterring and preventing this sort of fraud, in partnership with fellow law enforcement organizations, to ensure our servicemembers are properly equipped to fight and win in an increasingly complex battlespace.”
“Those who engage in bribery schemes to gain access to preferential small business contracts will be aggressively investigated,” said SBA OIG’s Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Shafee Carnegie. “Our office will relentlessly pursue fraudsters who seek to exploit SBA’s vital economic programs for small businesses. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and commitment to seeing justice served.”
Soriano was charged as a co-defendant and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery in 23-cr-2282-TWR. Soriano was also separately charged and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery and fraud and false statement in filing a tax return in 24-cr-0341-TWR. Soriano is next scheduled to appear before U.S. District Judge Todd W. Robinson for sentencing on May 9, 2025.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick C. Swan, Katherine E.A. McGrath, and Carling E. Donovan.
DEFENDANT Case Number 23-cr-2282-TWR-2
Philip Flores Age: 53 Fredericksburg, VA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Commit Bribery - Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison; a maximum $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain or loss resulting from the offense, whichever is greatest; and an order of restitution to victims of the offense of at least $50,000.
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Defense Criminal Investigative Service
Naval Criminal Investigative Service
Small Business Administration – Office of Inspector General
Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation
Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General
If you have information regarding fraud, waste, or abuse relating to Department of Defense personnel or operations, please contact the DoD Hotline at 800-424-9098.
Jury: Defendant is Guilty of Hostage Taking and Murdering U.S. Citizen in TijuanaRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Brian Alexis Patron Lopez was found guilty by a federal jury today for his role in the kidnapping, hostage taking, torture, and murder of 18-year-old M.A.R., a U.S. citizen whose death was punishment for a dispute over a stolen load of methamphetamine that was supposed to have been smuggled into the United States.
The jury deliberated for less than a full day at the end of a seven-day trial. The jury found Patron guilty on all counts, including Intentional Killing While Engaged in Drug Trafficking, Hostage Taking Resulting in Death, and Conspiracy to Commit Hostage Taking Resulting in Death.
“This is a heartbreaking tragedy, where a young man lost his life, leaving his family shattered,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden. “Drug traffickers are ruthless and will stop at nothing. But their resolve pales in comparison to the commitment of the United States to the safety of its citizens wherever they may be. This kidnapping and murder of a U.S. citizen happened in the dark corners and remote ravines of Tijuana, at the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the incredible assistance of FBI San Diego and our Mexican counterparts, our prosecution team did not rest until justice was served for the victims of this heinous senseless cruelty.”
“Today’s verdict is an impactful outcome to a ruthless, vicious, and violent hostage taking and murder, and brings justice to the victim’s family,” said San Diego FBI Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy. “FBI San Diego will continue to be a formidable force against drug cartels and cartel violence, which threaten the safety and security of Americans both here and abroad and devastate our communities.”
Patron is scheduled to be sentenced on July 7, 2025, before U.S. District Judge William Q. Hayes.
The victim was abducted from a hotel in Tijuana, Mexico on May 29, 2020. He was then beaten, tortured, and finally shot to death, all while his attackers sought a ransom from his family. His body was recovered on a hillside in Tijuana six days later.
According to evidence presented at trial, on May 29, 2020, at approximately 11:57 p.m., Patron and others forcibly removed the victim from his hotel room. Patron and others punched, kicked, and pistol-whipped M.A.R. Once subdued, the attackers put M.A.R. in a waiting car and drove away.
Patron and his co-conspirators then drove M.A.R. to Patron’s neighborhood, where they continued to beat and torture M.A.R. At around the same time, Patron and his co-conspirators began to make ransom demands on M.A.R.’s family over texts and calls, with the demand ranging from $2,000 to $3,000 to methamphetamine in exchange for M.A.R.’s release.
In the afternoon of May 30, 2020, Patron and his co-conspirators brought M.A.R. to a different motel and then to an apartment before bringing him to a deserted hillside on the night of May 30, 2020. There, Patron fatally shot M.A.R., even as his family attempted to pay his ransom.
During the trial, the government presented evidence connecting Patron to the crimes, including Facebook messages between Patron and co-conspirators about the crimes, plus surveillance video that captured the kidnapping outside a Tijuana hotel. In that video, Patron wore a jacket that matched the one he wore earlier in the night. Patron’s bracelet was left behind at the kidnapping and was later recovered by law enforcement. Patron was wearing the same bracelet in Facebook photos posted before the murder. Jurors were also presented with the call logs and WhatsApp messages with the ransom demands and proof-of-life evidence.
Assistant U. S. Attorneys Mario Peia and Alexandra F. Foster prosecuted this case.
DEFENDANT Case Number 21CR1683-WQH
Brian Alexis Patron Lopez Age: 23 Tijuana
AKA Leobardo Garcia
SUMMARY OF CHARGE
Intentional Killing While Engaged in Drug Trafficking, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §848(e)(1)(A)
Maximum Penalty: Life in Prison
Minimum Penalty: Twenty years in Prison
Hostage Taking Resulting in Death, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1203
Maximum Penalty: Life in Prison
Minimum Penalty: Life in Prison
Conspiracy to Take Hostages Resulting in Death, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1203.
Maximum Penalty: Life in Prison
Minimum Penalty: Life in Prison
INVESTIGATING AGENCY
Federal Bureau of Investigation
This case is the result of 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.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. [use if applicable] Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Sixteen Defendants Charged in Escondido Takedown of Drug Trafficking NetworkRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Two indictments were unsealed in federal court today charging 16 alleged members of an Escondido-based drug trafficking organization with distributing large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and Adderall.
In a coordinated takedown this morning, more than 150 federal, state and local law enforcement officials arrested all 16 defendants and executed 16 search warrants in Escondido, San Diego, Orange County, and Roanoke, Virginia.
Including seizures today and throughout this 16-month investigation, authorities have confiscated more than 2 kg of fentanyl; more than 53 kg (over 116 pounds) of methamphetamine; substantial quantities of cocaine and Adderall; nine firearms; body armor; large capacity magazines; and ammunition.
Crimes charged in the indictments include drug trafficking, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and conspiracy to commit money laundering offenses.
“This group was flooding our community with methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl and prescription pills—drugs that tear families apart and put lives at risk,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden. “Thanks to this law enforcement effort, we’re taking a major step in making our streets safer and holding traffickers accountable.”
“This case is a direct hit against a dangerous drug trafficking network that has been flooding our communities with deadly narcotics,” said Special Agent in Charge of HSI San Diego Shawn Gibson. “Let this serve as a stern warning to those looking to profit from trafficking illicit substances -We are seeking to dismantle these criminal organizations and committed to bringing all of those involved to justice.”
Escondido Police Lieutenant Ryan Hicks stated, “The Escondido Police Department works aggressively to identify and hold accountable anyone who chooses to participate in the poisoning of our community through illicit fentanyl distribution. We can successfully conduct these investigations through crucial support from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our other federal partnerships.”
“The San Diego Sheriff’s Office has dedicated personnel and resources to the Fentanyl Abatement Suppression Team (FAST) since it began,” said San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez. “We value the collaboration with our federal, state and local partners to combat the fentanyl crisis in San Diego. These enforcement efforts increase the safety of our communities and save lives.”
According to search warrants unsealed today, through numerous undercover operations and court-authorized wiretaps, agents conducted a number of controlled purchases and traffic stops of personal vehicles. These wiretap intercepts showed that defendants Hector Armando Espinoza and Demetrius Collins, AKA “Demo” held leadership roles in the organization and coordinated the distribution of kilogram quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl.
In January 2024, an undercover agent conversed with Collins about purchasing methamphetamine and fentanyl, according to the search warrants. Collins agreed to sell the undercover agent four pounds of methamphetamine and 1,500 fentanyl pills for $10,500. Collins directed the agent to send the money to Alexis Amezquita’s address. Several days later, Collins retrieved the money from Amezquita’s mailbox. Collins then mailed a package to the undercover agent that contained approximately four pounds of methamphetamine and a half pound of fentanyl pills that were provided by Espinoza.
In February 2024, Collins agreed to sell the undercover agent five pounds of methamphetamine and 5,000 fentanyl pills for $20,000. Collins again retrieved the money from Amezquita’s mailbox and shipped the drugs, that were provided by Espinoza. The package was found to contain approximately 5.68 pounds of methamphetamine and 1.21 pounds of fentanyl pills.
Agents installed a tracking device on Espinoza’s car that he later discovered, according to the search warrants. Espinoza took the tracker off his car and put it on another random vehicle. Espinoza then began to rely heavily on others to distribute drugs on his behalf. During numerous wiretap intercepts, agents heard Espinoza set up drug sales with customers and then direct others such as Detavius Jones Corteze, AKA “Tay Tay,” Tracie Shean, and Collins to meet with the customers and distribute them on his behalf.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Van Demark and Sarah Akhtar and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Sterling Winchester. Special agents and task force officers with the Fentanyl Abatement and Suppression Team (FAST) led this investigation.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 25cr0628-JAH
Hector Armando Espinoza 29 Escondido, CA
Demetrius Collins, AKA “Demo” 34 Escondido, CA
Rigoberto Agraz, AKA “Rigo” 31 Escondido, CA
Detavius Jones Corteze, AKA “Tay Tay” 21 Escondido, CA
Oscar Abeleida 26 Cardiff, CA
Bradly Tran 21 San Diego, CA
Jason Hai Duong 20 Irvine, CA
Alexis Amezquita 26 Escondido, CA
Tracie Shean 51 Escondido, CA
Oscar Martinez 32 National City, CA
Evelyn Janet Caballero 31 Escondido, CA
Brianna Isabel Martinez 21 Oceanside, CA
Carlos Vargas 29 Escondido, CA
Celia Veronica Espinoza 46 Escondido, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances - Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1), and 846
Maximum penalty: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a $10 million fine
Distribution of Controlled Substances – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841(a) and (b)(1)
Maximum penalty: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a $10 million fine
Distribution of Controlled Substances – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841(a) and (b)(1)
Maximum penalty: Forty years in prison with a mandatory minimum of five years and a $5 million fine
Distribution of Controlled Substances – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841(a) and (b)(1)
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and a $1 million fine
Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1956(h)
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and a fine of not more than $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater
DEFENDANTS Case Number 25cr0626-JAH
Juan Carlos Gallegos, AKA “Donut” 25 Escondido, CA
Yatzel Hernandez 34 Escondido, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances - Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1), and 846
Maximum penalty: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a $10 million fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
HSI San Diego
Escondido Police Department
US Postal Inspection Office
San Diego Sheriff’s Department
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Border Patrol
U.S. Marshall’s Service
Drug Enforcement Administration
California Department of Justice
San Diego Imperial Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area
*The charges and allegations contained the indictments are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
HSI San Diego FAST is a multiagency task force comprising state, local, and federal partners and was first established in August 2022 focusing on the disruption and dismantlement of criminal organizations that smuggle and distribute fentanyl within San Diego County. HSI’s FAST targets fentanyl smuggling and distribution networks to counter the rising overdose rate and decrease the availability and accessibility of fentanyl.
This case is the result of 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.
This investigation is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. [use if applicable] Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program, created by Congress with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, provides assistance to Federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug-trafficking regions of the United States. This grant program is administered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). There are currently 33 HIDTAs, and HIDTA-designated counties are located in 50 states, as well as in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.
Prison Inmates Sentenced for Gang-Motivated StabbingRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Jonathan Barba and Abraham Gomez-Rodriguez were sentenced in federal court today to 51 months and 37 months, respectively, for assaulting and stabbing a fellow inmate at the federal jail downtown on orders from a Mexican Mafia gang associate.
According to the publicly-filed documents in the case, Barba, Gomez-Rodriguez and the victim in the case were all inmates at the Metropolitan Correction Center. On March 27, 2024, Barba came up from behind the victim and stabbed him repeatedly with a metal shank while Gomez-Rodriguez held the victim’s arms so he could not escape or defend himself. When the victim broke free and ran away, Gomez-Rodriguez chased and struck him numerous times.
The victim was stabbed in the abdomen, neck, head and eye area. One of the stab wounds was dangerously close to the victim’s eyeball. The victim was left lacerated, bloodied, bruised and had to be taken to the hospital.
After the assault, Barba and Gomez-Rodriguez admitted to the victim that they assaulted him to please another inmate named “Alex,” who was a “shot caller” for the Mexican Mafia. Below is a photo of the shank that was used to repeatedly stab the victim:
Barba has a criminal history that involves domestic violence and drug importation. In 2014, he was convicted of first-degree domestic battery in Nevada and was sentenced to 60 days in jail and community service. In 2022, he was convicted of importation of methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Southern District of California. For that offense, Barba was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison. He was serving his federal drug trafficking sentence when he violently assaulted and stabbed the victim-inmate.
Gomez-Rodriguez was convicted in 2022 of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin in the Southern District of California. He was sentenced to 26 months in federal prison. While he was serving his federal sentence, Gomez-Rodriguez, along with Barba, violently attacked the victim-inmate. The judge ordered that the sentences handed down be served consecutive to their existing sentences.
“Violence has no place in our correctional facilities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden. “We are fully committed to taking every legal action available to protect the safety and well-being of all inmates and to hold violent criminals accountable.”
“I want to applaud the FBI San Diego Violent Crime Task Force and MCC Special Investigations Unit’s commitment and dedication to hold the defendants accountable for their role in the violent and coordinated attack,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Houtan Moshrefi. “We remain steadfast in working with our partners to protect the integrity of our correctional institutions.”
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Sherwood and Shital Thakkar.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 24cr843-AJB
Jonathan Barba Age: 32 Victorville, CA
Abraham Gomez-Rodriguez Age: 26 Imperial Beach, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Assault With a Dangerous Weapon within Special Maritime and Territorial Jurisdiction– Title 18, U.S.C., Section 113(a) and (7)(3)
Maximum penalty: Ten years in prison and $250,000 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Prisons
U.S. Attorney’s Office Filed More than 100 Border-Related Cases This WeekRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California filed more than 100 border-related cases this week, including charges of transportation of illegal aliens, reentering the U.S. after deportation, deported alien found in the United States, importation of controlled substances, and assault on a federal officer.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California is the fourth-busiest federal district, largely due to a high volume of border-related crimes. This district, encompassing San Diego and Imperial counties, shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the world’s busiest land border crossing, connecting San Diego (America’s eighth largest city) and Tijuana (Mexico’s second largest city).
In addition to reactive border-related crimes, the Southern District of California also prosecutes a significant number of proactive cases related to terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking and national security. Recent developments in those and other significant areas of prosecution can be found here.
A representative sample of border-related arrests this week includes:
- On March 8, 2025, Gabriel Yeraldi Gaona, a United States citizen, was arrested and charged with alien smuggling after he was caught attempting to smuggle two citizens of Mexico into the United States. Following his arrest, Gaona admitted that he crossed into the United States from Mexico by climbing over a ladder that was placed on the first border fence. The two Mexican citizens he was arrested with admitted that they are citizens of Mexico without lawful documents allowing them to enter the United States.
- On March 9, 2025, Antonio Lerma Cervantes, a Mexican citizen, was arrested on drug importation charges when he attempted to cross into the U.S. from Mexico at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry with more than 60 pounds of cocaine hidden in the rear seat and quarter panels of his vehicle.
- On March 12, 2025, Edy Osorio-Berrelleza, a citizen of Mexico, was arrested after he was caught attempting to transport another citizen of Mexico within the United States. After running away from a Border Patrol Agent, Osorio allegedly threw rocks at both a Customs and Border Protection helicopter and also towards Border Patrol agents. Following his arrest, Osorio admitted that he was going to be paid for the smuggling activity, and that he threw rocks at the helicopter and the agents once they were close to him. He is currently charged with alien smuggling and assault on a federal officer.
Federal law enforcement has focused immigration prosecutions on undocumented aliens who are engaged in criminal activity in the U.S., including those who commit drug and firearms crimes, who have serious criminal records, or who have active warrants for their arrest. Federal authorities have also been prioritizing investigations and prosecutions against drug, firearm, and human smugglers and those who endanger and threaten the safety of our communities and the law enforcement officers who protect the community.
The immigration cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with the support and assistance of state and local law enforcement partners.
Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
San Diego Man Admits Guilt in Sending Hate-Filled Email with Death ThreatRead the Press Release
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – March 11, 2025
SAN DIEGO – George Joseph Wellinger II pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting he intentionally targeted a member of the LGBTQ community and threatened her with violence via email.
According to his plea agreement, the defendant admitted that he intentionally selected this victim as the object of his threat based on the victim’s actual or perceived sexual orientation, and because of the defendant’s animus toward members of the LGBTQ community.
According to court documents, the victim was targeted after being interviewed for a KTLA news report about a hate-inspired murder in Lake Arrowhead in August 2023.
According to the plea agreement, the threatening email called the victim “another alphabet clown that wants to take a dirt nap, too,” and included a link to the KTLA news report which featured the victim and others discussing the murder of a Lake Arrowhead business owner who had been gunned down for hanging a Pride flag in her business.
The email continued: “We know what you look like and know where are you are....only a matter of time....Love it....get ur ghey on sister....scissor it up....we coming for ur rainbow azz. Click Click!!!
On August 18, 2023, Laura Ann Carleton, a known ally to the LGBTQ+ community, was murdered for hanging a pride flag outside her store. Carleton was shot by Travis Ikeguchi, who fled the scene and was later shot and killed by law enforcement. On August 30, 2023, KTLA, a local Los Angeles news station, wrote an article about Carleton’s death.
Wellinger pleaded guilty to Interstate Threatening Communication with a special finding that he targeted his victim because of her sexual orientation.
Wellinger is scheduled to be sentenced on June 9, 2025, at 10 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Linda Lopez.
If you or anyone you know believes you have been the victim of a hate crime, please contact the FBI at www.tips.fbi.gov. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacqueline M. Jimenez and Alicia Williams are prosecuting this case.
DEFENDANT Case Number: 24-CR-1591
George Joseph Wellinger II Age: 49 San Diego, CA
CHARGE
Transmitting a Threatening Communication - Title 18 U.S.C., § 875(c)
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison
INVESTIGATING AGENCY
Federal Bureau of Investigation
For more information and resources about the department’s work to combat hate crimes, visit https://www.justice.gov/hatecrimes.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Filed More than 100 Border-Related Cases This WeekRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California filed more than 100 border-related cases this week, including charges of transportation of illegal aliens, reentering the U.S. after deportation, deported alien found in the United States, and importation of controlled substances.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California is the fourth-busiest federal district, largely due to a high volume of border-related crimes. This district, encompassing San Diego and Imperial counties, shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the world’s busiest land border crossing, connecting San Diego (America’s eighth largest city) and Tijuana (Mexico’s second largest city).
In addition to reactive border-related crimes, the Southern District of California also prosecutes a significant number of proactive cases related to terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking and national security. Recent developments in those and other significant areas of prosecution can be found here.
A representative sample of border-related arrests this week, includes:
- Mexican nationals Isay Edel Ramos-Chaparro and Omar Alvarado-Ignacio were arrested March 4, 2025, by El Centro-based U.S. Border Patrol agents and charged with crimes relating to their alleged attempt to cross illegally into the United States on motorcycles through a breach in the border fence in Mexicali. Both defendants had previously been deported after entering the United States illegally.
- On March 6, 2025, Jason Kristopher Lowe attempted to enter the United States from Mexico via the San Ysidro Port of Entry driving a BMW X5, bearing California plates. Lowe was arrested when two individuals, both of whom admitted to being citizens of China without lawful documents allowing them to enter the United States, were found inside a secret compartment in the undercarriage of the BMW.
- Fernando Medina Rodriguez, Gustavo Camacha Medina and Carlos Cardenas Medina – all drivers of separate tractor-trailers attempting to cross into the U.S. from Mexico at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry – were arrested on March 4, 2025, on drug importation charges. According to a federal complaint, all three were sent to secondary inspection around the same time, where Customs and Border Protection officials found hidden compartments containing a total of approximately 171 pounds of cocaine.
Federal law enforcement has focused immigration prosecutions on undocumented aliens who are engaged in criminal activity in the U.S., including those who commit drug and firearms crimes, who have serious criminal records, or who have active warrants for their arrest. Federal authorities have also been prioritizing investigations and prosecutions against drug, firearm, and human smugglers and those who endanger and threaten the safety of our communities and the law enforcement officers who protect the community.
The immigration cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with the support and assistance of state and local law enforcement partners.
Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Vice President of Pharmaceutical Company Admits to Insider TradingRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – George Demos, then-vice president at San Diego-based Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc., pleaded guilty in federal court today to illegally selling 60,000 company shares, thus avoiding a $1.3 million loss by acting on insider knowledge about the labeling process for a prescription drug with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Demos, a medical doctor who was the Vice President of Drug Safety and Pharmacovigilance and member of the drug label team at publicly-traded Acadia, admitted that he was able to avoid the loss by dumping his shares just two hours before negative news about the labeling process became public.
Through his positions, Demos had access to material information belonging to Acadia, including the drug approval and labeling process with the FDA, before the information was released to the investing public. As an employee of Acadia, Demos was subject to an insider trading policy that prohibited trading in company stock on the basis of material nonpublic information.
As of 2021, Acadia’s only fully FDA-approved pharmaceutical product was Pimavanserin, sold under the brand name Nuplazid, for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease psychosis. Demos admitted that in 2020, he learned inside information that Acadia had applied for FDA approval for the expansion of the label for Nuplazid to treat dementia-related psychosis. Expanding the label was expected to generate significant revenue for Acadia because it would allow the drug to treat a larger patient population.
Demos also admitted, however, that in March 2021, he learned additional inside information that discussions with the FDA had stalled, indicating a problem with the label. Acting on that inside information, Demos sold more than 60,000 shares of Acadia for $2,833,856.15 - less than two hours before Acadia issued a press release announcing deficiencies in its drug application with the FDA, preventing labeling discussions. Demos admitted that based on the inside information, he sold his Acadia stock for $46.61 per share, avoiding the 45 percent drop in stock price, to $25.02, that occurred the next day after the press release was issued to the public. Through this illegal trading, Demos avoided a loss of $1,313,263.
As part of his plea, Demos agreed to forfeit $1,313,263 – the loss he avoided through his insider trading.
Demos is scheduled to be sentenced on May 30, 2025, at 9 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Robert Huie.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Janaki G. Chopra.
DEFENDANT Case Number 25cr00682
George Demos Age: 64 San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Securities Fraud – 15 U.S.C. § 78j(b), 78ff; 17 CFR § 240.10b-5
Maximum penalty – Twenty years in prison and fine of $5 million or twice the gross gain or loss
INVESTIGATING AGENCY
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Colombian National Charged with Narco-Terrorism in Superseding IndictmentRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Geovany Andres Rojas, a suspected cocaine trafficker also known as Araña, was indicted by a federal grand jury today in a superseding Indictment with a new count of Narco-Terrorism.
Rojas was previously charged with one count of International Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine. In that charge, Rojas is alleged to have agreed, in Colombia, Ecuador, and elsewhere, to distribute cocaine knowing that it would be unlawfully imported into the United States. Today, the United States added a second charge of Narco-Terrorism that alleges that Rojas knowingly and intentionally provided anything of pecuniary value to persons and organizations he knew were engaged in terrorist activity and terrorism.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kyle B. Martin and Ashley E. Goff.
The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 25cr0442-H
Giovany Andres Rojas, aka Araña Age: 43 Colombia
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
International Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 959, 960, and 963
Maximum penalty: Mandatory minimum 10 years and up to life in prison
Narco-Terrorism – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 960a and 841
Maximum penalty: Mandatory minimum 20 years and up to life in prison
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Drug Enforcement Administration
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Former Honolulu City Officials Admit They Conspired to Secretly Pay Corrupt Former Chief of Honolulu Police Department $250,000Read the Press Release
HONOLULU, Hawaii – Former Honolulu City Attorney Donna Leong and former Honolulu Police Commission Chair Max Sword pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting that they conspired to illegally pay then-Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha $250,000 from city coffers without the approval of the Honolulu City Council while he was under federal investigation for corruption.
Additionally, former Honolulu City Manager Roy Amemiya entered a deferred prosecution agreement for his role in the same conspiracy.
The defendants were immediately sentenced to time served and were ordered to pay $250,000 in restitution to the city.
The resolution of these cases marks the end of a decade-long series of public corruption prosecutions in Honolulu, which began with the investigation and conviction of Chief Kealoha and former Honolulu prosecutor Katherine Kealoha.
According to court documents, Leong, Sword, and Amemiya admitted that they conspired in their official capacities as Honolulu city officials to reach a settlement agreement for the retirement of then-Police Chief Kealoha while he was under federal investigation for corruption. The defendants also paid Kealoha $250,000 from the city’s purse without first seeking and obtaining the approval of the Honolulu City Council, which was required by city laws. Leong, Sword, and Amemiya admitted that their decision not to seek and obtain City Council approval violated the law and deprived the citizens of Honolulu of their due process rights under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments of a hearing before, and approval by, their elected City Council for the use of city funds.
Following their guilty pleas, Leong and Sword were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi to time served and one year of supervised release. During today’s hearing, Judge Kobayashi characterized Leong and Sword’s actions as “truly misguided” and reprimanded them for exercising a “complete disregard for the separation of powers” by not presenting the settlement agreement to City Council. She further stated that their actions caused “serious harm” to the community of Honolulu.
As part of a deferred prosecution agreement, in addition to admitting his involvement in the criminal conspiracy, Amemiya’s agreement requires him to comply with certain conditions for a period of two years, including completion of 200 hours of community service and restriction from holding public office. Per the terms of his deferred prosecution agreement, if he complies in full for two years, the charges against Amemiya will be dismissed.
Importantly, all three defendants agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $250,000 to the City and County of Honolulu—the exact amount of taxpayer money paid to then-Chief Kealoha as part of the unlawful settlement agreement.
The conclusion of the criminal case against Leong, Sword, and Amemiya is the last in a decade-long series of public corruption prosecutions in Hawaii conducted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, which prosecuted these cases after the District of Hawaii was recused. These prosecutions have charged and convicted over a dozen individuals, most of whom were public officials or persons of prominence in Honolulu, including the Kealohas, Honolulu police officers, and anesthesiologist Rudy Puana, Katherine Kealoha’s brother. The resolution of the charges against Leong, Sword, and Amemiya marks a historic end to this journey of seeking justice for the citizens of Honolulu.
“After a decade-long battle against public corruption in Hawaii, we have successfully brought numerous cases to a close. This achievement is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our law enforcement partners, the prosecutors, our legal support staff, and the community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Haden. “Together, we have demonstrated that no one is above the law. Hopefully, our efforts have also restored some faith in law enforcement and local government for the Hawaiian community. But let these cases also be a reminder, the fight against corruption must never end. The Department of Justice has a proud history and stands ready to fight for the principles of justice and fairness for all.”
“The cases against these three defendants are the last among a decade-long series of public corruption prosecutions in Hawaii,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “I am proud of the agents and prosecutors who devoted years to these investigations—their tireless efforts reflect our continued commitment to root out corruption in our communities.”
This case and the series of public corruption cases brought over the last decade were led by Special Attorneys Michael G. Wheat, Joseph J.M. Orabona, Janaki G. Chopra, Colin M. McDonald and Andrew Y. Chiang.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 21cr00142-LEK
Donna Yuk Lan Leong Age: 69 Honolulu, HI
Max John Sword Age: 73 Honolulu, HI
Roy Keiji Amemiya, Jr. Age: 69 Honolulu, HI
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Deprive Rights under Color of Law – Title 18, U.S.C., Sections 371 and 242
Maximum penalty: One year in prison and $100,000 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCY
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Honolulu Division
Cocaine Trafficker Sentenced to 210 Months for Drug Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Rodolfo Benjamin Silva, a prolific cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl trafficker who called himself the “King of Coke,” was sentenced in federal court today to 17.5 years in prison for distributing large quantities of illicit drugs in the U.S. and for facilitating the movement of cartel hitmen into the United States.
At today’s hearing, prosecutors described Silva as a long-time San Diego-based drug distributor who worked directly with Mexican counterparts to receive narcotic shipments from Mexico. According to his plea agreement, in October 2022, Silva provided a drug courier with 114 pounds of methamphetamine and a kilogram of fentanyl for transport to Indianapolis, but it was interdicted in Oklahoma.
Silva also admitted in his plea agreement to threatening, directing or using violence as part of his drug trafficking activities. Prosecutors told the court today that Silva assisted in bringing assassins known as “sicarios” from Mexico into the San Diego area for cartel enforcement operations. On one occasion, Silva hired a sicario from Mexico to come to San Diego where that individual attempted to fatally shoot one of Silva’s rivals, prosecutors said.
This investigation was led by FBI and DEA in San Diego with integral assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Indiana and FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Goff.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations.
DEFENDANT Case Number 23CR02513-WQH
Rodolfo Benjamin Silva, aka “Rudy” Age: 44 San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841(a)(1) and 846
Maximum penalty: Mandatory minimum 10 years and up to life in prison, $10 million fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Drug Enforcement Administration
San Diego Man Who Ran $35 Million Securities Fraud and COVID-Relief Fraud Scheme Sentenced to Almost 20 YearsRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Denny Thakorbhai Bhakta, who was convicted by a federal jury in October 2024 of securities fraud, bank fraud and money laundering in connection with a $35 million swindle that left his own elderly uncle bankrupt, was sentenced in federal court today to 235 months in custody. Bhakta was convicted of all 25 charges after a two-week trial.
The evidence at trial showed Bhakta solicited investors in his companies Fusion Hotel Management LLC and Fusion Hospitality Corporation (collectively “Fusion”). Between at least 2016 and up to 2021, Bhakta falsely told investors that Fusion routinely acquired discounted blocks of hotel rooms from Hilton, which Fusion then sold to United Airlines at a higher price for a significant profit.
To support these lies, Bhakta provided fabricated bank statements, fake contracts, and profit and loss statements purporting to show millions in revenue and profit. Instead of buying blocks of hotel rooms with investors’ funds, however, Bhakta used the money he obtained from investors for gambling, to make Ponzi-style payments to other investors, and to pay for Bhakta’s personal expenses, including luxury vehicles.
According to court documents, Bhakta targeted friends, family members and close acquittances during the multi-year fraud scheme. Among the victims was Bhakta’s uncle, who was swindled out of $4.5 million, and who testified during the trial that he came to the U.S. as an immigrant with a suitcase and $8 in his pocket, and because of the defendant, he “lost everything he had worked for in 57 years in America. Everything.”
Bhakta’s other victims included a childhood friend who lost hundreds of thousands of dollars; his former boss and his wife; a friend of his family who lost $1.6 million; a high school classmate and her father who together lost more than $800,000; and an 88-year-old investor who lost $50,000.
During the trial, prosecutors introduced evidence that Bhakta was flown to Las Vegas on the Wynn Las Vegas private jet. And in just one 7.5-hour gambling binge in 2018, Bhakta lost $1 million at the casino. Through a trove of casino records, prosecutors demonstrated how Bhakta repeatedly took investors’ money straight to casinos and gambled (and lost) millions of investor money.
“I haven’t seen a case quite like this,” said U.S. District Judge Janis L. Sammartino, who found Bhakta’s conduct “could not have been more deliberate [and] could not have been more calculated.” In pronouncing the 235-month prison sentence, Judge Sammartino noted Bhakta’s only apparent motive was “greed and gambling,” his victims included his own friends and relatives, and he showed “nothing resembling remorse” for his criminal conduct that spanned years.
“This defendant didn’t just betray investors—he callously swindled his own family and closest friends, leaving his elderly uncle bankrupt,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden. “Instead of safeguarding their hard-earned money, he funneled millions straight to casinos, gambling away their futures along with his own. His lies, deceit, and reckless greed have finally caught up to him. Today’s sentence makes clear that those who gamble with other people’s trust and livelihoods will face the consequences.”
“Denny Bhakta orchestrated an elaborate investment fraud scheme that caused extensive financial harm to unsuspecting victims, including close family and friends, all for his own personal gain,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy. “Today’s sentence holds him accountable for his greed and deceitful conduct, bringing justice to the victims he exploited.”
According to the government’s sentencing materials, in 2020, Bhakta doubled down on the fraud. Through the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), Bhakta applied for 18 separate PPP loans totaling $4.4 million. To fraudulently obtain the PPP loans, Bhakta created fake W-2 and other IRS documents and used the names and personally identifying information of his victim-investors to claim them as employees of Fusion and other entities under Bhakta’s control. Bhakta used the more than $4.4 million he received in PPP loans to keep the Ponzi scheme going and to continue gambling and losing money at casinos.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Mokhtari and Eric Olah.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 21cr3352-JLS
Denny Thakorbhai Bhakta Age: 42 San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Securities Fraud—Title 15, U.S.C. §§ 78j(b), 78ff; Title 17, C.F.R. § 240.10b-5
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $5,000,000 fine
Bank Fraud—Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1344(2)
Maximum penalty: Thirty years in prison and $1 million fine
Money Laundering– Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1957
Maximum penalty: Ten years in prison and fine twice the amount of the criminally derived property involved in the transaction
INVESTIGATING AGENCY
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Bonita Drug Dealer Sentenced to More Than 21 Years for Supplying Fentanyl that Resulted in Death of 15-Year-Old GirlRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Marcus Ray Chavez was sentenced in federal court today to 262 months in prison for providing the fentanyl pills that resulted in the fatal overdose of a 15-year-old girl in 2022.
According to court documents, on at least four occasions between September and November 2022, Chavez provided the girl with “M30” pills he knew were counterfeit and contained fentanyl, in exchange for sex with the girl. Chavez also admitted to knowing the girl was underage. On November 12, 2022, she fatally overdosed from pills that Chavez provided.
According to the government’s sentencing memo, the victim was in the ninth grade at the time of her death. Family and friends described her as an energetic girl who “brightened any room she entered” and who hoped to one day own her own hair salon.
“Any loss of life is tragic,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden. “The loss of a child is particularly devastating. While nothing can bring this lost child back, we are committed to holding this dealer and others like him accountable.”
“Mr. Chavez traded fake fentanyl pills for sex with a vulnerable child,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian Clark. “Fentanyl’s grip tightens the chains of exploitation. As her family grieves and we honor her memory, Mr. Chavez now has over 20 years to remember his actions stole an innocent life.”
“The San Diego Police Department mourns with the family and friends of the victim in this case,” said San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl. “We must stop the senseless loss of life due to fentanyl overdoses and stand together to hold dealers accountable for the destruction they cause.”
Fentanyl remains a serious threat. The latest DEA laboratory testing, announced last fall, indicated that five out of 10 pills tested contained a potentially deadly dose of fentanyl.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine McGrath. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Owen Roth provided substantial assistance in this case.
DEFENDANT Case Number 23cr1354
Marcus Ray Chavez Age: 30 Bonita, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Sex Trafficking of a Minor – Title 18, U.S.C., Sections 1591(a)(1), (b)(2)
Maximum penalty: Mandatory minimum 10 years in prison, maximum life in prison and $250,000 fine
Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Death – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841(a), 841(b)(1)(C)
Maximum penalty: Mandatory minimum 20 years in prison, maximum life in prison and $1 million fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Drug Enforcement Administration’s Overdose Response Team (formerly known as Team 10)
San Diego Police Department
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office
Homeland Security Investigations
La Mesa Police Department
National Guard Counterdrug Task Force
California Department of Health Care Services
Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Fentanyl that Caused Two Fatal OverdosesRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Jonathan Tyler Gauthier pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting that he supplied the fentanyl that caused the deaths of S.M.G. on September 7, 2022, and J.A.W. on December 24, 2022.
According to the plea agreement, on September 7, 2022, at approximately 5:50 a.m., San Diego Police officers responded to a residence in Hillcrest. When officers arrived, they found 24-year-old S.M.G. deceased in his upstairs bedroom. A review of S.M.G.’s phone revealed a lengthy history of drug purchases from Gauthier, starting in at least 2019.
According to evidence collected from cell phones and witness interviews, S.M.G. traveled from his home in Hillcrest to the defendant’s location in La Jolla in the late afternoon on Sept. 6, 2022. Gauthier warned S.M.G. that he was selling a potent batch of fentanyl. At 8:49 p.m., Gauthier texted S.M.G.: “Ur being careful.” At 9:12 p.m., S.M.G. responded “Yes.” S.M.G. was not seen alive after he went to his bedroom at 9:30 p.m.
On December 24, 2022, at approximately 4:29 a.m., San Diego Police officers responded to a residence in the North Clairemont area of the City of San Diego. When officers arrived, firefighters were attempting to revive J.A.W., a 27-year-old male. J.A.W. was pronounced dead at 5:02 a.m.
A family member had last seen J.A.W. alive on December 23, 2022, at 9:30 p.m., and she had checked on him at 4 a.m. when she noticed the light on his bedroom. Next to his body were a piece of foil with burnt residue on it and a white pipe with a charred blue pill on its tip. On the floor next to J.A.W.’s bed was a small, clear bag that contained eight blue pills, each marked with “M30.” Subsequent testing determined that the pills contained fentanyl.
According to evidence, including information from cell phones, social media and witness interviews, J.A.W. began to message the defendant on December 18, 2022, seeking to purchase “blues,” which are counterfeit pills often containing fentanyl. Over the course of the next four days, J.A.W. and Gauthier messaged about the purchase until settling on a price of $80 for 10 blues. On December 23, 2022, J.A.W. arranged to meet at Gauthier’s storage unit to complete the purchase. J.A.W. left his family’s holiday party at 2 p.m., picked up the drugs at the storage unit and returned home at 4 p.m.
Gauthier’s sentencing is scheduled for May 30, 2025, at 9 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Janis L. Sammartino.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Gordon and David Fawcett.
Special Agents and Task Force Officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Overdose Response Team and the Fentanyl Abatement and Suppression Team (FAST) jointly led this investigation.
The Overdose Response Team is an ongoing effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the San Diego Police Department, the La Mesa Police Department, National Guard Counterdrug Task Force and the California Department of Health Care Services to investigate and prosecute the distribution of dangerous illegal drugs—fentanyl in particular—that result in overdose deaths. The Drug Enforcement Administration created the Overdose Response Team as a response to the increase in overdose deaths in San Diego County.
HSI San Diego FAST is a multiagency task force comprising state, local, and federal partners and was first established in August 2022 focusing on the disruption and dismantlement of criminal organizations that smuggle and distribute fentanyl within San Diego County. HSI’s FAST targets fentanyl smuggling and distribution networks to counter the rising overdose rate and decrease the availability and accessibility of fentanyl.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 24-CR-1383-JLS
Jonathan Tyler Gauthier Age: 26 San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Distribution of Fentanyl
21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison (per count)
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Drug Enforcement Administration
Homeland Security Investigations
San Diego Police Department
California National Guard Counterdrug Task Force
California Department of Health Care Services
La Mesa Police Department
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Defendant Pleads Guilty to Selling Fentanyl that Caused Fatal OverdoseRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Danny Nunez pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting that he supplied the fentanyl that caused the death of a 25-year-old San Diego woman identified in court records as “L.P.” on September 11, 2024.
According to the plea agreement, on September 12, 2024, the young woman’s parents found her deceased in her bedroom. Cell phone evidence and witness statements show that the victim purchased fentanyl from the defendant on September 11, 2024, which she later consumed, resulting in her death.
On October 3, 2024, members of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Diego – Fentanyl Abatement and Suppression Team (FAST), in conjunction with the Escondido Police Department, conducted an enforcement operation resulting in the arrest of the defendant after he attempted to sell two baggies of fentanyl, weighing 7.67 grams and 1.23 grams, to undercover agents.
Nunez is scheduled to be sentenced on May 19, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. before U.S. District Court Judge Thomas J. Whelan.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Van Demark.
HSI San Diego FAST is a multiagency task force comprising state, local, and federal partners and was first established in August 2022 focusing on the disruption and dismantlement of criminal organizations that smuggle and distribute fentanyl within San Diego County. HSI’s FAST targets fentanyl smuggling and distribution networks to counter the rising overdose rate and decrease the availability and accessibility of fentanyl.
DEFENDANT Case Number 24-CR-2295-W
Danny Nunez Age: 25 San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Attempted Distribution of Fentanyl
21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison (per count)
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Homeland Security Investigations
Escondido Police Department
San Diego Imperial Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Woman Sentenced to 70 Months in Prison for Burning Down Local BusinessRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Carey Alice Hernandez was sentenced in federal court today to 70 months in prison for intentionally setting fire to Off Road Warehouse to cover up the disappearance of more than $700,000 while she was in charge of company finances.
In April 2024, after a four-day trial, jurors found Hernandez guilty of malicious destruction of a building by means of fire, witness tampering and making false statements.
In late 2018, the owner of Off Road Warehouse, also known as ORW, which sold and installed automotive parts and gear for off-roading, decided to sell the business located at 7915 Balboa Avenue. The prospective purchaser conducted an audit of ORW, which revealed that between January 2015 and March 2019, while Hernandez was serving as bookkeeper and controller in charge of the company books and records, $744,621 had gone missing from the company.
The jury found that in the early morning hours of March 28, 2019, Hernandez started the fire at Off Road Warehouse, causing the building to burn to the ground.
“This defendant intentionally set a dangerous inferno in what appears to have been an attempt to conceal a massive theft. And then she leaned on her minor daughter to try and cover up her crimes,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden. “Fortunately, no one was physically hurt, but this devastating loss for ORW, and the extraordinary danger of intentionally setting a fire, demanded accountability. And today, justice was served.”
At today’s hearing, U.S. District Judge Jinsook Ohta described the defendant’s actions as “wanton, deliberate and destructive” and “a very dangerous crime” that put firefighters at risk. She noted the crime was made even worse when she asked her daughter to lie for her.
According to evidence presented at trial, surveillance footage showed the defendant driving an SUV with dark rims near her home and the fire scene. The following day, she lied to federal agents and ORW employees, claiming her SUV had light rims. Video footage from the area contradicted her claims about the vehicles rims, leading to convictions for witness tampering and false statements.
ATF’s National Response Team (NRT) investigated this case in conjunction with San Diego’s Metro Arson Strike Team (MAST). The NRT is ATF’s mobile, rapid response team which investigates the cause and origin of large fires, explosions and bombings at the request of local public safety agencies.
“Arson crimes are not victimless,” said Acting ATF Los Angeles Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jose Medina. “These criminal acts destroy lives, property, and businesses. In this case, the motive was greed—fire was used as a cover-up for criminal activity. ATF remains steadfast in its mission to bring arsonists to justice and ensure safer communities. We will relentlessly pursue and remove these offenders from society. I want to acknowledge the dedication of our National Response Team and San Diego’s Metro Arson Strike Team (MAST) for their work in determining the fire’s origin and cause.”
A hearing to determine the restitution that Hernandez owes the victims of her crimes is scheduled for March 14, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. before Judge Ohta.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Brehm and Carl Brooker.
DEFENDANT Case Number 22cr145-JO
Carey Alice Hernandez Age: 46 Rathdrum, Idaho
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Malicious Destruction of Building by Means of Fire – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 844(i)
Maximum penalty: No less than five years in prison and no more than 20 years and $250,000 fine
Witness Tampering – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1512(b)(3)
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $250,000 fine
False Statements – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1001(a)(2)
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and $250,000 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCY
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
San Diego Gang Member Sentenced in Organized Crime ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Odyssey Carrillo, a member of the Emerald Hills Bloods gang, was sentenced in federal court today to 168 months in prison for his role in a racketeering conspiracy involving coordinated violent crimes by street gangs.
Carrillo is the ninth and final member of the conspiracy to be sentenced. He pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Conduct Enterprise Affairs Through a Pattern of Racketeering Activity and Hobbs Act Robbery. According to court documents, the crimes committed by the enterprise included armed robbery, sex trafficking, prostitution, violence and other profit-driven illegal activities.
The defendants were charged with racketeering conspiracy - the statute’s original inspiration was to combat organized-crime syndicates and mobsters. But as criminal street gangs have become more sophisticated and prolific in their illicit business pursuits, this statute has become an effective tool to address all aspects of coordinated violent criminal conduct.
Previously sentenced defendants include Jerome Brunson, Cedric Jordan, Stephen Nathaniel Calhoun, Jr., Carl Moore, Maurice Johnson, Dajay Leon Scott, Taashawn Henderson and Sergio Valentin Louden.
In his plea agreement, Carrillo admitted that he joined the conspiracy that engaged in a pattern of racketeering activity that included robbery, prostitution and sex trafficking. Carrillo further admitted to committing racketeering activity himself, including two specific armed robberies.
Carrillo, Calhoun and Moore admitted to participating in the January 19, 2019, armed robbery of San Carlos Jewelers in San Diego and the February 11, 2019, armed robbery of the Bert Levi Family Jewelers in San Diego.
Calhoun also admitted to robbing the Medicine Shoppe in San Diego by gunpoint on May 20, 2019. Calhoun and Moore both admitted to being Lincoln Park Bloods (LPK) gang members; Carrillo admitted to being an Emerald Hills gang member, a Bloods-aligned street gang that often works cooperatively with LPK. Calhoun and Moore were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Cynthia Bashant to 176 months and 105 months in custody, respectively.
According to their plea agreements, in furtherance of the racketeering conspiracy, Jerome Brunson admitted to being an LPK member who participated in the November 19, 2019, armed robbery of a Jared’s jewelry store in National City. Judge Bashant sentenced Brunson to 57 months in custody. Dajay Scott and Sergio Louden admitted to being LPK members who robbed numerous women of their purses outside nail salons in January 2020. Judge Bashant sentenced Scott and Louden to 48 months and 72 months in custody, respectively.
Cedric Jordan, Maurice Johnson, and Taashawn Henderson admitted to being LPK members who, during the course and in furtherance of the conspiracy, engaged in sex offenses related to sex trafficking and transportation for purposes of prostitution. Judge Bashant sentenced Jordan, Johnson, and Henderson to 63 months, 60 months, and 58 months in custody, respectively.
“Every member of our community is put at risk when criminal street gangs engage in armed robberies, sex trafficking, and other violent criminal acts,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden. “This case is the result of outstanding teamwork and collaboration between our local and federal law enforcement partners. We will continue to hold these violent groups accountable, using the RICO tools at our disposal, to bring justice to crime victims and to make our community safer.”
“Today’s sentencing reflects the hard work, determination, and collaboration of multiple agencies to dismantle an organized crime conspiracy,” said FBI San Diego Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy. “The violent crime and gang threats are too diverse, too dangerous, and too all-encompassing for any of us to tackle alone. FBI will continue to work with our partners to disrupt violent crime, human traffickers, and violent gangs whose criminal acts devastate our communities.”
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mario J. Peia, Katherine E. A. McGrath, and Matthew Brehm.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 21cr2909-BAS
Jerome Brunson Age: 27 San Diego, CA
Cedric Jordan Age: 36 San Diego, CA
Stephen Nathaniel Calhoun, Jr. Age: 24 San Diego, CA
Carl Moore Age: 34 San Diego, CA
Maurice Johnson Age: 34 San Diego, CA
Dajay Leon Scott Age: 26 San Diego, CA
Taashawn Henderson Age: 29 San Diego, CA
Sergio Valentin Louden Age: 36 San Diego, CA
Odyssey Carrillo Age: 23 San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Conduct Enterprise Affairs Through a Pattern of Racketeering Activity – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1962(d)
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $250,000 fine
Interference with Commerce by Robbery – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1951
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $250,000 fine
Brandishing a Firearm During and In Relation to a Crime of Violence – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 924(c)
Maximum penalty: Life in prison with a seven-year mandatory minimum and $250,000 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
San Diego Police Department
San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force
San Diego County Sheriff’s Department
National City Police Department
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Alleged Member of Cartel Enforcement Group Extradited from MexicoRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Edgar Perez Villa, an alleged member of a Tijuana-based enforcement group for the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación, commonly known as CJNG, was extradited from Mexico to the United States on Thursday and made his first appearance in federal court in San Diego today.
Perez Villa was indicted along with other alleged Mexican drug cartel enforcers in connection with their alleged violent support of heroin and methamphetamine trafficking.
At today’s hearing, Perez Villa was arraigned and entered a not-guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jill L. Burkhardt. The government asked that Perez Villa be detained on grounds that he is a significant flight risk. Judge Burkhardt scheduled a detention hearing for February 27, 2025, at 2 p.m. before Judge Michelle Pettit. The Court also set March 28, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. for a motion hearing/trial setting before U.S. District Court Judge Cynthia A. Bashant.
The superseding indictment, returned on March 6, 2020, plus a related indictment returned on March 16, 2021, collectively charged Perez Villa, aka Cabo 89, along with other alleged cartel leaders - including Edgar Herrera Pardo, aka Caiman; Carlos Lorenzo Hinojosa Guerrero, aka Cabo 96; and Israel Alejandro Vazquez-Vazquez, aka Cabo 50, among others. They are charged with drug trafficking crimes.
According to court documents, the defendants were leaders of a violent group of cartel enforcers known as “Los Cabos” who operated in Baja California to secure control of the region for CJNG.
Los Cabos allegedly employed rampant violence to ensure that CJNG maintained the ability to traffic drugs through Tijuana and into the United States through San Diego. According to the indictment, investigators learned through judicially-authorized interceptions that the leaders of Los Cabos planned more than 150 murders, the majority of which took place in Tijuana, according to the filings.
Los Cabos allegedly engaged in this violence in support of CJNG, one of the most dangerous transnational criminal organizations in the world. The cartel has its hands in trafficking multiple deadly substances. It is responsible for moving tons of cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl-laced heroin into the United States. CJNG is also a prolific methamphetamine producer and chemical importer, using precursors procured from China and India. CJNG is one of the most powerful Mexican cartels operating within the United States.
“For far too long, violent cartels have inflicted untold suffering through violence and drug addiction,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden. “Our fight against this reign of terror will not waver.”
“Cartels use violence and intimidation to control the areas they terrorize,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian Clark. “As an alleged member of Los Cabos, Perez-Villa spent years destroying the community through drug trafficking and violence. One by one, the DEA will hold these criminals accountable and bring them to justice.”
This case is the result of 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 Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest and extradition of Perez Villa.
DEFENDANT
Case Number: 19CR1274-BAS
Edgar Perez Villa, aka Cabo 89, aka Nier Age 35 Tijuana
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances for Purpose of Unlawful Importation, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. §§ 959, 960 and 963
Maximum Sentence: Mandatory minimum ten years and up to life imprisonment, $10 million fine
Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846
Maximum Sentence: Mandatory minimum ten years and up to life imprisonment, $10 million fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Drug Enforcement Administration
Homeland Security Investigations
Department of Justice, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force
Department of Justice, Office of Enforcement Operations
Department of Justice, Office of International Affairs
San Diego Sheriff’s Department
*An indictment or complaint is not evidence that the defendant committed the crimes charged. The defendant is presumed innocent until the Government meets its burden in court of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt
San Diego Woman Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin-Filled Bibles Addressed to California Prison InmatesRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – U.S. District Court Judge Todd Robinson sentenced Lucresia Stone-Rojas of San Diego today to 86 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm on November 12, 2023, and possession with intent to distribute heroin on December 27, 2023. Stone-Rojas previously pleaded guilty in federal court to these charges.
According to court records, police stopped Stone-Rojas on November 12, 2023, after license plate readers identified a stolen Porsche near North Second Street and East Main Street in El Cajon. During the stop, police recovered a loaded 9mm Walther firearm and an additional ammunition magazine. Multiple prior felony convictions prohibit Stone-Rojas from possessing a firearm or ammunition. She was therefore charged with unlawful firearm possession, following investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Stone-Rojas was again arrested by federal investigators on December 27, 2023, for a second offense. This time, Stone-Rojas possessed sealed packages and envelopes addressed to multiple prison inmates in the California Department of Corrections. A search of the packages revealed two Bibles containing approximately 23 grams of heroin; the drugs were concealed in the spine of the Bibles and destined for delivery to two different California prisons.
“Smuggling drugs into our prisons endangers both the inmates and the correctional staff. It will not be tolerated.” said Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden “Hopefully this case will serve as a warning to anyone who would be willing to abuse the tools of faith and rehabilitation to perpetuate addiction and despair.”
“Multi-convicted felons who possess firearms will be held accountable as we work to keep our communities safe and firearms out of the hands of prohibited people,” said ATF Los Angeles Field Division Special Agent in Charge Kenneth R. Cooper. “ATF will continue to work with local and state law enforcement agencies to investigate the violent career criminals who illegally possess firearms.”“Drug distribution, no matter where it occurs, threatens the safety of our community and will not be tolerated,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian Clark.
DEFENDANT Case Number 23CR2622 (TWR)
Lucresia Stone-Rojas Age: 46 San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Felon in Possession of a Firearm — Title 18 U.S.C., Section 922(g)(1)
Maximum Penalty: 15 years in prison and $250,000 finePossession with Intent to Distribute Heroin – Title 21 U.S.C., Section 841(a)(1)
Maximum Penalty: 20 years in prison and $1,000,000 fineINVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Drug Enforcement Administration
El Cajon Police Department
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath Concludes Tenure as Chief Law Enforcement Officer in Southern District of CaliforniaRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California announced that U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath’s tenure as the chief federal law enforcement official for San Diego and Imperial counties ended today, February 12, 2025.
As a Presidential appointee, Ms. McGrath was informed of her termination in a communication from the White House, at the direction of the President of the United States. The White House also thanked Ms. McGrath for her service to the nation.
“It has been an honor to serve as U.S. Attorney, working alongside an exceptional team in this office and forging strong partnerships with our law enforcement agencies and communities in pursuit of justice,” Ms. McGrath said. “As I step down from a decades-long career in public service, I remain inspired by dedicated public servants across this district and am proud of all we achieved together.”
Ms. McGrath was confirmed by the U.S. Senate after nomination by President Biden. She was sworn in as the district’s top federal law enforcement official on October 5, 2023. She oversaw one of the nation’s busiest United States Attorney’s Offices, which has a staff of about 300 and serves approximately 3.5 million residents in San Diego and Imperial counties.
During her tenure, Ms. McGrath prioritized protecting the community from the deadly scourge of fentanyl; investigating and prosecuting scammers targeting vulnerable populations; getting firearms out of the hands of felons and violent offenders; bringing cases to root out corruption and enforce civil rights; and using the legal tools available to safeguard the environment. The office also successfully prosecuted cases involving Mexican drug cartels and drug trafficking — leading the nation in the number of drug trafficking cases prosecuted — as well as firearms trafficking and violent crime; complex financial frauds; national security and cybersecurity; and human smuggling and trafficking.
Some key accomplishments of the U.S. Attorney’s Office under Ms. McGrath’s leadership:
- Became first in the nation to charge defendants for smuggling potent greenhouse gases across the U.S.-Mexico border, in violation of U.S. environmental laws.
- Secured sentences of six consecutive life terms and 45 years, respectively, for brothers convicted of murdering their American half-sister, her three children, and her partner in Tijuana.
- Reinforced the region’s Elder Justice Task Force in partnership with the FBI and San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, recovering approximately $4.5 million stolen from elderly victims through sophisticated scams.
- Charged 40 individuals with stealing public-assistance benefits from low-income families, as part of an ongoing effort targeting thieves who exploit the government’s electronic payment system.
- Negotiated a $130,131,645 forfeiture settlement with Wynn Las Vegas for criminal conspiracy involving unlicensed money transmitting businesses worldwide. Achieved what is believed to be the largest forfeiture by a casino based on admissions of criminal wrongdoing.
- Secured conviction at trial against a defendant on 25 counts of securities fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering in connection with a $35 million investment and COVID-relief fraud scheme. Highlighted victim impact during the trial, including the defendant’s immigrant uncle who’d been swindled out of $4.5 million and many other victims who collectively lost millions of dollars.
- Facilitated the extradition of Michael Pratt, the alleged mastermind behind the GirlsDoPorn commercial sex trafficking ring, following his arrest in Spain after more than three years as an international fugitive.
Ms. McGrath also oversaw key civil cases, including successful defensive litigation on behalf of the United States, and led efforts to recover millions of dollars from individuals and companies involved in fraud and civil rights violations.
Since Ms. McGrath took the helm, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has obtained settlements and recoveries in excess of $41 million. This includes cases brought under the False Claims Act across a broad spectrum of program areas including health care, defense procurement, and the Paycheck Protection Program enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These substantial recoveries also involved matters investigated under the Controlled Substances Act in response to the opioid epidemic, including those against a large-scale pharmacy and other DEA registrants for failing to meet their obligations to properly handle and dispense opioids and other dangerous controlled substances.
Pursuant to the Vacancies Reform Act, career prosecutor and current First Assistant U.S. Attorney, Andrew R. Haden, has taken over as the Acting United States Attorney, effective today.
For more information about Ms. McGrath, please see Tara McGrath Sworn In
Former Navy Detective Sentenced to 15 Months for Using Unreasonable Force and Making a False StatementRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Jonathan Christopher LaRoche, a former detective with Naval Base San Diego Criminal Investigations Division, was sentenced in federal court today to 15 months in prison in connection with his use of a carotid restraint on a handcuffed Navy sailor to the point of unconsciousness and later grabbing the man by the throat and pushing his head against a wall.
LaRoche pleaded guilty in July 2024 to Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law in connection with the November 2023 incident of excessive force. He also admitted that he intentionally concealed his prior record of excessive force at the El Cajon Police Department in order to be hired as a detective by the Navy.
During the hearing, the Navy sailor – identified in court records only as G.D. – told the court that LaRoche had subjected him to “unimaginable pain, trauma, and brutality” and left him “feeling violated, discarded, and dehumanized.”
Before imposing sentence, U.S. District Judge John A. Houston told LaRoche that he “got a pass after three [excessive force] incidents with a local law enforcement agency” and then “lied your way into this job and set yourself up to harm someone else.” Judge Houston observed that the excessive force used by LaRoche against G.D. was “extraordinary conduct for someone with your law enforcement experience” and called it “disgusting, violent, and extremely disturbing.”
The defendant was ordered to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons by April 21, 2025.
“The victim in this case was handcuffed, defenseless, and posed no threat—yet a sworn officer chose to violate his rights through violence,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “This office will hold accountable anyone who chooses to abuse their power at the expense of another’s rights.”
“Mr. LaRoche betrayed his oath as a law enforcement officer when he used excessive force on a sailor who was handcuffed and defenseless,” said Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Carter of the NCIS Southwest Field Office. “NCIS remains committed to fully investigating criminal behavior that threatens the safety of our warfighters and their families.”
As required by his plea agreement with the United States, LaRoche resigned from his position with the Criminal Investigations Division prior to the sentencing hearing. He is prohibited from seeking or applying for any position of employment with any law enforcement agency in the future.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Askins in coordination with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
DEFENDANT Case Number 24cr1431-JAH
Jonathan Christopher Laroche Age: 41 Spring Valley, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
False Statement – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1001
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and $250,000 fine
Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law (misdemeanor) – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 242
Maximum penalty: One year in prison and $100,000 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCY
Naval Criminal Investigative Service
High-Ranking Affiliate of Sinaloa Cartel Charged with Drug Conspiracy in ChicagoRead the Press Release
A grand jury in Chicago returned an indictment yesterday charging a high-ranking affiliate of the Sinaloa Cartel for allegedly manufacturing and distributing fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, and other drugs and importing them into the United States.
“As alleged, the defendant conspired to traffic dangerous drugs, including fentanyl, into the United States — and employed dozens of gunmen to protect his drug trafficking operation and the leadership of the Guzman faction of the Sinaloa Cartel,” said Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Stopping Mexican cartels from poisoning our communities with fentanyl and other narcotics is a top priority of this Administration. Today’s indictment demonstrates that the Criminal Division is relentless in its pursuit of the drug traffickers who profit at the expense of the American people.”
“Our nation’s fentanyl crisis has devastated individuals and families in northern Illinois and throughout the country,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual for the Northern District of Illinois. “Our office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to disrupt the production and trafficking of fentanyl and other dangerous narcotics before they can reach more victims.”
“From San Diego to Chicago to D.C., we are united to bring down the traffickers pushing these poisons into American communities,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath for the Southern District of California. “We are attacking at every level — from street dealers to cartel leaders.”
“This indictment reinforces the FBI’s unwavering commitment to hold accountable those who endanger our communities and traffic violence and drugs across our borders,” said Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “Let this serve as a clear message: if you engage in cartel activity, we will pursue you and bring you to justice. Together with our law enforcement partners at every level, we remain fully committed to protecting the American people and stopping the flow of these dangerous drugs into our nation.”
According to court documents, Ceferino Espinoza Angulo, 43, employed dozens of gunmen in Mexico to protect and support the leadership of the Guzman faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, including Ivan Guzman-Salazar, Jesus Alfredo Guzman-Salazar, Ovidio Guzman-Lopez, and Joaquin Guzman-Lopez, collectively known as “the Chapitos.” Espinoza Angulo allegedly conspired to obtain fentanyl precursor chemicals and to manufacture, distribute, and import into the United States fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and ecstasy. Ceferino Espinoza also allegedly illegally possessed a machinegun in furtherance of his drug trafficking scheme.
The Chapitos are the sons of Joaquin Guzman Loera, also known as “El Chapo,” who led the Sinaloa Cartel before being convicted by a federal jury in Brooklyn, New York, and sentenced to life in prison. The Chapitos allegedly assumed their father’s role as leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel. The Chapitos have been charged with drug trafficking in other U.S. indictments.
Espinoza Angulo is charged with drug conspiracy and firearm offenses. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 30 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. Espinoza Angulo is believed to be residing in Mexico, and a U.S. warrant has been issued for his arrest.
The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Valuable assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Special Operations Division, Bilateral Investigations Unit, and the Portland, Oregon, Police Bureau, Narcotics and Organized Crime Unit, High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Interdiction Taskforce.
Trial Attorney Kirk Handrich of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle Parthum and Andrew C. Erskine for the Northern District of Illinois, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Sutton for the Southern District of California prosecuted the case.
The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug trafficking organizations and other criminal networks that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local enforcement agencies.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Man Sentenced for Sweepstakes Scam Targeting ElderlyRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Fabrisio Arias was sentenced in federal court today to 41 months in prison for his part in an international scam that tricked seniors into believing they’d won a sweepstakes prize, but first they had to pay a fee or tax to release their winnings.
At today’s hearing, U.S. District Judge Jinsook Ohta also ordered Arias to pay $395,536.05 in restitution to 22 victims.
According to his plea agreement, between November 2020 and September 2022, Arias was a member of an international conspiracy that defrauded victims in the United States and laundered large amounts of money.
The conspiracy involved scammers who contacted victims by phone and convinced them to send thousands of dollars to Arias’ home in Fontana, California; and Arias, who laundered the proceeds through his U.S.-based bank accounts. Arias received and transferred most of the ill-gotten gains to coconspirators in Costa Rica, and in the process concealed the nature, source, location, ownership and control of the proceeds.
The phone scammers in Costa Rica made unsolicited calls to elderly victims in the United States using spoofed numbers. This allowed callers to conceal their identity and make it appear as if the calls originated from locations in the United States.
During calls with victims, the scammers purported to be with the Internal Revenue Service or the Federal Trade Commission, and made victims believe they’d won a sweepstakes award or prize and had to pay a fee or tax to release the winnings. The scammers instructed victims to send cashier’s checks, blank money orders or cash to Arias, who scammers falsely identified as a government CPA.
In reality, there was no sweepstakes prize or award. Arias simply received the fraud proceeds, deposited them into his U.S.-based bank accounts, and notified his co-conspirators in Costa Rica when he received the proceeds. Co-conspirators then contacted the victims again, attempting to convince and pressure them to send more money to release the purported winnings.
According to the government’s sentencing memorandum, Arias received 200 cashier’s checks and blank money orders from at least 22 victims throughout the U.S. Arias concealed the proceeds and made them appear legitimate by writing false payor names, signatures, and memo line entries on money orders and by commingling the proceeds with funds from his nightclub and used-car businesses. Arias also concealed the proceeds he sent to his co-conspirators in Costa Rica and made them appear legitimate by placing false information on at least 30 wire transfers, claiming the payments were for used cars, a house, or family support.
The victims – many of whom were in their seventies, eighties, or nineties – suffered financial hardship as a result of the scheme. To make ends meet, one victim had to obtain a reverse mortgage on his home; another had to take money from a family member’s college fund; and another had to return to work after retirement. Several victims lost their life savings, including a victim whose entire 401(k) retirement account was drained.
Arias received and laundered more than $395,000 in fraud proceeds over the course of nearly two years and sent more than $237,000 of proceeds to his co-conspirators in Costa Rica. Arias kept a substantial portion of the remaining $157,000 as profit.
“If it seems too good to be true, it probably is,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “These schemes can be difficult to identify and very appealing – when in doubt, hang up the phone and report suspicious callers to law enforcement.”
“Victimizing taxpayers by impersonating IRS employees is a serious crime,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Brandon Knarr. “TIGTA and our law enforcement partners will do everything within our power to ensure that those involved in the impersonation of IRS employees are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“The consequences of this type of fraud scheme are far reaching, affecting not only people in the United States, but also across the world,” said Los Angeles Division U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Matt Shields. “This investigation is just another example of how effective law enforcement agencies can be when they join forces. By working together, we can keep our communities and our vulnerable populations safe from financial exploitation. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is proud to be at the forefront of the fight against fraud and Postal Inspectors will continue to adapt to the ever changing landscape to stop the scammers and protect our customers.”
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick C. Swan.
If you think you’ve been contacted by a scammer, report it quickly to the FBI at IC3.gov. There is a team standing by. The faster the report comes in, the more likely we are to stop the transaction and recover your money.
For other non-life-threatening emergencies, call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11, or go to the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative website for more information: www.justice.gov/elderjustice.
DEFENDANT Case Number 22-cr-2745-JO
Fabrisio Arias Age: 46 Fontana, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison; a maximum $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain or loss resulting from the offense, whichever is greatest; and a term of supervised release up to 3 years
Concealment Money Laundering – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1956(a)(1)(B)(i)
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison; a maximum $500,000 fine or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greatest
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA)
U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Los Angeles Division
All Extradited Distributors of ANOM Hardened Encrypted Devices Plead Guilty to Racketeering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Alexander Dmitrienko of Finland became the last of eight defendants extradited so far to admit participating in the worldwide conspiracy to distribute ANOM hardened encrypted communication devices to criminal syndicates. The ANOM enterprise facilitated drug trafficking, money laundering, and obstruction of justice crimes.
The eight defendants were among 17 indicted in San Diego in 2021 in connection with Operation Trojan Shield, a first-of-its-kind, international law enforcement effort in which the FBI secretly operated an encrypted messaging network. The ANOM criminal enterprise was responsible for the distribution of more than 12,000 devices in 100 countries. While ANOM’s criminal users unknowingly communicated on the system operated by law enforcement, agents catalogued more than 27 million messages between users around the world whose criminal discussions were covertly obtained and reviewed by the FBI.
ANOM devices were sold to and used by over 300 criminal syndicates, including outlaw motorcycle gangs, Italian and Balkan organized crime groups, and international drug trafficking organizations. The investigation culminated in a worldwide takedown on June 7, 2021. During the takedown, more than 10,000 law enforcement officers made over 500 arrests and searched over 700 locations around the world.
Of the 17 indicted in San Diego, eight have been extradited to date. Dmitrienko pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday; defendants Seyyed Hossein Hosseini and Aurangzeb Ayub of the Netherlands and Shane Ngakuru of New Zealand entered their guilty pleas on January 23, 2025; Dragan Nikitovic, Edwin Harmendra Kumar, Miwand Zakhimi, and Osemah Elhassen pleaded guilty between May and September 2024. All pleaded guilty to Count 1 of a superseding indictment charging them with a racketeering conspiracy in connection with the ANOM enterprise.
Prior to their guilty pleas, the defendants filed motions to dismiss the indictment and a motion to suppress the ANOM evidence. The District Court denied those motions, concluding the Fourth Amendment did not apply to the defendants and the ANOM data collection did not violate the U.S. Constitution.
In total, the investigation resulted in approximately 1,200 arrests; the seizure of more than 12 tons of cocaine, three tons of methamphetamine or amphetamines; 17 tons of precursor chemicals, 300 firearms, and $58 million in various currencies. Dozens of public corruption investigations, too, have been pursued, and more than 50 drug labs have been dismantled. Further, over 150 threats to life were prevented.
According to their plea agreements, the defendants promoted the ANOM platform as “Built by criminals for criminals,” and touted security features such as the ability to wipe devices remotely when seized by law enforcement. The defendants admitted that the conspiracy’s purposes included money laundering and laundering with cryptocurrency. As to drugs, specifically, the four defendants who pleaded guilty in January and February 2025—Hosseini, Dmitrienko, Ayub, and Ngakuru—all admitted that they sold ANOM devices knowing that they would be used to traffic at last 50 kilograms of cocaine; Ngakuru also admitted the importation, exportation, and distribution of at least five kilograms of methamphetamine. Based on their plea agreements and other court filings, what these defendants also did as part of the conspiracy included:
- Hosseini was a part of a team of ANOM distributors, “Team Wijzijn,” based in the Netherlands. He and Dmitrienko discussed the distribution of “90% pure, Peruvian” cocaine, for example, and he and Kumar messaged each other about bringing “kilos” from Belgium and getting drugs to Australia by “Fisher boats.” Hosseini promoted ANOM’s security features and told other distributors about vulnerabilities of competitors SkyECC and No. 1 BC. Hosseini also admitted to obstructing justice through wiping ANOM devices when they were seized by law enforcement.
- Dmitrienko distributed ANOM devices from Spain. He frequently used ANOM for cocaine and other drug distribution: “5 blocks of colombian coke” and “32 blocks,” he offered in two instances, in addition to conversations about “cook[ing] cocaine.” Dmitrienko wrote about “gateways” and “interesting opportunities” for the enterprise in Russia and Ukraine, including through Latvia and Lithuania. He also promoted money laundering through a company he had in Delaware, telling Hosseini that it involved “0% tax and no book[k]eeping…Yes this is pure moneylaund[e]ring ?.”
- Ayub was an ANOM distributor in Europe, who also sold encrypted communications devices in the U.A.E.—and he had been imprisoned in Dubai for distributing these types of platforms. Ayub was involved in cocaine distribution as he talked about “top” (cocaine) from Colombia, and delivery to London, and sending “100k at a time” to pay for the drugs. He promoted ANOM through his own experience and contrasts with Encrochat and SkyECC, both of which were taken down by law enforcement in 2020 and 2021. Ayub, too, admitted to the obstruction of justice through wiping ANOM devices.
- Ngakuru was based in Thailand, distributing ANOM devices there and in New Zealand and Australia. He used the platform for extensive cocaine and methamphetamine distribution and money laundering. He was tied to two seizures of methamphetamine; discussed quality, repressing, and prices for “rack” and “bird” (cocaine); and detailed in messages how seven kilograms of methamphetamine was concealed in boxes of “full scan proof” “commercial lights.” Among other times he laundered proceeds, Ngakuru coordinated cash pickup in Sydney, Australia and directed deposits into “Thai accounts.”
“The statistics of this case are staggering,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “The FBI led this unprecedented collaboration for years, harnessing the evidence to bring down cocaine, meth, and cash traffickers across the globe. These guilty pleas underscore the impact of international partnerships in dismantling organized crime.”
“Operation Trojan Shield was a massive, innovative, and unprecedented case having immeasurable implications to criminal organizations across the globe,” said FBI San Diego Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy. “This extraordinary impact came from an investigative strategy that relied on ingenuity, partnerships, and perseverance, designing a blueprint for disrupting organized crime within the United States and abroad. The guilty pleas of all extradited defendants highlight the effectiveness of this strategy and reinforces the FBI’s collaborative approach aimed at dismantling Transnational Criminal Organizations worldwide.”
Matthew Allen, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Los Angeles Field Division, said, “The triumph of this vast-scale operation demonstrates the immense value of partnerships, both domestic and international. Expert investigators in the DEA Los Angeles Division, working alongside innovative and exceptionally experienced federal and foreign-based partners, took an intricate investigation to the next level. Our multi-agency alliance managed to infiltrate these transnational criminal organizations, ultimately exposing and pummeling their schemes. DEA will continue to foster this type of unprecedented collaboration and offer a core presence.”
Elhassen and Zakhimi were previously sentenced to 63 and 60 months in prison, respectively. The other six defendants who have pleaded guilty are scheduled to be sentenced in February, April, and May, 2025. They were extradited to the Southern District of California from Australia (Kumar), Colombia (Elhassen), The Netherlands (Hosseini, Ayub, and Zakhimi), Spain (Dmitrienko and Nikitovic), and Thailand (Ngakuru). Eight other defendants in the case have been arrested in locations outside the United States and are yet to be extradited, and one remains a fugitive.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua C. Mellor, Mikaela L. Weber, and Peter S. Horn.
For further information on investigations and prosecutions of encrypted communication providers, see https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/pr/fbi-s-encrypted-phone-platform-infiltrated-hundreds-criminal-syndicates-result-massive (ANOM), https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/pr/sky-global-executive-and-associate-indicted-providing-encrypted-communication-devices (Sky Global), and https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/pr/chief-executive-communications-company-sentenced-prison-providing-encryption-services (Phantom Secure).
Operation Trojan Shield is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the arrests and extraditions of the defendants to the United States.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 21cr1623-JLS
Seyyed Hossein Hosseini Age: 41 The Netherlands
Alexander Dmitrienko Age: 49 Finland
Aurangzeb Ayub Age: 48 The Netherlands
Dragan Nikitovic Age: 50 Croatia and Switzerland
aka Dr. Djek
Shane Ngakuru Age: 45 New Zealand
Edwin Harmendra Kumar, Age: 37 Australia
aka Edwin Harmendra Valentine
Miwand Zakhimi, Age: 30 The Netherlands
aka Maiwand Zakhimi
Osemah Elhassen Age: 52 Australia
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Count 1: Racketeering Conspiracy – Title 18, United States Code, Section 1962(d)
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison, and fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gain or loss
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Drug Enforcement Administration
United States Marshals Service
Department of Justice, Office of International Affairs
Australian Federal Police
Australian Attorney-General’s Department
Swedish Police Authority
Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau
National Police of the Netherlands
New Zealand Police
New Zealand Crown Law Office
Office of the Attorney General of Thailand
Royal Thai Police
EUROPOL
Former Government Employee and Wife Plead Guilty to Defrauding the Department of Veterans AffairsRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Rafael Castro, a veteran of the U.S. Navy and a former employee of the Veterans Health Administration and the Internal Revenue Service, and his wife, Miriam Castro, pleaded guilty in federal court today to defrauding the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) out of more than $130,000.
According to their plea agreements, between September 2018 and April 2024, the Castros lied to obtain caregiver benefits from the Caregiver Support Program, a VA program that provides caregiver support for injured veterans. Rafael Castro admitted that he lied about needing high-level assistance for daily activities, including dressing and undressing himself, personal hygiene, and grooming.
According to plea documents, Rafael Castro defrauded the VA into awarding him assistance that paid the primary caregiver—his wife—an amount equivalent to a full-time home health aide’s 40-hour per-week payment.
According to plea documents, for years, Miriam Castro received monthly payments to be a full-time caregiver for Rafael Castro while her husband worked as a full-time federal employee. From July 2015 to June 2023, Rafael Castro worked for the Veterans Health Administration, and from June 2023 to April 2024, he worked for the Internal Revenue Service. Even though he was employed by the federal government, Rafael Castro falsely told VA representatives at least six times that he was unemployed.
For example, during a 2023 interview, Rafael Castro falsely claimed that he had last worked in 2018 and that his wife was his full-time caregiver. According to their plea agreements, while Rafael Castro was engaged in the fraud scheme, he received several promotions, all while he continued to claim he was unemployed. In their respective plea agreements, Rafael Castro and Miriam Castro admitted that they participated in the multi-year scheme to defraud the VA.
“This case is an excellent example of the importance of internal inspections within government programs,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “Without the intervention from the Inspector General’s Office, this fraud might have continued indefinitely.”
“These guilty pleas demonstrate that those involved in defrauding VA, including government employees, will be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Anthony Heddell with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Western Field Office. “The VA OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure the integrity of VA’s benefits programs and services.”
“Violations of federal law, particularly those committed by IRS employees will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Acting Special Agent in Charge Brandon Knarr stated. “TIGTA will continue to work closely with the United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate and hold those individuals responsible for their illegal activities.”
Sentencing is scheduled for April 25, 2025, at 9 a.m. before U.S. District Judge James E. Simmons, Jr.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Chang.
To report fraud in a VA program, call the VA-OIG hotline at 1-800-488-8244 or visit https://www.va.gov/oig/hotline/.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 25CR0310-JES
Rafael Castro Age: 50 Oceanside, CA
Miriam Castro Age: 48 Oceanside, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Wire Fraud – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1343
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $250,000 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General
Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration
Brink’s Forfeits $50 Million for Failing to Register as a Money Transmitting BusinessRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Brink’s Global Services USA, Inc., a currency transporter and subsidiary of Brink’s, Inc. and The Brink’s Company, agreed to forfeit $50,391,143.22 to settle criminal allegations that it operated as an unlicensed money transmitting business.
Today’s settlement is believed to be the first resolution with an armored car company based on admissions of criminal wrongdoing for failing to register as a money transmitting business. Brink’s Global Services USA, Inc. (BGS) admitted that it violated Bank Secrecy Act rules requiring that a company transporting money to a third party register with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and maintain anti-money laundering compliance programs.
As part of a Non-Prosecution Agreement, which allows a company or individual to avoid criminal prosecution in exchange for meeting certain criteria, BGS admitted that it illegally transported money domestically and internationally between third parties and outside the limited regulatory protections for currency transporters. During this illegal conduct, BGS failed to have compliance controls in place to ensure its business activities remained within the regulatory safe harbor provided to the armored car industry. As a result, BGS operated as unlicensed money transmission business on multiple occasions in violation of U.S. law.
For example, BGS transported more than $15 million from a money service business in San Diego to a separate money service business in Florida across 12 transactions but failed to seek or obtain information confirming that the final beneficiary of each transaction was not someone other than the shipper and did not have compliance controls in place to do so. In fact, for each of the 12 transactions, the approximately $15 million was ultimately transmitted to a third-party not identified by BGS.
In addition, on eight occasions BGS was involved in the importation of currency totaling more than $35 million into the United States from Mexico. BGS and two other currency transporters caused the currency importation and subsequent domestic transportation of that money on behalf of a money service business located in Mexico for final delivery to several money service businesses in the United States. Such currency cross-border transshipments fall outside the safe harbor of the currency transporter exemption – which allows a company to avoid Bank Secrecy Act requirements if transactions involve just one company or individual and no third parties – and rendered BGS an unlicensed money transmitter in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1960.
“This year’s long investigation detected—and now closes—a back door where cash covertly entered the global financial system,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden. “For too long, parties have used currency transporters in a manner that evaded Bank Secrecy Act reporting requirements and anti-money laundering tools. This office remains laser-focused on holding individuals and corporations—including those in the armored car industry—accountable for moving money in ways that dodge U.S. law.”
“This settlement serves as a testament to the unwavering dedication and collaboration of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and our law enforcement partners,” said Shawn Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of HSI San Diego. “Together, we have worked to uncover and address the criminal enterprises that have exploited the U.S. financial system for many years. Our commitment to safeguarding the integrity of our financial markets remains resolute, and we will continue to pursue those who threaten its stability and security.”
“This case highlights the significance of Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) collaboration between law enforcement agencies in dismantling illegal operations that undermine the integrity of our financial systems,” said Sidney Aki, CBP Director of Field Operations for San Diego. “Through these partnerships, we have successfully exposed and disrupted illicit activities that spanned across borders, to include operations in Mexico. Their agreement to forfeit these funds demonstrates our commitment to holding individuals and businesses accountable when they violate the law. We remain steadfast in our pursuit of those who exploit financial systems for unlawful purposes, ensuring that justice is served, and public trust is upheld.”
In a parallel enforcement action, BGS and FinCEN resolved civil allegations related to BGS’s failure to maintain an adequate anti-money laundering program and other related violations.
This case was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney E. Christopher Beeler with important contributions from Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carl F. Brooker and Michael A. Deshong.
The full agreement is attached here.
npa_brinks_global_services_usa_fully_executed201023978.1.pdfINVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Homeland Security Investigations
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
San Diego Sheriff’s Deputy Charged with Civil Rights Violation and Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – A two-count indictment was unsealed in federal court today charging San Diego Sheriff’s Deputy Jeremiah Manuyag Flores with violating the civil rights of a man in pretrial custody at the San Diego Central Courthouse by using excessive force that caused serious injuries and then writing a false report to cover up his illegal actions.
Flores is charged with depriving the individual – identified in the indictment as 57-year-old J.P. – of his right to due process of law under the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and of falsifying a record in a federal investigation.
The indictment alleges that Flores was assigned to the Court Services Bureau at the San Diego Central Courthouse on August 29, 2024, and was escorting J.P. to a holding cell following a court hearing. At the time, J.P.’s legs were chained and his hands were cross-chained to his waist. At one point, Flores grabbed the back of J.P.’s shirt with both hands and pushed him faster down the hallway leading to the holding cell.
When Flores and J.P. arrived at the open door to the holding cell, Flores forcefully shoved J.P. into the cell from behind with both hands, causing J.P. to smash into the bench and walls and collapse to the ground, the indictment said. Flores stated, “What? Nothing happened,” and failed to immediately report the incident to his supervisor and prepare an official report, both of which are violations of the San Diego Sheriff’s Office’s Use of Force Policy.
According to the indictment, another deputy found J.P. over two hours later lying in the same position in his holding cell with a head wound and a pool of blood on the floor. As a result of Flores’ actions, J.P. suffered a spinal injury for which he underwent surgery and remained hospitalized for months.
The indictment said that more than an hour after J.P. was discovered in his holding cell, Flores falsely claimed in an incident report that “no force was used” in placing J.P. into the cell, though he knew that he had, indeed, used force against the detainee.
“The vast majority of law enforcement personnel are dedicated public servants committed to following the rule of law and protecting our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “But when a choice is made to cross the line and violate someone’s civil rights, this office will stand on behalf of the victim, and all those who wear the badge with honor, to uphold the public’s trust.”
“Law enforcement officers work tirelessly every day to protect the public, always striving to be professional, honest, and ethical,” said San Diego FBI Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy. “The alleged action of the defendant not only violates the oath he swore as a law enforcement officer to protect and serve, but also erodes citizen confidence and trust in our profession.”
Flores made his initial appearance in federal court today before U.S. Magistrate Judge David D. Leshner. He entered pleas of not guilty to both charges and was released on a $25,000 personal appearance bond with special conditions that he surrender his passport and his personally owned firearms. The next scheduled court appearance is a motion hearing and trial setting before U.S. District Judge Linda Lopez on March 10, 2025, at 2 p.m.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Askins.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 25cr0254-LL
Jeremiah Manuyag Flores Age: 44 La Jolla, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 242
Maximum penalty: Ten years in prison and $250,000 fine
Falsification of Records in a Federal Investigation – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1519
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $250,000 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
San Diego County Sheriff’s Office (Homicide Unit)
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
CEO of Financial Firm Pleads Guilty to Running a Multimillion Dollar FraudRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Carlos Manuel da Silva Santos, the founder and chief executive officer of San Diego-based Ethos Asset Management, Inc., which offered financing to domestic and international businesses, pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft today in federal court.
Santos, a Portuguese national, has been in custody since his arrest on November 13, 2023, in Newark, New Jersey, after arriving in the United States from abroad.
According to his plea agreement, Santos admitted he and co-conspirators held Ethos out to the public as a “full-service project financing” company that offered loans to prospective borrowers in exchange for an upfront fee as collateral for Ethos to use. However, on many occasions when a borrower gave Ethos the upfront fee as collateral, Ethos’ funding never materialized.
To induce prospective borrowers to send Ethos an upfront fee as collateral and enter into loan agreements, Santos and his co-conspirators lied about Ethos’ history of funding projects, the source of Ethos’ money, the amount of capital available to disburse loans, and how Ethos used the collateral upfront fees. For instance, Santos admitted that he used money from the upfront collateral fees to release collateral deposited by other borrowers and to disburse loans to other borrowers.
Santos also admitted that he and others altered otherwise legitimate financial account statements to inflate the amount of money Ethos appeared to have at its disposal to finance projects for the purpose of luring prospective borrowers to provide collateral and financial institutions to lend money. For example, in August 2021, Santos successfully induced a borrower to wire money as a collateral upfront fee by sending a bank statement that falsely represented Ethos having $100,304,447.46 when, in fact, it did not.
In February and May 2023, Santos again induced borrowers to provide collateral upfront fees by emailing a copy of Ethos’ annual financial statements reflecting falsely that Ethos had over $2.2 billion in total assets and that an accounting firm had audited the statements. Indeed, Santos admitted that he knowingly forged the signature of an employee at a bookkeeping firm on Ethos’s 2022 annual financial statement to falsely indicate that the firm had audited the statement. In each noted example, Ethos fraudulently obtained upfront fees and failed to disburse loan payments as promised.
Santos further admitted Ethos’ project financing scheme was international in nature, with a presence in the United States, Brazil, Turkey, and elsewhere. Santos admitted his scheme resulted in $17,125,000 in losses to certain U.S. based victims. The plea agreement also explains that the parties will request a restitution hearing allowing the United States to offer evidence that Santos owes significantly more money to various other victims.
According to the plea agreement, Santos also forged the signature of an employee at an accounting firm to make it appear that the firm had audited Ethos’ annual financial reports.
“Untold numbers of people fall victim to fraud schemes every year,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “Whether it’s a simple email scam or an elaborate investment scheme, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will relentlessly pursue accountability for the defendants and restitution for the victims.”
“Today’s guilty plea underscores Homeland Security Investigation’s (HSI) unwavering commitment to combating financial crimes,” said Shawn Gibson, Special Agent in Charge for HSI San Diego. “This successful outcome is the result of an extensive, long-term investigation where our dedicated agents and partners assigned to the Costa Pacifico Financial Task Force worked tirelessly and diligently to gather all the evidence and bring this individual to justice. Their unwavering commitment and thorough efforts have been instrumental in protecting our community and upholding the law.
Sentencing is scheduled for April 18, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Robert S. Huie.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys E. Christopher Beeler, Carl F. Brooker IV, and Amy B. Wang.
If you believe you are a victim of Carlos Santos and his company Ethos Asset Management, Inc., contact Homeland Security Investigations at [email protected].
DEFENDANT
Carlos Manuel da Silva Santos Age: 30 Portugal
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Wire Fraud Conspiracy – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1349
Maximum penalty: Thirty years in prison and $250,000 fine
Aggravated Identity Theft – Title 18, U.S.C. Section 1028A
Maximum penalty: Mandatory two years in prison consecutive to the term for the underlying felony
INVESTIGATING AGENCY
Homeland Security Investigations
U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects $18,932,200 in Civil and Criminal Actions in FY 2024Read the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath announced today that the Southern District of California collected $18,932,200 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024. Of this amount, the office collected $7,364,438 in criminal actions and $11,567,761 in civil actions.
The Southern District of California also worked with other U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $22,465,562 in cases pursued jointly. Of this amount, the offices collected $2,714.08 in criminal actions and $22,462,848 in civil actions.
“When a crime leads to financial ruin, we are committed to helping victims recover and rebuild their lives,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “Over the past year, the U.S. Attorney’s Office collaborated with investigators to streamline the process for victims to recover lost funds, prioritizing swift and meaningful restitution.”
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected$69,911,795 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2024. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Smuggle Pesticides into the United StatesRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Ruben Montes of Calexico, California, pleaded guilty in federal court today to conspiring to smuggle and distribute more than $3 million worth of Mexican pesticides and veterinary drugs that are not approved for use in the United States.
In pleading guilty, the defendant acknowledged that since at least November 2020, he coordinated the smuggling of pesticides and veterinary drugs from Mexico into the United States. Montes also admitted to smuggling the chemicals and drugs into the United States from Mexico himself and distributing them within the United States. The primary pesticides involved were Taktic and Bovitraz, which are not registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for use in the United States. The smuggled veterinary drugs included Tylocet, Terramicina, Tetragent Ares and Catarrol, which are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in the United States.
Montes admitted that he and others hid the pesticides and veterinary drugs in storage units in Calexico and retrieved them for distribution throughout the United States.
According to experts at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the active ingredient in the pesticides Taktic and Bovitraz is amitraz, which is toxic to bees, if it is released into hives, and humans when it ultimately ends up in honey, honeycomb, and beeswax. Misuse of amitraz-containing products in beehives can result in exposures that could cause neurological effects and possibly reproductive effects in humans from the consumption of contaminated honey. Signs of neurotoxicity from exposure to amitraz has been documented in multiple animal species, and include central nervous system depression, decrease in pulse rate, and hypothermia.
“These substances not only threaten the health and safety of our communities but also undermine the integrity of U.S. regulatory safeguards designed to protect consumers and the environment,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “Our office is committed to holding accountable those who prioritize profit over public safety."
“The defendant's conduct put consumer's health and the honeybee industry at risk,” said Benjamin Carr, Special Agent in Charge of the EPA’s criminal enforcement program in California. “The pesticides he distributed were smuggled into the United States from Mexico. The illegal use of amitraz puts adulterated honey in the marketplace and contributes to pest resistance threatening honeybee colonies vital for our food production. The defendant in this case made millions of dollars in ill-gotten gains through the illegal sale of this unregistered pesticide.”
“Today's guilty plea is the result of a long-term Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigation, worked in coordination with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), into an organization that conspired to smuggle Mexican pesticides into the U.S.,” said Shawn Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of HSI in San Diego. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and bring to justice criminals who introduce substances that threaten the safety of our communities.”
“The FDA regulates animal drugs as part of its mission to protect the public health, which includes ensuring that prescription animal drugs are lawfully obtained, distributed, and dispensed pursuant to a valid prescription from a licensed veterinarian,” said Special Agent in Charge Charles Grinstead, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Kansas City Field Office. “We will continue to pursue and bring to justice those who attempt to evade the law.”
The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Houston on April 2, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabet Brown from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California and Senior Trial Attorney Stephen Da Ponte from the Environmental Crimes Section, Environment and Natural Resources Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.
DEFENDANT Case Number 23CR2377
Ruben Montes Age: 60 Calexico, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy – Title 18, U.S.C. Section 371
Maximum Penalty: Five years in prison and $250,000 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Homeland Security Investigations
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Criminal Investigations Division
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations
California Department of Toxic Substances Control
Former Owner of San Diego Surrogacy Consulting Businesses Admits to Stealing Client FundsRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Lillian Arielle Markowitz, former owner of three San Diego-based surrogacy consulting businesses, pleaded guilty in federal court today to fraud charges, admitting that she stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in client funds from escrow accounts set up to pay for surrogacy-related services.
According to her plea agreement, Markowitz admitted that she owned three businesses — My Donor Cycle, Surrogacy Beyond Borders, and Expecting Surrogacy — through which she marketed herself as a surrogacy consultant to those seeking to realize their dreams of becoming surrogate parents. Beginning around 2018, when Markowitz and her businesses began to experience financial distress, she devised a scheme to steal money from her surrogacy clients by, among other things, submitting fraudulent requests to the escrow company where her clients’ funds were maintained.
Markowitz admitted to submitting four fraudulent escrow disbursement requests from the escrow accounts of two couples. One included what Markowitz knew to be a forged client signature, and each one resulted in her obtaining a check from the escrow company without the knowledge or consent of her clients.
In addition, Markowitz admitted that beginning in January 2019 and continuing through May 2021, she defrauded nine additional clients by falsely promising their funds would be deposited into an escrow account and that they would be accessed only to pay for expenses related to their respective surrogacy journey. In fact, Markowitz deposited these clients’ funds into a business checking account and immediately accessed those funds to cover general business expenses, expenses related to other clients’ surrogacy journeys, and her personal expenses. As a condition of her plea, Markowitz has agreed to make restitution of at least $389,142.00 to her former clients.
“The path to parenthood through surrogacy can be fraught with emotional and financial challenges,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “This defendant selfishly exploited vulnerable clients who were striving to fulfill their dream of becoming parents.”
“Instead of aiding her hopeful clients on their path to parenthood, the defendant took advantage of their vulnerability, betrayed their trust, and stole their money,” said FBI San Diego Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy. “FBI will continue to investigate these unique fraud schemes to protect the public against those who employ empty promises and prey upon vulnerable individuals.”
Markowitz is scheduled to be sentenced on April 11, 2025, at 9:30 a.m., by District Judge Todd W. Robinson.
If you believe that you may be a victim in this case, please contact the FBI San Diego field office at (858) 320-1800.
This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey D. Hill and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark W. Pletcher.
DEFENDANT Case Number 24-CR-0904-TWR
Lillian Arielle Markowitz (aka Lillian Frost) Age: 40 Portland, OR
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Wire Fraud – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1343
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $250,000 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCY
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Defense Contractor Executive Pleads Guilty to Bribery Scheme Involving $100 Million in Government ContractsRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Russell Thurston, a former executive vice president at Cambridge International Systems, Inc., a defense contractor headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting that he participated in a bribery scheme with other Cambridge employees and former Naval Information Warfare Center employee James Soriano.
According to Thurston’s plea agreement, Cambridge – acting through Thurston and multiple other Cambridge employees – gave various things of value to Soriano, including expensive meals at restaurants in San Diego; a ticket to the 2018 Major League Baseball All Star Game held at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.; and a job at Cambridge for Soriano’s friend, Liberty Gutierrez. According to Gutierrez’s plea agreement, Gutierrez did minimal work at Cambridge and gave Soriano $2,000 a month from her Cambridge salary.
In return, Soriano, acting in his position as a contracting officer’s representative at Naval Information Warfare Center, influenced the procurement process to ensure that Cambridge was awarded two large task orders. Soriano further ensured that Cambridge was able to capture a steady stream of government funds by influencing a series of projects on those task orders to be approved. According to Cambridge’s plea agreement, as a result of the conspiracy, the government obligated more than $32 million on one of the task orders and over $100 million on the other.
Soriano also allowed Cambridge employees to draft various procurement documents for him, even when Cambridge was competing for contracts against other bidders. Thurston and Soriano also worked together to remove document properties so that other government employees would not know of Cambridge’s involvement in drafting the documents.
According to Thurston’s plea agreement, Thurston received periodic pay bonuses from Cambridge – which totaled between $150,000 and $250,000 – based on the profits Cambridge received from the bribery conspiracy.
Thurston is scheduled to appear before U.S. District Judge Todd W. Robinson for sentencing on April 11, 2025.
“The integrity of our nation’s procurement system relies upon the honest dealing of government contractors,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden. “This guilty plea shows a commitment to that principle by holding accountable a defendant who repeatedly bribed a government employee to benefit himself at the expense of others.”
“This investigation clearly established Mr. Thurston’s guilt and his plea is a positive step toward accountability for his role in the crime,” said Bryan D. Denny, Special Agent in Charge for the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Western Field Office. “DCIS remains committed to working jointly with the United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners to investigate and deter public corruption within the Department of Defense.”
“Mr. Thurston’s actions directly undermined the Department of Defense contracting process that ensures our warfighters get the best gear for their missions while ensuring our taxpayer dollars are responsibly allocated,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher, IRS Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office. “Our men and women in uniform volunteer to put their lives on the line in defense of the United States and they deserve better than to be put at unnecessary risk. IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to partnering with fellow law enforcement agencies to protect our servicemembers from this sort of corruption.”
“Using a position of public trust as a means to inequitably grant access to federal programs for personal gain will not be tolerated,” said SBA OIG’s Western Region Special Agent in Charge, Weston King. “Our Office will remain relentless in the pursuit of those who seek to exploit SBA’s vital economic programs. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and commitment to seeing justice served.”
Cambridge was separately charged and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery in 24-cr-00759-TWR. Cambridge was ordered to forfeit the $1,672,102.23 in profits it obtained from the bribery conspiracy and pay a $2.25 million fine.
Soriano was charged as a co-defendant and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery and fraud and false statement in filing a tax return in 24-cr-0341-TWR. Soriano was also separately charged and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery in 23-cr-2282-TWR. Soriano is next scheduled to appear before U.S. District Judge Todd W. Robinson for sentencing on May 9, 2025.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick C. Swan, Katherine E.A. McGrath, and Carling E. Donovan.
DEFENDANT Case Number 24-cr-0341-TWR-2
Russell Thurston Age: 52 Mt. Pleasant, SC
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Commit Bribery - Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison; maximum $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain or loss resulting from the offense, whichever is greatest
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Defense Criminal Investigative Service
Naval Criminal Investigative Service
Small Business Administration – Office of Inspector General
Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation
Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General
If you have information regarding fraud, waste, or abuse relating to Department of Defense personnel or operations, please contact the DoD Hotline at 800-424-9098.
Alleged Sinaloa Cartel Leader Extradited from Mexico, Appears in CourtRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Alleged Sinaloa Cartel cell leader Octavio Leal-Hernandez, aka Chapito Leal, who is believed responsible for trafficking large amounts of methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and marijuana into the United States from Mexico, appeared in federal court today following his extradition from Mexico yesterday.
Leal-Hernandez was indicted by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of California in May 2020 for International Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances and Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances.
At today’s hearing, Leal-Hernandez was arraigned and entered a not-guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara L. Major. The judge granted the government’s request that the defendant be held without bond pending trial. His next court appearance is scheduled for March 10, 2025, for a motion hearing/trial setting in front of U.S. District Court Judge Benjamin J. Cheeks.
The government filed a memorandum today in support of its request for detention that describes Leal-Hernandez as a cell leader who rose through the ranks of the Sinaloa Cartel. The memo said Leal-Hernandez was aligned with the Beltran-Leyva faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, specifically with Fausto Isidro Meza Flores, aka Chapo Isidro. Meza Flores is the co-leader of the Beltran-Leyva faction of the Sinaloa Cartel and was designated by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control as a Foreign Narcotics Kingpin.
Between January 2012 and April 2012, law enforcement authorities lawfully intercepted wire and electronic communications between Leal-Hernandez and several of his drug trafficking associates. The wiretap intercepts confirmed that Leal-Hernandez was a leader/organizer of the Beltran-Leyva faction of the Sinaloa Cartel in Tijuana, Mexico and was responsible for supplying drug distributors in Southern California and other destinations within the United States. The wiretap intercepts also confirmed that Leal-Hernandez has committed acts of violence to facilitate his drug trafficking activities.
Further investigation after 2012 until his arrest in 2020 confirmed that Leal-Hernandez remained one of the organization’s leaders, responsible for directing, managing, and overseeing the organization’s drug trafficking in Tijuana.
According to the government’s detention memorandum, Leal-Hernandez oversaw the collection and preparation of large shipments of methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana from Tijuana, Mexico into the United States. He then directed organization members to coordinate the logistics of storing the drugs in the organization’s stash houses and transporting them to the organization’s distributors and customers throughout California and elsewhere in the United States.
“This appearance in an American court is the result of our unwavering pursuit of those who perpetuate violence and push narcotics into our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “We will hold traffickers accountable, no matter how long it takes.”
“The arrest and extradition of Leal-Hernandez marks a significant victory in our relentless fight against the deadly scourge of narcotics trafficking. This joint Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigation was made possible due to the dedication, expertise, and extensive investigative work of our special agents and our invaluable federal law enforcement partners,” said Shawn Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in San Diego. “We extend our deepest gratitude to all involved for their unwavering hard work, commitment, and collaboration.”
“Drug traffickers are predators that must be held accountable for the harm they cause,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian Clark. “The capture and extradition of Leal-Hernandez is a reminder to any cartel member that there is nowhere to hide; we will use every tool at our disposal to hold you accountable because no one is beyond the grasp of the DEA and our law enforcement partners.”
“International drug cartels cause immeasurable harm to the American public by importing lethal narcotics and committing acts of violence which terrorize our community,” said FBI San Diego Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy. “The serious and sustained actions of international drug traffickers will not be tolerated, and we will continue to work closely with our partners to keep our communities safe.”
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Mellor. The U.S. Marshals Service completed the removal of Leal-Hernandez from Mexico to the Southern District of California.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 20cr1224
Octavio Leal-Hernandez Age: 44 Tijuana
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
International Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 959, 960, and 963
Maximum Penalty: Life, Mandatory Minimum: Ten years
Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 846.
Maximum penalty: Life, Mandatory Minimum: Ten years
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Homeland Security Investigations
Drug Enforcement Administration
Federal Bureau of Investigation
U.S. Coast Guard
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest and extradition of Leal-Hernandez.
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations.
Three Indicted and Internet Domain Seized in $44 Million Nationwide Book Publishing Scam Targeting Elderly AuthorsRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – A federal grand jury has charged three people with defrauding elderly authors across the United States of almost $44 million by convincing the victims that publishers and filmmakers wanted to turn their books into blockbusters — but only if they paid some fees first.
According to the indictment, Gemma Traya Austin of Chula Vista was the organizer and registered agent for PageTurner, Press and Media LLC (“PageTurner”), a Chula Vista company that claimed to be a book publishing business. Michael Cris Traya Sordilla and Bryan Navales Tarosa, both of the Philippines, were executives at Innocentrix Philippines, a business process outsourcing company.
The indictment alleges that between September 2017 and December 2024, the defendants used PageTurner to operate a book publishing scam in which the conspirators working for Innocentrix Philippines contacted individual authors through unsolicited calls and emails. As part of the scam, the conspirators falsely represented that PageTurner was a book publishing business that worked with literary agents, major motion picture studios, and popular video streaming services, and that PageTurner acted as a liaison between individuals who sought to publish their books or have their books turned into motion pictures or television series.
As part of the conspiracy, the scammers falsely told victims their works had been selected for acquisition by publishers or movie studios, and fraudulently convinced victims to send PageTurner payments for various services, including pre-payment of taxes and transaction fees, before the victim-author’s work could be published or optioned to studios.
According to statements made by prosecutors in court, the FBI identified more than 800 victims of the scheme who collectively lost more than $44 million.
Sordilla and Tarosa were arrested on December 9, 2024, in San Diego. Austin was arrested on December 12, 2024, in Chula Vista. All three are charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy. The FBI also seized the PageTurner website: pageturner.us.
“What started with the promise of a Hollywood dream turned into a devastating nightmare for victims,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “Authors should stay vigilant, do their research, and think twice before giving money to anyone promising a blockbuster deal. If you or anyone you know has been targeted in a similar scheme, please report it to the FBI immediately.”
“As alleged, the defendants’ actions not only jeopardized the integrity of the publishing industry, but also took advantage of innocent professionals and defrauded them of their hard-earned money,” said FBI San Diego Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy. “Fraud remains one of the most devastating violations the FBI works due to the number of victims and staggering amount of loss. We will continue our efforts to disrupt fraud schemes, educate the public, and ultimately hold individuals behind these schemes accountable.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service San Diego Mail Fraud Team, along with the FBI San Diego, have worked tirelessly to bring justice to individuals who target, exploit, and victimize our most vulnerable citizens,” said Matt Shields, Inspector in Charge for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s San Diego Field Office. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service remains firm in our commitment to disrupt and dismantle foreign-based fraud schemes that prey on our older Americans. We will continue to work side by side with our law enforcement partners to deter and defeat organized fraud rings, no matter where they are located.”
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
If you believe you are a victim of the PageTurner scam, please contact the FBI at [email protected].
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available through the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833 FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). You can also report fraud to any local law enforcement agency or on the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.
The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 24CR2712-JLS
Gemma Traya Austin Age: 58 Chula Vista, CA
In custody. Arrested in Chula Vista, California, on December 12, 2024.
Michael Cris Traya Sordilla Age: 32 Philippines
In custody. Arrested in San Diego, California, on December 9, 2024.
Bryan Navales Tarosa Age: 34 Philippines
In custody. Arrested in San Diego, California, on December 9, 2024.
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1349
Maximum Penalties: Twenty years in prison; $250,000 fine
Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1956(h)
Maximum Penalties: Twenty years in prison; maximum fine of $500,000 or twice the amount laundered
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
United States Postal Inspection Service
San Diego Man Pleads Guilty to Supplying Fentanyl that Resulted in Deaths of Two in North Park HomeRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO –Scott Anthony Sargent of San Diego pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting that he supplied the fentanyl that caused the fatal overdoses of a 40-year-old woman and a 35-year-old man in North Park in 2022.
San Diego Police officers, along with investigators from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Overdose Response Team, responded to a 911 call at a home in North Park in the very early hours of November 10, 2022. When law enforcement officials arrived, they found four individuals unresponsive in the home. Two of the individuals were pronounced dead at the scene, while Sargent and another individual were treated with Narcan and transported for medical attention and recovered.
According to the plea agreement, Sargent admitted that he distributed the fatal mix of fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl (a common fentanyl analogue) to the two victims, causing their deaths.. Investigators linked Sargent to the overdoses through the fentanyl/para-fluorofentanyl mixture found at the overdose location and in a subsequent law enforcement search of Sargent’s storage locker.
Sargent’s backpack was found at the site containing 318 grams of methamphetamine, 26.2 grams of fentanyl/para-fluorofentanyl, and 13 bags of a tan powdery substance weighing 437.9 grams of fentanyl/para-fluorofentanyl. Sargent’s duffel bag, also recovered from the bedroom, contained 30.4 grams of methamphetamine and 11.3 grams of fentanyl/para-fluorofentanyl.
Sargent’s storage locker was searched following his arrest. Inside, officers found two 40 mm semi-automatic handguns, 3.2 kilograms of methamphetamine, 5.44 grams of cocaine, and 113.4 grams of fentanyl/para-fluorofentanyl.
“This result is another reminder that the U.S. Attorney’s Office is tackling the fentanyl crisis at all levels: from suppliers to traffickers to street-level distributors,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “Even dealing personal use amounts of fentanyl can result in a federal conviction.”
“A guilty plea cannot undo the lives lost, but it can stand as a stark reminder that those who distribute these drugs will face severe consequences,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian Clark. “Investigating and bringing to justice those who choose to harm our community is exactly what DEA and our partners are committed to doing.”
“Our department, along with federal and local partners, proudly brought justice to the victims of this heartbreaking crime,” said San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl. “Let this case be a warning to anyone dealing these dangerous drugs in our communities. We will find and prosecute you, just as we did in this case.”
Sargent’s sentencing hearing is set for April 4, 2025, at 9 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Robert Huie.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Gordon and Sarah Goldwasser.
Special Agents and Task Force Officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Overdose Response Team led the investigation. This case is the result of ongoing efforts by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the San Diego Police Department, the La Mesa Police Department, National Guard Counterdrug Task Force and the California Department of Health Care Services to investigate and prosecute the distribution of dangerous illegal drugs—fentanyl in particular—that result in overdose deaths. The Drug Enforcement Administration created the Overdose Response Team as a response to the increase in overdose deaths in San Diego County.
DEFENDANT Case Number 24cr807-RSH
Scott Anthony Sargent Age: 63 San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Distribution of Fentanyl
21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Drug Enforcement Administration
San Diego Police Department
Homeland Security Investigations
California National Guard Counterdrug Task Force
California Department of Health Care Services
La Mesa Police Department
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office
Trafficker Sentenced to 19.5 Years in Prison for Supplying Weapons and Ammunition to Sinaloa CartelRead the Press Release
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – January 13, 2025
SAN DIEGO – Keith Octavio Rodriguez Padilla, a prolific firearms trafficker, was sentenced in federal court today to 19.5 years in custody for his role in supplying weapons and tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition to the Sinaloa Cartel.
This case is part of a long-running investigation targeting the Valenzuela Transnational Criminal Organization (TCO), which was a significant component of the Sinaloa Cartel. The Valenzuela TCO was one of the largest importers of cocaine into the United States. The TCO sourced cocaine and other controlled substances (including fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, and marijuana) from South America and Mexico, transported the drugs to multiple locations along the U.S.-Mexico border using commercial trucking companies, smuggled the drugs into the country, and distributed them throughout the United States. The TCO then smuggled the bulk cash proceeds from its drug trafficking activities back to the TCO’s leadership in Mexico.
According to court records, throughout 2020, the Valenzuela TCO, including one of its leaders, Jorge Alberto Valenzuela Valenzuela, was engaged in violent conflict with another component of the Sinaloa Cartel led by Ivan Archivaldo Guzman-Salazar. During this conflict, Jorge’s brother and previous TCO leader, Gabriel Valenzuela-Valenzuela, was killed. This led the Valenzuela TCO to procure large quantities of firearms, ammunition, tactical gear, armored vehicles, and ballistic vests. A considerable number of these items were sourced from within the United States and clandestinely smuggled into Mexico, using numerous arms trafficking networks.
During the multi-year investigation, agents identified Keith Octavio Rodriguez Padilla as a firearms and ammunition trafficker and broker for the TCO. Rodriguez Padilla and his co-conspirators worked with high-ranking organization members to supply firearms to the TCO. These firearms ranged from .50 caliber rifles, submachine guns, and grenade launchers to assault style rifles (AK-47s, AR-15s, FN SCARs) and handguns. In addition to the weapons, Rodriguez Padilla and his co-conspirators supplied tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition to the TCO. Some of these weapons and ammunition were acquired in the United States, including from California, Arizona, and Nevada, and then smuggled through the Ports of Entry in San Diego and Arizona to Mexico.
For example, on November 20, 2020, DEA and HSI agents initiated surveillance at a commercial truck yard being operated by the Valenzuela TCO in the Otay Mesa area of San Diego. Agents ultimately obtained a search warrant for this truck yard and during the search, seized approximately $3,078,880 in bulk U.S. currency, approximately 685 kilograms of cocaine, 24 kilograms of fentanyl, and a pickup truck with a trap gas tank the size of half the truck bed were discovered. The truck yard contained numerous tractors-trailers, along with numerous other vehicles. Inside one of the trailers, agents seized approximately 20,000 rounds of .50 caliber ammunition, along with approximately 427 ballistic plate carriers, approximately 1,000 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition, and approximately 104 magazines for .50 caliber ammunition. Agents learned that Rodriguez Padilla had purchased the .50 caliber ammunition on behalf of the TCO.
To date, this investigation has resulted in charges against 109 defendants and the seizure of approximately 2,000 kilograms of cocaine and fentanyl, more than $16 million in cash, and 21,000 rounds of ammunition.
“Guns and ammunition smuggled into Mexico support cartels and empower drug traffickers,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “This case continues to deal blow after blow to that infrastructure, sending a clear message: DOJ will prosecute every angle of cartel operations – from drug importation to money laundering to arms trafficking – to combat death and destruction on both sides of the border.”
“Today’s sentencing is a direct result of the hard work and collaboration between Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and our law enforcement partners. This extensive investigation highlights our unwavering commitment to protecting our country and communities from the dangers of illegal firearms trafficking,” said Shawn Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of HSI San Diego. “We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that the drug trafficking organizations are disrupted and held accountable.”
“Weapons trafficking fuels drug-related violence,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian Clark. “Money and greed are the foundation of the Sinaloa cartel business model and Padilla provided a lifeline by trafficking firearms. This sentence underscores our commitment to aggressively pursue the Sinaloa Cartel at every level, to include all facilitators who profit from drug-related violence. Strong relationships between law enforcement agencies have proven invaluable as we work together to save lives.”
“This multi-year investigation and lengthy federal prison sentence highlights the hard work, dedication, and cooperation of multiple law enforcement agencies to disrupt and dismantle violent transnational criminal organizations,” said FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Travis Holland. “Today’s sentence serves as a reminder, we will continue to leverage the strength of federal, state, and local law enforcement to bring justice against the Cartels and individuals working on their behalf.”
“Mr. Padilla’s role in trafficking weapons and ammunition not only facilitated violence between cartel organizations, but also facilitated the endangerment of American citizens as these transnational criminal organizations bring dangerous and deadly drugs into the United States,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher, IRS Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office. “This sentencing demonstrates the result of well-coordinated investigations and the effectiveness of our partnered investigations. Protecting American citizens is the number one priority for every law enforcement organization, and IRS-CI is proud to be a partner in this investigation.”
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew J. Sutton and Mikaela Weber.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations.
DEFENDANT Case Number 21-cr-2960-AGS
Keith Octavio Rodriguez Padilla Age: 39 Rialto, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
International Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine for Purpose of Unlawful Importation, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. §§ 959, 960 and 963.
Maximum Penalty: Mandatory minimum 10 years and up to life in prison, $10 million fine.
Conspiracy to Import Cocaine, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. §§ 952, 960 and 963.
Maximum Penalty: Mandatory minimum 10 years and up to life in prison, $10 million fine.
Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846.
Maximum Penalty: Mandatory minimum 10 years and up to life in prison, $10 million fine.
Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. 1956(h).
Maximum Penalty: Twenty years in prison, a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the monetary instrument or funds involved.
Conspiracy to Smuggle Goods, in violation of Title 18, U.S.C. §§ 371 and 554(a).
Maximum Penalty: Five years in prison, fine of $250,000.
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Homeland Security Investigations
Drug Enforcement Administration
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation
United States Marshals Service
Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations
Customs and Border Protection, Office of Border Patrol
Department of Justice, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces
Department of Justice, Office of Enforcement Operations
Department of Justice, Office of International Affairs
San Diego County Sheriff’s Department
San Diego Police Department
Border Crime Suppression Team
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office
Postal Employee and Son Sentenced for Stealing Postal Money Orders Worth More Than $5 MillionRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Former U.S. Postal Service employee Dewayne Morris Sr. and his son and namesake were sentenced today to seven years and 12.5 years in prison, respectively, for stealing $5.1 million in postal money order forms and distributing them to co-conspirators.
After a trial in January 2024, a federal jury convicted both defendants of conspiracy and bank fraud charges, finding that Morris Sr. stole the postal money order forms from a post office he supervised, and that Dewayne Morris Jr. distributed those money orders to co-defendants. Eight other defendants were previously sentenced in the Southern District of California for converting the stolen money orders to cash by depositing them at banks throughout the United States.
Several co-conspirators testified at trial that Morris Jr. repeatedly provided them with money orders and counterfeit driver’s licenses, which they used to open bank accounts to deposit the money orders and quickly withdraw the cash. They also testified that Morris Jr. joined them for out-of-state trips to convert the money orders to cash—testimony corroborated by airline records—and that he collected most of the cash proceeds.
Trial evidence included bank records showing Morris Jr. deposited more than $2 million in cash into his bank accounts over the course of the conspiracy. He also paid for his and Morris Sr.’s luxury cars, including a new Mercedes-Benz AMG GT, and extravagant vacations. For example, Morris Jr. paid for their three trips—in a span of just 10 weeks—to Costa Rica, Grand Cayman, and Los Cabos, Mexico, including stays at a Four Seasons Resort and a Ritz-Carlton.
The jury also convicted Morris Jr. of witness tampering while he was on pretrial release. The trial evidence included threatening text messages Morris Jr. sent to the witness and videos that Morris Jr. recorded attempting to get the witness to deny that Morris Jr. ever provided him postal money orders.
“These defendants ran a scheme that tricked banks into cashing millions in stolen postal orders to fund their extravagant greed,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “Today’s sentence underscores our commitment to safeguarding the integrity of the U.S. Postal Service while also holding accountable those who defraud financial institutions.”
“This father and son engaged in financial fraud for their personal gain, taking advantage of financial institutions and profiting significantly in the process,” said Matt Shields, United States Postal Inspection Service, Acting Inspector in Charge of the Los Angeles Division. “Today’s sentencing demonstrates that greed and illegal activity will not be tolerated.”
U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Western Pacific Area Field Office, Acting Executive Special Agent-in-Charge Christopher Paige said “Postal money order fraud schemes negatively impact the American economy and Postal Service operations. Today’s sentencing highlights the commitment of the U.S. Postal Service-Office of Inspector General and our law enforcement partner agencies in protecting the Postal Service from financial loss.”
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Olah.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 22-CR-1037-WQH
Dewayne Morris Sr. Age: 65 Inglewood, CA
Dewayne Morris Jr. Age: 41 Inglewood, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy—Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and $250,000 fine or twice the gross pecuniary gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater
Bank Fraud—Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1344(2)
Maximum penalty: Thirty years in prison and $1 million fine
Witness Tampering—Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1512(b)(1)
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
United States Postal Inspection Service
United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General
San Diego Trial Team Plays Critical Role in Landmark DOJ Effort to Prosecute January 6 DefendantsRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Prosecutors and an intelligence analyst from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in San Diego have handled more than 60 cases — including nine trials — in support of the massive Department of Justice effort to hold accountable those who violently disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to certify the results of the 2020 U.S. presidential election.
As of today, the fourth anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol, the Department of Justice has charged more than 1,500 individuals in federal court in the District of Columbia for crimes related to the events of that day. These cases are being prosecuted through a collaboration led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Five prosecutors and an analyst from San Diego were detailed at various times to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C., to help them investigate and prosecute these cases.
Each San Diego prosecutor volunteered to join DOJ’s nationwide team and did so with the full support of the United States Attorney’s Office. The Southern District of California, among many other districts across the nation, provided essential assistance to these cases through the time, talents, and experience of federal prosecutors and support staff.
“We are extremely proud of our contribution to this extraordinary investigative and prosecutorial undertaking,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “These cases hold accountable the individuals who battered, ransacked, and brought terror into the seat of our democracy. This collective effort has been vital to fortify the rule of law and serves as a reminder that armed threats, violence, and insurrection are not protected under the ruse of a lawful protest.”
Examples of trials handled by the San Diego-based Assistant U.S. Attorneys over the past three years include:
United States v Michael Bradley – 23-cr-0435-RBW – Michael Bradley of Forsyth, Georgia, who swung his baton at police officers as they attempted to fend off rioters during the breach of the U.S. Capitol, was convicted by a judge on August 28, 2024, of multiple felony and misdemeanor offenses, including civil disorder; assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers with a deadly or dangerous weapon; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; and engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon. He was sentenced on December 17, 2024, to 60 months in prison for his part in the sweeping violence. For further information please see https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/georgia-man-sentenced-prison-assaulting-law-enforcement-and-other-offenses-during-jan-6
Side-by-side images of Bradley straddling the railing, preparing to swing his baton at the police.United States v. Michael Sparks –21-cr-87-TJK – Michael Sparks of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, the first rioter to enter the Capitol building, was convicted by a federal jury on March 1, 2024, of felony civil disorder; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building. On August 27, 2024, he was sentenced to 53 months in prison. Please see https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/kentucky-man-sentenced-prison-felony-and-misdemeanor-charges-actions-during-jan-6.
Sparks, top center, turns and waves the mob forward as he leads a group of violent rioters past the final police line protecting the U.S. Capitol building, moments before he became the first rioter to breach the building.United States v. Ronald Colton McAbee – 21-cr-0035-RC – Ronald Colton McAbee of Unionville, Tennessee, who assaulted multiple police officers, to include dragging one down a set of stairs in front of the Lower West Terrace Tunnel, was convicted on all counts by a federal jury on October 22, 2023, of inflicting bodily injury on an officer; civil disorder; entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; and engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon. He was sentenced on February 29, 2024, to 70 months in prison. Please see https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/defendants/mcabee-ronald-colton.
McAbee (a sheriff’s deputy at the time) was captured on police body-worn camera holding down the victim police officer, before pulling him down the stairs into the mob.United States v. Ryan Samsel, James Grant, Stephen Randolph, Paul Johnson and Jason Blythe – 21-cr-537-JMC – Ryan Samsel, James Grant, Stephen Randolph, Paul Johnson and Jason Blythe were convicted on February 2, 2024, of various felonies, including assaulting a police officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon or while inflicting bodily injury, following a bench trial. Randolf of Harrodsburg, Kentucky; Grant of Cary, North Carolina; Blythe of Fort Worth, Texas; Samsel of Bristol, Pennsylvania; and Johnson of Lanexa, Virginia, were the first to break through a manned barrier and assault officers, one of whom suffered multiple blows to the head that resulted in a concussion and a loss of consciousness. Samsel went on to assault additional officers. On September 20, 2024, all but Samsel were sentenced for their actions on January 6. Randolph was sentenced to eight years; Grant was sentenced to 36 months; Blythe was sentenced to 30 months; Johnson was sentenced to five years of probation. Samsel is scheduled to be sentenced on February 4, 2025. Please see https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/defendants/samsel-ryan and https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/four-men-sentenced-prison-actions-during-jan-6-capitol-breach.
Defendants Grant, Blythe, Johnson, Samsel and Randolph lifting and pushing a barricade into a U.S. Capitol police officer.United States v. Douglas Austin Jensen – 21-cr-6-TJK – Douglas Jensen of Des Moines, Iowa was convicted by a jury on September 23, 2022, of assaulting, resisting, or impeding a law enforcement officer; obstruction of an official proceeding; interfering with a law enforcement officer during a civil disorder; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a dangerous weapon; and disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a dangerous weapon. Video of Jensen leading an angry mob chasing a lone U.S. Capitol Police officer up the stairs to the Senate was widely circulated online in the days following the Capitol attack, and Jensen reported to the FBI that he wanted to be the “poster boy” of January 6. He was sentenced on December 16, 2022, to 60 months in prison. Please see https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/iowa-man-sentenced-five-years-felony-charges-related-capitol-breach.
Douglas Jensen led a mob of angry men chasing a lone U.S. Capitol Police officer up the stairs to the hallway directly outside the Senate Chamber, then faced off with police officers in the hallway despite their orders to leave, as Senators sheltered in place on the other side of the wall.United States v. Zachary Alam – 21-cr-190-DLF – Zachary Jordan Alam from Centreville, Virginia was convicted by federal jury on Sept. 12, 2023, of multiple felonies, including assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers; assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon; civil disorder; destruction of government property; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building with a deadly or dangerous weapon, and related offenses. Alam roamed the building and antagonized officers at the House Main Doors, then went around to a back entrance to the House Chamber as House members and staffers were still evacuating. There he assaulted officers, punched glass door panels with his fists, and once the officers moved, kicked the doors and completely removed the window panels by smashing them with a helmet. On November 7, 2024, he was sentenced to eight years in prison. Please see https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/virginia-man-sentenced-eight-years-prison-assaulting-law-enforcement-and-other-charges\.
Alam (in fur hat) inciting other rioters, with windows he shattered visible behind him and fleeing Congressmembers and staffers visible behind the doors. Alam using a helmet to smash through window panels of the doors outside the House Chamber.United States v. Jonathan Copeland – 23-cr-224-DLF – On May 8, 2024, Jonathan Copeland of Lima, Ohio, was found guilty after a bench trial of eight crimes, including two counts of felony civil disorder and one count each of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon; entering and remaining in a restricted building or ground with a deadly and dangerous weapon; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly and dangerous weapon; and engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or ground with a deadly and dangerous weapon. Copeland helped push a barricade into U.S. Capitol Police Officers at the Peace Circle, worked with others to use a massive metal Trump sign as a battering ram to push past the police line at the West Front of the Capitol, and was involved in an altercation with a cameraman. Copeland yelled at the cameraman and shoved him several times, and then a group of rioters attacked the photographer and pushed him off a ledge. On December 2, 2024, Copeland was sentenced to almost 6 years in prison. Please see https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/ohio-man-sentenced-prison-assaulting-law-enforcement-trump-billboard-and-other-offenses.
Copeland, in the green bandana, pushing a Trump billboard into the police.United States v. Joshua Black – 21-cr-127-AJB – Joshua Black of Leeds, Alabama, was found guilty following a bench trial on January 13, 2023, of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; unlawful possession of a dangerous weapon on Capitol grounds or buildings; entering and remaining on the floor of Congress; and disorderly conduct in a Capitol building. As he approached the Capitol building from the West side, Black was part of a violent mob of rioters fighting the police; he was struck by a non-lethal round that wounded his face and caused bleeding. Despite this clear warning to retreat, Black entered the Capitol building and the Senate chamber armed with a knife. On May 16, 2023, he was sentenced to 22 months in prison. Please see https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/alabama-man-found-sentenced-felony-and-misdemeanor-charges-related-capitol-breach.
Joshua Black sat on the floor of the Senate Chamber as rioters took over the Dias, shortly after Senators had been evacuated from the Chamber.*All photos were obtained by the government and admitted as evidence for various trials.
San Diego Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Bribing an IRS Officer to Wipe Away Tax DebtRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Business owner Wahead Raz pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting that he paid an Internal Revenue Service officer $35,000 to wipe away his half million-dollar tax debt.
On July 23, 2024, Raz offered the bribe to an IRS revenue officer during a meeting at the San Diego IRS office to discuss his outstanding tax debt of approximately $500,000. After the meeting, the IRS officer immediately reported the bribe to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) and agreed to be part of an undercover operation to record Raz’s crime.
“Attempting to bribe an IRS officer is not just a terrible idea—it’s a federal crime,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “Not surprisingly, the integrity of the IRS held firm, ensuring this defendant will be accountable for both his unpaid taxes and attempting to undermine the system.”
“Today’s actions send a clear message: Individuals who attempt to bribe IRS officials will be prosecuted for their actions,” said Special Agent in Charge Rod Ammari. “The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) is committed to protecting the integrity and mission of the IRS. We are grateful for the strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office that ensured this individual was held accountable for trying to undermine federal tax administration.”
On July 24, 2024, TIGTA conducted a video recorded meeting between the IRS officer and Raz at the IRS office in San Diego. During the meeting, Raz told the IRS officer that he could pay in cash so the bribe would not be traceable.
On July 25, 2024, the IRS officer conducted a recorded telephone call to Raz. During the call, Raz told the IRS officer: “If you save me money, then I’ll take care of you,” and asked the IRS officer to name a price. When the officer asked for $30,000 in exchange for wiping out Raz’s personal tax debt, Raz countered with $20,000. After the IRS officer insisted on $30,000, Raz agreed, offering to pay $10,000 up front and the remaining $20,000 when Raz’s tax debt was cleared.
On July 30, 2024, TIGTA conducted a video and audio recorded meeting between the IRS officer and Raz at a coffee shop in San Diego. During the meeting, Raz provided the previously agreed upon $10,000 cash payment to the IRS officer. Raz also asked the IRS officer to eliminate the approximately $50,000 tax debt owed by Raz’s business and offered to pay the officer an additional $5,000 to have the debt cancelled.
On August 22, 2024, TIGTA conducted a video and audio recorded meeting between the IRS officer and Raz at the same coffee shop in San Diego. During the meeting, Raz gave the officer $15,000 in cash and told the officer he did not have the entire $25,000 as originally agreed upon. Raz promised to provide the remaining $10,000 by the following Wednesday. During the meeting, the officer told Raz that he was taking a big risk by accepting the bribe. Raz stated that he understood the risk taken by the IRS officer and that the officer could go to jail for it.
On August 29, 2024, TIGTA conducted a video and audio recorded meeting between the IRS officer and Raz in San Diego. During that meeting, Raz paid $10,000 in cash to complete the $35,000 bribe payment. Raz asked for assurance that the IRS officer would clear all the taxes owed by Raz and his business.
During two of the recorded meetings, Raz voluntarily offered to introduce to the IRS officer other “clients” who also owed taxes to the IRS. Raz later indicated that one of those potential “clients” thought it was dangerous for Raz to do this and did not believe it would work out. Raz told the IRS officer that he would introduce the agent to the potential “client” once Raz’s tax debt was cleared.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 19, 2025, at 10 a.m. before U.S. District Judge John A. Houston.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Conover.
DEFENDANT Case Number 24-CR-2647- JAH
Wahead Raz Age: 40 San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Bribery – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 201(b)(1)(A) and (C)
Maximum Penalties: Fifteen years in prison
INVESTIGATING AGENCY
Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Defendant Admits Role in Fatal Fentanyl Overdose of Carlsbad WomanRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Bryan Kim Bullard pleaded guilty in federal court today to distributing the fentanyl that resulted in the death of a 25-year-old Carlsbad woman.
According to the plea agreement, on September 9, 2023, Bullard’s co-defendant, Cameron William Fulston, reached out to the victim, identified in court records as D.G., via Facebook messenger. At 8:55 p.m., D.G. left via a Lyft ride-share from her residence in Carlsbad and traveled to an apartment complex in San Diego. She arrived at 9:33 p.m.
The plea agreement said that shortly after 10 p.m., Bullard sold fentanyl to D.G. at the apartment complex. At 11:16 p.m., co-defendant Fulston exited the apartment building. Bullard messaged Fulston about a minute later, asking for “Narcan.” At approximately 12:22 a.m. on September 10, 2023, Bullard called 911 from the victim’s phone, reporting her overdose.
When San Diego Police Department officers responded, Bullard had left the apartment, and D.G. was found in the bathroom, not breathing. San Diego police officers administered CPR until medical personnel arrived to take D.G. to the hospital. Five days after her admittance, D.G. was removed from life support.
Within the apartment, officers found drug paraphernalia and blue pills that tested positive for fentanyl.
Bullard admitted in his plea agreement that when he was arrested on November 16, 2023, he possessed 51.16 grams of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl and 20.84 grams of pure methamphetamine. The parties stipulated that D.G.’s death was caused by the fentanyl distributed by Bullard on September 9, 2023.
“Instead of immediately calling 911 at the first sign of overdose, the defendant’s delay sealed D.G.’s fate,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “Today, he was held to account for her death as the U.S. Attorney’s Office battles on for victims of the fentanyl crisis.”
“Fentanyl remains the most deadly drug threat our nation has ever seen,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian Clark. “This loss underscores the gravity of the ongoing fentanyl crisis and strengthens our resolve to bring to justice those who profit by selling fentanyl.”
Bullard is scheduled to be sentenced on March 14, 2025, at 9 a.m.
On September 23, 2024, Cameron William Fulston was found not competent to stand trial. His next court date is a Status Hearing regarding restoration of competency set for January 24, 2025.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jill S. Streja and Adam Gordon.
Special Agents and Task Force Officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Overdose Response Team (formerly known as Team 10) led the investigation. This case is the result of ongoing efforts by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the San Diego Police Department, the La Mesa Police Department, National Guard Counterdrug Task Force and the California Department of Health Care Services to investigate and prosecute the distribution of dangerous illegal drugs—fentanyl in particular—that result in overdose deaths. The Drug Enforcement Administration created the Overdose Response Team as a response to the increase in overdose deaths in San Diego County.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 24-cr-01063-BAS
Bryan Kim Bullard Age: 43 San Diego, CA
Cameron William Fulston Age: 29 Carlsbad, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Distribution of Fentanyl
21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Drug Enforcement Administration
San Diego Police Department
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office
Homeland Security Investigations
La Mesa Police Department
California Department of Health Care Services
Borrego Springs Man Sentenced to 120 Months in Prison for Possessing Child Sex Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY
SAN DIEGO – Robert Clonts, a registered sex offender from Borrego Springs, was sentenced in federal court today to 10 years in prison for possessing approximately 147 images of child sex abuse material.
According to court documents, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received information from an online service provider about a customer who uploaded approximately 147 images of child sex abuse material on May 25, 2023. NCMEC provided this information to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which identified Clonts as the customer who uploaded the child sex abuse material.
Following his arrest in December 2023, Clonts admitted to obtaining and viewing child pornography on a cellular device and other media devices. Clonts also verified his email address and phone number matched the information on the suspect account that uploaded the 147 images containing sexually explicit depictions of prepubescent minors.
Clonts pleaded guilty on August 13, 2024, admitting he possessed images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. According to publicly filed documents in this case, Clonts was previously convicted in 1990 of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14, which resulted in his registration as a sex offender.
“This defendant’s actions are a grave violation of both the law and human decency,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “Those who put children in jeopardy will face the full force of justice.”
“This sentence should send a clear message that individuals who think they can get away with sexually exploiting children will be vehemently sought by law enforcement and ultimately brought to justice,” said FBI San Diego Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy. “The FBI and it’s law enforcement partners take great pride in locking up criminals who commit these types of crimes and will remain dedicated to ensuring the safety of all Americans, especially children.”
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Sherwood.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 24CR0048-H
Robert Colia Clonts Age: 67 Borrego Springs, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Possession of Images of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 2452(a)(4)(B)
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison, and a mandatory minimum prison term of 10 years; $250,000 fine; Supervised release for life; Registration as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act
INVESTIGATING AGENCY
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Distributor of ANOM Hardened Encrypted Devices Sentenced to 63 Months in Prison for Racketeering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Osemah Elhassen of Sydney, Australia, was sentenced in federal court today to 63 months in prison for participating in a worldwide conspiracy to distribute hardened encrypted communication devices to criminal syndicates to facilitate drug trafficking and other crimes.
Elhassen was one of 17 defendants indicted in San Diego in 2021 in connection with Operation Trojan Shield, an international law enforcement effort in which the FBI secretly operated an encrypted messaging network used by criminals, leading to the arrests of hundreds worldwide.
According to court records, the platform was known as ANOM. While ANOM’s criminal users unknowingly communicated on the system operated by the FBI, agents catalogued more than 27 million messages between users around the world whose criminal discussions were covertly obtained and reviewed by the FBI. The platform was taken down in June 2021. Please see Operation Trojan Shield in 2021.
Elhassen pleaded guilty in May 2024 to Count 1 of a superseding indictment charging him and the others with a racketeering conspiracy in connection with the ANOM enterprise. A citizen of Australia, Elhassen was a Colombia-based distributor of ANOM devices who was also directly involved in drug trafficking and money laundering.
Elhassen admitted that around November 2019, he became a member of the ANOM enterprise. According to his plea agreement, he admitted to helping accomplish the illegal objectives of that enterprise, including drug trafficking, money laundering, and obstruction of justice offenses. To that end, Elhassen distributed ANOM devices to criminal end-users for over a year and a half, and in doing so, facilitated the importation, exportation, and distribution of at least 15 kilograms of cocaine and the laundering of proceeds from the enterprise’s illegal activities.
According to the government’s sentencing filings, Elhassen’s ANOM messages show significant distribution of ANOM devices in Colombia and other places. His messages also show that Elhassen participated in providing ANOM device support and arranging subscription renewals, among other sales and price-setting activity.
Elhassen was arrested in Colombia in June 2021 and was extradited to the Southern District of California in May 2023. He pleaded guilty in May 2024.
“Despite use of sophisticated technology and extreme measures to conceal the criminal enterprise, Mr. Elhassen could not thwart federal investigators,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “The sentence today demonstrates that even those who go to the greatest lengths to hide will be held to account.”
“Evidence collected during Operation Trojan Shield showed that distributors of ANOM devices, like Mr. Elhassen, were not merely providing a messaging service but enabling and facilitating Transnational Criminal Organizations,” said FBI San Diego Special Agent in Charge, Stacey Moy. “Today’s sentence should send a strong message to the users and distributors of these types of devices. The FBI will continue to collaborate with domestic and international partners on new and innovative strategies to combat the ever-evolving threat posed by transnational criminal organizations.”
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua C. Mellor, Mikaela L. Weber, and Peter S. Horn. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Judicial Attaché Office in Bogota provided significant assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Elhassen. The United States also thanks Colombian law enforcement authorities for their valuable assistance.
Three other defendants in this case have pleaded guilty, including Dragan Nikitovic, aka Dr. Djek; Edwin Harmendra Kumar, aka Edwin Harmendra Valentine; and Miwand Zakhimi, aka Maiwand Zakhimi. They are scheduled to be sentenced in December 2024 and January 2025. A trial for four other defendants is scheduled for March 10, 2025. Eight other defendants in the case are yet to be extradited to the United States, and one is a fugitive.
For further information on investigations and prosecutions of encrypted communication providers, see https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/pr/fbi-s-encrypted-phone-platform-infiltrated-hundreds-criminal-syndicates-result-massive (ANOM), https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/pr/sky-global-executive-and-associate-indicted-providing-encrypted-communication-devices (Sky Global), and https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/pr/chief-executive-communications-company-sentenced-prison-providing-encryption-services (Phantom Secure).
Operation Trojan Shield is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
DEFENDANT Case Number 21cr1623-JLS-17
Osemah Elhassen Age: 51 Sydney, Australia
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Count 1: Racketeering Conspiracy – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1962(d)
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison, and fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gain or loss
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Drug Enforcement Administration
United States Marshals Service
Department of Justice, Office of International Affairs
Australian Federal Police
Swedish Police Authority
Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau
National Police of the Netherlands
EUROPOL
Federal Jury Convicts Siblings of Fraud; Defendants Made Tens of Millions of Dollars from Lying to Manufacturers in Years-Long SchemeRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Adriana Camberos (formerly Adriana Shayota) and Andres Camberos, sister and brother, were convicted by a federal jury of multiple fraud charges on October 25, 2024.
Their illegal scheme involved lying to manufacturers to sell wholesale groceries and other goods at steep discounts by promising the goods would be sold in Mexico, or to prisons or rehabilitation facilities. Instead, the defendants sold the products at higher prices to U.S. distributors, for the U.S. market. Wire fraud charges arose from the numerous wire transfers, as well as other interstate communications, the defendants made as they bought products from the manufacturers, transferred money among their own companies to facilitate the scheme, and then re-sold the products at higher prices to U.S. customers.
Following an 11-day trial, the jury found the defendants guilty of eight of 11 counts that went to the jury. Adriana and Andres Camberos were both found guilty of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and seven wire fraud counts, and not guilty of three mail fraud counts.
According to evidence presented at trial, the defendants owned and controlled three businesses: Tradeway International, Inc., doing business as Baja Exporting (owned by Adriana Camberos); Specialty Foods International, Inc., doing business as Promix Co., Prison Food Depot, Rehab Food Depot and Specialty Foods International (owned by Andres Camberos); and Baja Foodservice S.R.L. de C.V. (95% owned by Andres Camberos and managed by Adriana Camberos). Specialty Foods International and Baja Exporting shared a warehouse and office space in San Diego. Baja Foodservice had a warehouse in Tijuana. All three operated together, as sister companies.
Baja Exporting claimed to be an exporter of grocery items and consumer goods to Baja California, Mexico. Similarly, Specialty Foods International, claimed to be a regional distributor of groceries and other goods to retailers in Baja California, Mexico, and to correctional facilities and rehabilitation and wellness facilities within the United States. Baja Foodservice likewise claimed to be a regional distributor in Baja California, Mexico.
The defendants used the three companies—especially Baja Foodservice—to tell manufacturers that they would sell the manufacturers’ products in Mexico, and based on that, they received significant discounts for purported sales, distribution, and exporting to the Baja California market. The defendants also sought discounted goods for Specialty Foods International, d/b/a Prison Food Depot and Rehab Food Depot, based on the claim that they sold products to prisons and rehab facilities.
But the defendants lied. In a years-long scheme, they used their three companies to get those lower prices from manufacturers and resell the products at higher prices to U.S. customers—often the same distributors the victim companies were already selling their products to. Between 2019 and September 2023 alone, Baja Exporting and Specialty Foods International sold hundreds of millions of dollars of products to U.S. distributors; less than a tenth of one percent of their sales were to any Mexican retailer or distributor, and they did no business with prisons or rehab centers.
The defendants took other numerous steps to conceal and perpetuate their fraud. For example, the defendants removed GPS tracking devices from manufacturers’ shipments; removed Spanish-language labels or packaging intended for the Mexican market; obtained Mexican customs documents to try to prove to manufacturers that products were being exported; arranged “market visits” in Tijuana, taking manufacturers’ representatives to various stores in Baja California where they placed the manufacturers’ products—often alongside models who were hired by the defendants’ companies and associates—to create the appearance the products were being sold as promised; had a fake “office” in Mexico City to meet with manufacturers, in an effort to make the companies think the defendants did substantial business in Mexico; and otherwise doubled down on their lies when the victim companies suspected the defendants were diverting their products and defrauding them.
Baja Exporting and Specialty Foods International made over $58 million in gross profits between January 2019 and September 2023. As owners, the defendants made millions each. In the same time period, Adriana Camberos took in over $12 million from Baja Exporting, and Andres Camberos paid himself over $14 million from Specialty Foods International. This caused manufacturers to lose tens of millions of dollars—money they would have made in the normal course of selling to U.S. distributors, but for the defendants’ lies.
With the money they made from the scheme, Adriana and Andres Camberos made extensive luxury purchases and investments. They bought or financed a Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, a Lamborghini Huracan, and multiple Range Rovers; purchased multiple homes in the San Diego area; purchased a condominium at the beach in Coronado; and put the money in multiple investment accounts, life insurance policies, a cryptocurrency account, and other assets. These and other items are subject to forfeiture.
“These defendants’ deception led to millions in illegal profits, but the gain was fleeting,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “When this elaborate scheme unraveled, justice prevailed.”
“The Camberos siblings built a multimillion-dollar empire solely on fraud,” said FBI San Diego Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy. “This conviction should send a clear message that fraud — no matter the scale — will be thoroughly investigated and those found guilty of perpetrating such schemes will be brought to justice.”
The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on March 3, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Cynthia Bashant.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Mellor, Peter Horn and Jordan Arakawa.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 23-CR-1916-BAS
Adriana Isabel Camberos (aka Adriana Shayota) Age: 54 San Diego, CA
Andres Enrique Camberos Age: 45 San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1349
Maximum Penalty: Twenty years in prison
Wire Fraud – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1343
Maximum Penalty: Twenty years in prison
INVESTIGATING AGENCY
Federal Bureau of Investigation
High-Ranking Member of Sinaloa Cartel Indicted on Drug Conspiracy ChargeRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO — A federal grand jury in Chicago indicted a high-ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel for allegedly manufacturing cocaine, fentanyl, and other drugs in Mexico and importing them into the United States.
According to an indictment returned Monday in the Northern District of Illinois, Jose Angel Canobbio Inzunza, 44, served as a principal advisor, lieutenant, and security chief for Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar. Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, along with his three brothers, allegedly led a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico after the arrest and imprisonment of their father, Joaquin Guzman Loera. The indictment alleges Canobbio Inzunza conspired with the brothers — who are known as the “Chapitos” — and others to manufacture cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana in Mexico and import the drugs into the United States for further distribution. The indictment states that Canobbio Inzunza financed and led an armed security group known as “Los Chimales,” which provided security for the Guzman faction of the Sinaloa Cartel and engaged in armed conflict to assist the Chapitos in importing drugs into the United States. The Chapitos have been charged in other indictments in the United States within the last year.
Canobbio Inzunza is charged with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute controlled substances for unlawful importation into the United States and to import controlled substances into the United States. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Canobbio Inzunza is believed to be currently residing in Mexico and a U.S. warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual for the Northern District of Illinois, U.S. Attorney Tara K. McGrath for the Southern District of California, Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy of the FBI San Diego Field Office and Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Arizona made the announcement.
The FBI and HSI are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Kirk Handrich of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Erskine and Michelle Parthum for the Northern District of Illinois and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Sutton for the Southern District of California are prosecuting the case.
The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug trafficking organizations and other criminal networks that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local enforcement agencies.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
High-Ranking Member of Sinaloa Cartel Indicted on Drug Conspiracy ChargeRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Chicago indicted a high-ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel for allegedly manufacturing cocaine, fentanyl, and other drugs in Mexico and importing them into the United States.
According to an indictment returned Monday in the Northern District of Illinois, Jose Angel Canobbio Inzunza, 44, served as a principal advisor, lieutenant, and security chief for Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar. Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, along with his three brothers, allegedly led a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico after the arrest and imprisonment of their father, Joaquin Guzman Loera. The indictment alleges Canobbio Inzunza conspired with the brothers — who are known as the “Chapitos” — and others to manufacture cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana in Mexico and import the drugs into the United States for further distribution. The indictment states that Canobbio Inzunza financed and led an armed security group known as “Los Chimales,” which provided security for the Guzman faction of the Sinaloa Cartel and engaged in armed conflict to assist the Chapitos in importing drugs into the United States. The Chapitos have been charged in other indictments in the United States within the last year.
Canobbio Inzunza is charged with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute controlled substances for unlawful importation into the United States and to import controlled substances into the United States. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Canobbio Inzunza is believed to be currently residing in Mexico and a U.S. warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual for the Northern District of Illinois, U.S. Attorney Tara K. McGrath for the Southern District of California, Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy of the FBI San Diego Field Office and Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Arizona made the announcement.
The FBI and HSI are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Kirk Handrich of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Erskine and Michelle Parthum for the Northern District of Illinois and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Sutton for the Southern District of California are prosecuting the case.
The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug trafficking organizations and other criminal networks that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local enforcement agencies.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Forty-Eight Defendants Charged in Imperial Valley Takedown of Drug Trafficking Network Linked to Sinaloa CartelRead the Press Release
EL CENTRO – Five indictments were unsealed in federal court today charging 48 alleged members of an Imperial Valley-based, Sinaloa Cartel-linked drug trafficking organization accused of distributing methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin and bulk cash smuggling.
In a coordinated takedown this morning, more than 140 federal, state, and local law enforcement officials arrested 25 defendants and executed 15 search warrants in Imperial County, San Diego, Los Angeles, and Stockton, as well as in Yuma, Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada. As of this afternoon, the search continues for 23 fugitives.
Including seizures today and throughout this long-term investigation, authorities have seized more than 3,600 kg (about 8,000 pounds) of methamphetamine; substantial quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin; and one firearm.
Crimes charged in the indictments include drug trafficking, conspiracy, and bulk cash smuggling.
According to court records, the defendants belonged to a drug trafficking organization based in the Imperial Valley and Mexicali, Mexico with ties to Los Rusos, one of the most violent and significant factions of the Sinaloa Cartel.
“This investigation represents another blow to traffickers of deadly drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “With the indictment of four dozen individuals, we are not only disrupting a major drug trafficking network but also taking significant steps to protect our community from the devastation these drugs cause. We are committed to dismantling these dangerous operations and ensuring that those who fuel the crisis are held accountable.”
“HSI’s challenge with investigating cases tied to the Sinaloa Cartel is to not just chase those who profit from addiction, but to dismantle the transnational network responsible for plaguing our communities and tearing families apart,” said Shawn Gibson, special agent in charge for HSI San Diego. “The success of today’s takedown would not have been possible without the unwavering support and assistance from our law enforcement partners. By working together, we each bring a unique skillset to the fight against these trafficking organizations and can disrupt and dismantle cells like these.”
“This successful operation underscores the pivotal role that collaboration among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies plays in safeguarding our communities,” stated Roque Caza, Area Port Director for the Calexico Port of Entry. “At U.S. Customs and Border Protection, our mission is to protect the nation’s public by preventing dangerous substances from entering the United States. This joint effort highlights our commitment to disrupting the flow of methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin, addressing the dangerous impacts on public health and safety. Together, we stand strong in our fight against these illicit activities and remain steadfast in protecting our borders and communities.”
“The Sinaloa Cartel and any other criminal organization will fare poorly here in the Imperial Valley as we have just seen,” said El Centro Sector Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino. “With seamless coordination between HSI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and a multitude of state and local agencies, yet another set of alleged traffickers and criminals were prevented from harming the community.”
According to court records, employing undercover operations and four rounds of wiretaps, agents conducted numerous controlled purchases, traffic stops of personal vehicles and several tractor trailers, and searches of houses and stash locations leading to large seizures of narcotics. In one instance on April 27, 2022, authorities seized 256 pounds of methamphetamine after intercepting phone conversations between several defendants about a big sale. Federal agents watched the transaction from afar, then conducted a traffic stop on the drug-laden tractor-trailer. Law enforcement officials located four duffel bags containing 256 pounds of methamphetamine in the cab of the truck.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Van Demark and Owen Roth.
DEFENDANT Case Number 24cr2316-WQH
Adrian Garcia Age: 28 El Centro, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Distribution of Controlled Substances – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841(a) and (b)(1)
Maximum penalty: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a $10 million fine.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 24cr2320-WQH
Fausto Herrera-Lopez, AKA “Vecino”* 50 Mexicali, MX
Rodolfo Ramirez-Palacios, AKA “Rudy”* 34 Mexicali, MX
Tereso Ramirez-Velasquez 54 San Bernadino, CA
Juan Carlos Ojeda-Saldana 35 Brawley, CA
Jose David Morales-Rodriguez* 46 Brawley, CA
Ernesto Morales-Rodriguez* 41 Mexicali, MX
Vicente Barrera-Robles* 32 Mexicali, MX
Ricardo Ruben Pinzon 24 El Centro, CA
Jose Ramon Ochoa-Monteverde 31 El Centro, CA
Salvador Martinez 54 Los Angeles, CA
Juan Carlos Martinez* 52 Los Angeles, CA
Rogelio Robledo-Valdez* 26 Mexicali, MX
Maria Elena Reyes 50 Wichita, KS
Gabriela Estrada* 46 Mexicali, MX
Jaime Mayoral 40 El Centro, CA
Marcos Arturo Barrera 28 Brawley, CA
Oscar Silvas-Gamez 32 Fresno, CA
Juan Ernesto Salas Villela* 37 Fontana, CA
Yeiming Hernandez 34 Calexico, CA
Frank Gustavo Zendejas 56 Calipatria, CA
Gerardo Medina Plancencia 45 Calexico, CA
Jose Andres Leyva 55 El Centro, CA
Stephanie Melgoza* 21 Salinas, CA
Victor Rene Herrera* 24 Los Angeles, CA
Arnulfo Morfin-Moreno* 52 Pasco, WA
Edgar Garcia* 24 Las Vegas, NV
Roberto Valenzuela De La Torre* 27 Sonora, MX
Leonardo Saldivar* 38 San Bernardino, CA
Francisco Ramirez* 52 Tolleson, Arizona
Luis Fernando Simental Palacios* 34 Mexicali, MX
Abraham Noe Esparza-Garcia* 36 Mexicali, MX
Angelica Guerrero 29 Calexico, CA
Sergio Sanchez 46 Long Beach, CA
Nicholas Adam Fortier 41 Portland, OR
Luis Alberto Felix* 38 Pacoima, CA
Elizabeth Echeverria 43 Las Vega, NV
Pedro Estrada* 50 San Diego, CA
Bernadette Lucero Vallejos* 33 Goodyear, AZ
Maribel Garcia Barajas 56 El Centro, CA
Jose Arturo Mendiola Porras* 57 Mexicali, MX
Enrique Villalobos 43 Stockton, CA
Israel Alejandro Ramirez-Velasquez 60 Perris, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances - Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1), and 846
Maximum penalty: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a $10 million fine
Distribution of Controlled Substances – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841(a) and (b)(1)
Maximum penalty: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a $10 million fine
Possession of Controlled Substances with Intent to Distribute – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841(a) and (b)(1)
Maximum penalty: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a $10 million fine
Bulk Cash Smuggling – Title 31, U.S.C., Section 5332(a) and (b)
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and a $250,000 fine
Conspiracy to Commit Bulk Cash Smuggling – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and a $250,000 fine
DEFENDANT Case Number 24cr2318-WQH
Nilda Charlenne Ledon Age: 34 El Centro, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Bulk Cash Smuggling – Title 31, U.S.C., Section 5332(a) and (b)
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and a $250,000 fine
DEFENDANT Case Number 24cr2319-WQH
Jasmine Santos Age: 34 Los Angeles, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Bulk Cash Smuggling – Title 31, U.S.C., Section 5332(a) and (b)
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and a $250,000 fine
DEFENDANT Case Number 24cr217-WQH
Brenda Lara* Age: 32 Los Angeles, CA
Romulada Contreras* Age: 75 Mexicali, MX
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Commit Bulk Cash Smuggling – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and a $250,000 fine
Bulk Cash Smuggling – Title 31, U.S.C., Section 5332(a) and (b)
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and a $250,000 fine
*Fugitives
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Homeland Security Investigations, Calexico Office
United States Border Patrol, El Centro Sector Intelligence Unit
Customs and Border Protection, Calexico Intelligence Division
Imperial County Narcotics Task Force
Drug Enforcement Administration, Imperial County Office
United States Postal Inspectors
Federal Bureau of Investigations, Imperial County Office
United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations
United States Marshals Service
Calexico Police Department
Imperial County Sheriff’s Office
Brawley Police Department
San Bernardino Police Department Narcotics Unit
California Highway Patrol
El Centro Police Department
The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is the result of 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.
This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Forty-Eight Defendants Charged in Imperial Valley Takedown of Drug Trafficking Network Linked to Sinaloa CartelRead the Press Release
EL CENTRO – Five indictments were unsealed in federal court today charging 48 alleged members of an Imperial Valley-based, Sinaloa Cartel-linked drug trafficking organization accused of distributing methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin and bulk cash smuggling.
In a coordinated takedown this morning, more than 140 federal, state, and local law enforcement officials arrested 25 defendants and executed 15 search warrants in Imperial County, San Diego, Los Angeles, and Stockton, as well as in Yuma, Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada. As of this afternoon, the search continues for 23 fugitives.
Including seizures today and throughout this long-term investigation, authorities have seized more than 3,600 kg (about 8,000 pounds) of methamphetamine; substantial quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin; and one firearm.
Crimes charged in the indictments include drug trafficking, conspiracy, and bulk cash smuggling.
According to court records, the defendants belonged to a drug trafficking organization based in the Imperial Valley and Mexicali, Mexico with ties to Los Rusos, one of the most violent and significant factions of the Sinaloa Cartel.
“This investigation represents another blow to traffickers of deadly drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “With the indictment of four dozen individuals, we are not only disrupting a major drug trafficking network but also taking significant steps to protect our community from the devastation these drugs cause. We are committed to dismantling these dangerous operations and ensuring that those who fuel the crisis are held accountable.”
“HSI’s challenge with investigating cases tied to the Sinaloa Cartel is to not just chase those who profit from addiction, but to dismantle the transnational network responsible for plaguing our communities and tearing families apart,” said Shawn Gibson, special agent in charge for HSI San Diego. “The success of today’s takedown would not have been possible without the unwavering support and assistance from our law enforcement partners. By working together, we each bring a unique skillset to the fight against these trafficking organizations and can disrupt and dismantle cells like these.”
“This successful operation underscores the pivotal role that collaboration among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies plays in safeguarding our communities,” stated Roque Caza, Area Port Director for the Calexico Port of Entry. “At U.S. Customs and Border Protection, our mission is to protect the nation’s public by preventing dangerous substances from entering the United States. This joint effort highlights our commitment to disrupting the flow of methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin, addressing the dangerous impacts on public health and safety. Together, we stand strong in our fight against these illicit activities and remain steadfast in protecting our borders and communities.”
“The Sinaloa Cartel and any other criminal organization will fare poorly here in the Imperial Valley as we have just seen,” said El Centro Sector Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino. “With seamless coordination between HSI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and a multitude of state and local agencies, yet another set of alleged traffickers and criminals were prevented from harming the community.”
According to court records, employing undercover operations and four rounds of wiretaps, agents conducted numerous controlled purchases, traffic stops of personal vehicles and several tractor trailers, and searches of houses and stash locations leading to large seizures of narcotics. In one instance on April 27, 2022, authorities seized 256 pounds of methamphetamine after intercepting phone conversations between several defendants about a big sale. Federal agents watched the transaction from afar, then conducted a traffic stop on the drug-laden tractor-trailer. Law enforcement officials located four duffel bags containing 256 pounds of methamphetamine in the cab of the truck.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Van Demark and Owen Roth.
DEFENDANT Case Number 24cr2316-WQH
Adrian Garcia Age: 28 El Centro, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Distribution of Controlled Substances – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841(a) and (b)(1)
Maximum penalty: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a $10 million fine.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 24cr2320-WQH
Fausto Herrera-Lopez, AKA “Vecino”* 50 Mexicali, MX
Rodolfo Ramirez-Palacios, AKA “Rudy”* 34 Mexicali, MX
Tereso Ramirez-Velasquez 54 San Bernadino, CA
Juan Carlos Ojeda-Saldana 35 Brawley, CA
Jose David Morales-Rodriguez* 46 Brawley, CA
Ernesto Morales-Rodriguez* 41 Mexicali, MX
Vicente Barrera-Robles* 32 Mexicali, MX
Ricardo Ruben Pinzon 24 El Centro, CA
Jose Ramon Ochoa-Monteverde 31 El Centro, CA
Salvador Martinez 54 Los Angeles, CA
Juan Carlos Martinez* 52 Los Angeles, CA
Rogelio Robledo-Valdez* 26 Mexicali, MX
Maria Elena Reyes 50 Wichita, KS
Gabriela Estrada* 46 Mexicali, MX
Jaime Mayoral 40 El Centro, CA
Marcos Arturo Barrera 28 Brawley, CA
Oscar Silvas-Gamez 32 Fresno, CA
Juan Ernesto Salas Villela* 37 Fontana, CA
Yeiming Hernandez 34 Calexico, CA
Frank Gustavo Zendejas 56 Calipatria, CA
Gerardo Medina Plancencia 45 Calexico, CA
Jose Andres Leyva 55 El Centro, CA
Stephanie Melgoza* 21 Salinas, CA
Victor Rene Herrera* 24 Los Angeles, CA
Arnulfo Morfin-Moreno* 52 Pasco, WA
Edgar Garcia* 24 Las Vegas, NV
Roberto Valenzuela De La Torre* 27 Sonora, MX
Leonardo Saldivar* 38 San Bernardino, CA
Francisco Ramirez* 52 Tolleson, Arizona
Luis Fernando Simental Palacios* 34 Mexicali, MX
Abraham Noe Esparza-Garcia* 36 Mexicali, MX
Angelica Guerrero 29 Calexico, CA
Sergio Sanchez 46 Long Beach, CA
Nicholas Adam Fortier 41 Portland, OR
Luis Alberto Felix* 38 Pacoima, CA
Elizabeth Echeverria 43 Las Vega, NV
Alvaro Guerrero 46 Los Angeles, CA
Pedro Estrada* 50 San Diego, CA
Bernadette Lucero Vallejos* 33 Goodyear, AZ
Maribel Garcia Barajas 56 El Centro, CA
Jose Arturo Mendiola Porras* 57 Mexicali, MX
Enrique Villalobos 43 Stockton, CA
Israel Alejandro Ramirez-Velasquez 60 Perris, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances - Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1), and 846
Maximum penalty: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a $10 million fine
Distribution of Controlled Substances – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841(a) and (b)(1)
Maximum penalty: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a $10 million fine
Possession of Controlled Substances with Intent to Distribute – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841(a) and (b)(1)
Maximum penalty: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a $10 million fine
Bulk Cash Smuggling – Title 31, U.S.C., Section 5332(a) and (b)
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and a $250,000 fine
Conspiracy to Commit Bulk Cash Smuggling – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and a $250,000 fine
DEFENDANT Case Number 24cr2318-WQH
Nilda Charlenne Ledon Age: 34 El Centro, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Bulk Cash Smuggling – Title 31, U.S.C., Section 5332(a) and (b)
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and a $250,000 fine
DEFENDANT Case Number 24cr2319-WQH
Jasmine Santos Age: 34 Los Angeles, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Bulk Cash Smuggling – Title 31, U.S.C., Section 5332(a) and (b)
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and a $250,000 fine
DEFENDANT Case Number 24cr217-WQH
Brenda Lara* Age: 32 Los Angeles, CA
Romulada Contreras* Age: 75 Mexicali, MX
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Commit Bulk Cash Smuggling – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and a $250,000 fine
Bulk Cash Smuggling – Title 31, U.S.C., Section 5332(a) and (b)
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and a $250,000 fine
*Fugitives
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Homeland Security Investigations, Calexico Office
United States Border Patrol, El Centro Sector Intelligence Unit
Customs and Border Protection, Calexico Intelligence Division
Imperial County Narcotics Task Force
Drug Enforcement Administration, Imperial County Office
United States Postal Inspectors
Federal Bureau of Investigations, Imperial County Office
United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations
United States Marshals Service
Calexico Police Department
Imperial County Sheriff’s Office
Brawley Police Department
San Bernardino Police Department Narcotics Unit
California Highway Patrol
El Centro Police Department
The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is the result of 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.
This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Leonard Glenn Francis Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Massive Bribery, Fraud and DisappearanceRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Leonard Glenn Francis, mastermind of an unprecedented bribery and fraud scheme targeting the U.S. Navy, was sentenced in federal court today to 180 months in prison and ordered to pay $20 million in restitution to the Navy and a $150,000 fine. Francis was also ordered to forfeit $35 million in ill-gotten proceeds from his crimes.
Francis’ sentence reflects admissions in his first guilty plea in 2015 concerning bribery and fraud, his extensive cooperation with the government, and his guilty plea today for failing to appear for his original sentencing hearing in 2022. U.S. District Judge Janis L. Sammartino handed down a 164-month sentence for bribery and fraud and 16 months for failing to appear, to be served consecutively.
Francis admitted today in his second plea agreement that he fled the country to avoid his sentencing hearing in September 2022. Around September 4, 2022, while he was on house arrest, Francis cut off a GPS monitor he was required to wear and disappeared, first fleeing to Mexico, then Cuba, and ultimately, Venezuela. He was later arrested in Venezuela and brought back to the U.S. on December 20, 2023.
"Leonard Francis lined his pockets with taxpayer dollars while undermining the integrity of U.S. Naval forces,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “The impact of his deceit and manipulation will be long felt, but justice has been served today.”
Francis, 60, a Malaysian citizen most recently living in Singapore, was initially arrested in San Diego on September 16, 2013, and remained in pretrial custody until December 18, 2017, when the court granted his request for release pending sentencing due to a medical condition. Francis served four years and three months in custody before he was released on bond and ordered into house arrest. He remained on bond under the supervision of U.S. Pretrial Services for almost five years, from December 17, 2017, until he fled the U.S. on September 4, 2022. He has remained in custody in the U.S. since his return on December 20, 2023. Based on today’s sentence and the court’s finding that Francis has so far served 2,333 days of his sentence - including time spent in custody in Venezuela at the request of the U.S. government - Francis has an estimated 8.5 years remaining.
According to admissions in his initial 2015 plea agreement, and other court documents, Francis and his company, Glenn Defense Marine Asia, or GDMA, which provided services to U.S. Navy ships in Asia Pacific ports, gave co-conspirators millions of dollars in things of value, including over $500,000 in cash; hundreds of thousands of dollars in the services of prostitutes and associated expenses; hundreds of thousands of dollars in travel expenses, including airfare, often first or business class, luxurious hotel stays, incidentals, and spa treatments; hundreds of thousands of dollars in lavish meals, top-shelf alcohol and wine, and entertainment; and hundreds of thousands of dollars in luxury gifts, including designer handbags and leather goods, watches, fountain pens, Kobe beef, Spanish suckling pigs, designer furniture, Cuban cigars, consumer electronics, ornamental swords, and hand-made ship models.
Francis admitted that in return, U.S. Navy personnel and command staff advocated on behalf of Francis and his company during the procurement process and provided classified information about various U.S. Navy ships’ port visits, proprietary U.S. Navy information such as details about competitors’ bids for U.S. Navy contracts, and information about Naval Criminal Investigative Service and U.S. Navy investigations into GDMA’s practices, among other things.
In his 2015 plea agreement, Francis also admitted to defrauding the U.S. Navy of tens of millions of dollars by routinely overbilling for goods and services provided, including fuel, tugboats, and sewage disposal.
GDMA the corporation was also sentenced today to five years of probation and ordered to pay a $36 million fine.
According to the government’s sentencing memo, Francis’ scheme to defraud the United States over many years and the entrenched bribery and corruption he fostered within the U.S. Navy were aggravated and egregious. By contrast, once caught, he pleaded guilty, and cooperated extensively with authorities.
Over the course of several years, Francis met with government investigators dozens of times to discuss unprecedented levels of corruption within the U.S. Navy. Francis provided detailed information about hundreds of Sailors, from petty officers to admirals, and turned over financial records, photographs, receipts and Navy contracting documents. Corroborated information from Francis substantially assisted the United States in its investigation.
“Mr. Francis’ sentencing brings closure to an expansive fraud scheme that he perpetrated against the U.S. Navy with assistance from various Navy officials. This fraud conspiracy ultimately cost the American taxpayer millions of dollars and weakened the public’s trust in some of our Navy’s senior leaders. Mr. Francis’ actions not only degraded the 7th Fleet’s readiness but shook the Fleet’s trust in its leadership who furthered his corrupt practices,” said Kelly P. Mayo, the Director of the U.S. Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS). “The exhaustive joint investigation exemplifies the lengths DCIS and its investigative partners will go to in order to pursue justice for the American taxpayer and our warfighters. DCIS will continue to protect our nation’s precious resources so they are not lost to illicit schemes that only serve one’s greed and self-aggrandizement to the detriment of our national security.”
“Leonard Francis put the safety of our warfighters and Department of Navy assets at risk,” said NCIS Director Omar Lopez. “He disregarded the law and lined his pockets by bribing U.S. Navy officials and others to exploit sensitive national security information. NCIS remains committed to protecting Department of the Navy personnel and resources. As we reach the final sentencing in this complex and intensive procurement fraud investigation that spanned over a decade, I want to thank the countless NCIS professionals and partner agencies involved.”
DEFENDANT Case Numbers: 13-CR-3781, 3782 and 4287
Leonard Glenn Francis Age: 60 Singapore
Glenn Defense Marine Asia Pte. Ltd. Singapore
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Commit Bribery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §371.
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison, $250,000 fine or twice the gross pecuniary gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater
Bribery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §201
Maximum Penalty: Fifteen years in prison, $250,000 fine or twice the gross pecuniary gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater. Mandatory restitution
Conspiracy to Defraud the United States, in violation of in violation of 18 U.S.C. §371
Maximum Penalty: Five years in prison $250,000 fine or twice the gross pecuniary gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater. Mandatory restitution
Failure to Appear, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §3146
Maximum Penalty: Ten years in prison
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Defense Criminal Investigative Service
Naval Criminal Investigative Service
Defense Contract Audit Agency