He checks all my emails, messages, messengers, FB (Facebook) posts, Maya Millete texted her brother months before she disappeared, Privacy PolicyTerms of ServiceSign Up For Our Newsletters, Copyright 2023, The San Diego Union-Tribune |. No Thanks Felon in Possession of a Firearm (18, U.S.C., Secs. As a result of the collaboration of federal, state and local law enforcement officials, law-abiding citizens who live in these neighborhoods will be safer without these magnets for crime in their midst. Members are nominated by Superior Court Judges to serve one-year terms. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. The investigation leading to these federal charges focused on the criminal activities of the Riverside-based Casa Blanca Rifa criminal street gang to combat drug trafficking and associated violence in Riverside and the surrounding community. Todays enforcement action is another example of why the Task Force was established to be a force multiplier and combine short term, street level enforcement activity with long term, sophisticated techniques to root out and prosecute the entire criminal enterprise., I would like to recognize the cooperation between all agencies who took part in this operation, said San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit. Federal Office Building Those cases are pending prosecution in Mexico. The indictments are part of a yearlong investigation involving wiretaps, undercover drug and gun purchases and "extensive surveillance," according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. But lawyers for the hospital say the medical records show he was unconscious. 841(a)(1)). During this mornings takedown, 12 of the federal defendants were arrested. Authorities have also seized drugs, cash and guns in connection with the investigation. Fax: (619) 546-0720 Both were arrested in April on charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and are currently in federal custody. Lock Our team of experts has selected the best teeth whitening gel out of hundreds of options. Investigators conducted extensive physical surveillance in conjunction with a six-month federal wiretap operation that intercepted the communications of the networks members and was used to track their locations. Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substance, in violation of Title 21, U.S.C., Secs. Its rare to have a patron who does not use or sell methamphetamine inside these locations., We have taken down the illegal gambling dens, and we have lifted a weight off our neighborhoods, said Acting US Attorney Randy Grossman. Authorities are continuing to search for six defendants. The Grand Jury investigates the operations of governmental programs of the County, cities and special districts. These collaborative efforts continue to make our communities safe.. ) A San Diego man who killed his boyfriend by stabbing him 93 times was sentenced today to life in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. In all, 44 firearms, more than 12 pounds of methamphetamine, $263,000 in cash, and 640 gambling machines were seized during the two-year investigation. "From the evidence gathered in this case, the IRS and our law-enforcement partners were able to identify the mechanics of the money-laundering organization," Korner said at the news conference. Casino.org is the worlds leading independent online gaming authority, providing trusted online casino Prosecutors say the defendants used services like Signal and WhatsApp to communicate with each other in order to avoid law enforcement detection. An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Maximum Penalties: For Possession with Intent to Distribute Charge: 40 years imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years and a $5 million fine. Callery said that the targets of Operation Crystal Shield were purchasing over 100 pounds of meth a week, "which is an enormous amount for any city in the United States, Callery said. The group is accused of dispatching large groups of armed killers to take over the region, including planning more than 150 murders in a roughly six-month period, most of them in Tijuana, according to a court-authorized interception of a group chat described in a recent court filing. A locked padlock We are committed to dismantling violent gangs and holding their members accountable for criminal conduct., The FBI is proud to work alongside our local, state, and federal partners on the Violent Crimes Task Force to address the gang problem and rid our streets of the overflow of drugs and guns which continue to plague our communities, said FBI Special Agent in Charge Suzanne Turner. Alexander Michael Randise, 29, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court last year to a fentanyl distribution charge, stemming from the December 2021 death of Tyber Joseph Lustig, U.S. District Court Judge Larry Burns ruled the 2021 law did not violate gun owners rights under the Second Amendment, Preliminary hearing of Larry Millete, who has pleaded not guilty to murdering his missing wife Maya Millete, could run two weeks or longer. Three men identified by authorities by first name only were arrested in Mexico in connection with the slayings about six weeks later. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Drug proceeds were returned to the networks leaders through a variety of means, including bulk cash, structured cash deposits into bank accounts and money transfers through apps like PayPal, Zelle, Venmo and Cash App, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. We have taken down the illegal gambling dens, and we have lifted a weight off our neighborhoods, said Acting U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. Maximum Penalties: For Distribution of Methamphetamine Charge: life in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a $10 million fine. Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine (Title 21, U.S.C., Sec. He was previously designated under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act for allegedly laundering money for top cartel leaders, including Joaquin "El Chapo'' Guzman Loera, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Harvey, 54, of Riverside, purchased methamphetamine from their suppliers in Mexico as well as Los Angeles and Riverside counties. Whoops! In total, law enforcement seized more than 150 pounds (68 kilograms) of methamphetamine and $31,035 in cash during this investigation. The governments case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Many of the venues raided Wednesday were located inside small businesses or inside houses, apartments, and outbuildings in residential neighborhoods, predominantly in City Heights in the East San Diego area. Maximum Penalties: For Distribution of Methamphetamine Charges: Forty years imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a $5 million fine. 12.06. . We won't use your email for any other purpose, and you can opt out at any time via an unsubscribe link. The drug dealers moved the narcotics around the country utilizing various means, including FedEx and UPS, according to investigators. An official website of the United States government. 12.15.2022. A grand jury indictment was unsealed Tuesday charging 60 alleged members of a San Diego-based methamphetamine distribution network with ties to the Sinaloa cartel with federal drug. The drug-trafficking organization, known by its Spanish initials CJNG, has risen in influence in recent years and has been battling the more entrenched Sinaloa Cartel for control of the lucrative Tijuana-San Diego smuggling route. Indictment Charges Eight Members of Alleged D.C. Drug Gang with Conspiracy January 12, 2023 Read More Press Release Riverside Man Caught with More Than 10 Grams of Fentanyl and Fentanyl Analogues. Maximum Penalties: For Distribution of Methamphetamine Charges: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a $10 million fine. Many of the defendants are scheduled to be arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Berg at 2 p.m. today and tomorrow. Their friend, Said, lived in the Lomas Verdes neighborhood where the killings occurred. The three others with nicknames that reference apparent membership in Los Cabos, such as Cabo 96 and Cabo 89 remain at large. San Diego, California 92101-8807, Telephone: (619) 557-5610 Main Office: The 19-count indictment charges a total of 19 defendants with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum 10-year prison sentence and a statutory maximum penalty of life imprisonment. The indictment charges 17 foreign nationals with distributing thousands of encrypted communication devices to criminal syndicates, advertising the devices as "designed by criminals for criminals." Maximum Penalties: For firearms charges: Ten years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. Some of that violence was aimed at three teenagers on Nov. 24, 2018. The investigative work led by the Violent Crimes Task Force and the arrests made have created a safer environment for all of our communities., This joint operation is a prime example of what can be accomplished when law enforcement works together to respond to community concerns over increased crime in their neighborhoods, said San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan. Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( Nearly a dozen federal indictments were unsealed in San Diego Thursday charging 23 documented gang members and associates with trafficking drugs and firearms, with the defendants largely hailing from gangs operating in the South Bay region. Grossman also praised Assistant U.S. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. Oct. 17, 2021 5:06 PM PT SAN DIEGO In a case prosecutors and defense attorneys agree "covers novel questions of fact and law," two Tijuana men have been indicted on drug-trafficking and. In a Thursday afternoon news conference at the Searcy Police Department, . Randy Dalo says he awoke during neck surgery at UCSD Hillcrest and has suffered from nightmares ever since. Maximum Penalties: For Felon in Possession of Firearm Charge: Ten years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. I am particularly grateful to FBI Special Agent in Charge Suzanne Turner, SDPD Chief David Nisleit, and District Attorney Summer Stephan for their work on this investigation and their dedication to keeping our community safe., These gambling dens were not only host to illegal gambling, but a hub for a variety of other criminal activity to include drug trafficking and unlawful possession of firearms, said FBI Special Agent in Charge Suzanne Turner. For firearms charges: Ten years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. *The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.