http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/pubs/states/newsrel/sd060707.html
JUN 7 -- United States Attorney Karen P. Hewitt announced that yesterday a federal grand jury sitting in San Diego handed up two indictments charging a total of twenty individuals with Conspiracy to Import and to Distribute Methamphetamine and Money Laundering offenses and seeking Criminal Forfeiture of illicit proceeds involved in the money laundering offenses. The investigation that resulted in the indictments targeted two major methamphetamine trafficking groups in San Diego.
According to the indictments, the alleged international drug trafficking organizations were responsible for smuggling large quantities of methamphetamine from Mexico to the San Diego area. The investigation involved months of court-authorized wire intercepts on a number of telephones used by the alleged drug traffickers, and hundreds of hours of surveillance. On May 17, 2007, agents executed 18 search warrants at locations throughout San Diego County, including residences located in Chula Vista, National City, Vista, Pauma Valley, Fallbrook, and Escondido.
According to court documents, Andres Chavez-Chavez was the head of one of the international drug trafficking organizations. He is alleged to have conspired with family members, including his brothers David Chavez-Chavez, Joel Chavez-Chavez, Salvador Chavez-Chavez and others, to import large amounts of methamphetamine into the United States from Mexico, to distribute the methamphetamine within the San Diego area, and to launder the drug proceeds by smuggling large amounts of United States Currency back into Mexico.
Salvador Chavez-Chavez also was the head of another methamphetamine trafficking group. He allegedly conspired with others in that organization to import methamphetamine from Mexico and distribute the methamphetamine within the San Diego area.
In total, the investigation resulted in the apprehension of 37 people, the indictment of 20 people, the removal from the U.S. of 18 illegal aliens, and the seizure of approximately 68 pounds of methamphetamine, 9.8 kilograms of heroin, two pounds of marijuana, 15 firearms, and approximately $295,000 in U.S. currency. Of the 20 indicted defendants, 15 defendants are Mexican nationals who were illegally in the United States at the time of the alleged offenses.
United States Attorney Hewitt said, “Drug trafficking organizations that import methamphetamine and distribute it within San Diego County will continued to be dismantled by federal law enforcement. This case demonstrates that individuals who engage in this conduct will not escape justice.” “The investigation was dubbed My Three Brothers and the sequel may, in fact, be called, ‘The family that plays together pays together.’ There is an expectation in this community that drug traffickers and money launderers will be uncovered and prosecuted and the DEA will continue to meet that expectation,” said DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Alan Poleszak
“IRS Criminal Investigation plays a vital role in the disruption and dismantling of significant drug trafficking organizations by targeting the profits they derive from the sale of illegal narcotics,” said Ronald Krajewski, Acting Special Agent in Charge, San Diego Field Office. “The financial expertise of IRS Special Agents identifies the money laundering methods utilized by these organizations in order to trace their illegal profits.”
United States Attorney Hewitt praised the investigative efforts of the San Diego Field Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and DEA’s federal and state law enforcement partners including the Criminal Investigations Division of the Internal Revenue Service, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, United States Marshals Service, Escondido Police Department, National City Police Department, and San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.
The defendants are next scheduled to be in court on July 9, 2007 at 2:00 p.m., before United States District Court Judge William Q. Hayes.
INDICTED DEFENDANTS:
_Andres Chavez-
Chavez_David Chavez-
Chavez_Joel Chavez-
Chavez_Patricia Mendez-
Lopez_Omar Estrada-
Esquivel_Miguel Sandoval-
Valencia, aka Miguel Angel Manriquez_Luis Sandoval-
Valencia, aka Alberto Zantana-
Garcia_Carlos Perez_
Ricardo Madrigal_Ismael
Pena_Teresa Hermosillo_Ruby Arellano_Rosa
Arellano_Ruben Hernandez-
Romero, aka Efren Torres_Salvador Ojeda-
Amarillas_Gerardo Casanova_Joaquin Bucio-Rodriguez, aka Arturo Ramirez-Hernandez_
Salvador Chavez-Chavez_Julio Lua-Chavez, aka Miguel Lua-Chavez_Salvador Chavez-Chavez_Julio Lua-Chavez, aka Miguel Lua-Chavez_
Laura Magana_
Gerardo Casanova
SUMMARY OF CHARGES:_Conspiracy to Import Methamphetamine – Title 21, United States Code, Sections 952, 960, and 963_Maximum penalty: Life imprisonment and $4,000,000,000 fine_
Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine – Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 846_Maximum penalty: Life imprisonment and $4,000,000 fine_
Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute – Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1)_Maximum penalty: Life imprisonment and $4,000,000 fine_Money Laundering Conspiracy – Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956(h)_Maximum penalty: 20 years’ imprisonment and fine of greater of $500,000 or double the amount_of the funds involved in the transportation
_International Money Laundering – Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1956(a)(2)(A), (B)(i)_Maximum penalty: 20 years’ imprisonment and fine of greater of $500,000 or double the amount_of the funds involved in the transportation_Criminal Forfeiture – Title 18, United States Code, Section 982(a)(1)_Maximum penalty: Forfeiture of proceeds
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES:_Drug Enforcement Administration -San Diego Field Office_Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division_United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement_Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives_United States Marshals Service_Escondido Police Department_National City Police Department_San Diego County Sheriff’s Office
An indictment itself is not evidence that the defendants committed the crimes charged. The defendants are presumed innocent until the Government meets its burden in court of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
|
Threaded
Previous
Index
Next
Shop: Unfolding Nature: Being in the Implicate Order
wireless 
Edit 
Reply 
motaman
spores
blink
TinMan
socratesmind