These efforts yielded seizures of more than 478,000 counterfeit pharmaceutical pills laced with fentanyl, as well as about 51 kilograms of methamphetamine, 10 kilograms of cocaine, 4 kilograms of powder fentanyl, and 4 kilograms of heroin. The (CJNG) was kind of underrated for a while. His attorney wrote in a brief sentencing memorandum that Lugo had been running the financial side of several businesses when, through his childrens school, he met and started doing business with several men who eventually had Mr. Lugo laundering drug money for them. The attorney wrote that it was the first time his then-44-year-old client had been in trouble with the law, and that Lugo withdrew from the illegal activity over a year before his arrest.. Marshals Service. An indictment is only an allegation of criminal conduct. Randy Dalo says he awoke during neck surgery at UCSD Hillcrest and has suffered from nightmares ever since. Three of the federal defendants were already in custody at the time of the takedown and five of the federal defendants remain fugitives from justice. City News Service contributed to this article. Grossman thanked the prosecution team and investigating agencies for their excellent work on this case. (Video), New Derek Johnson Huge Intel 1.18.23 "Donald Trump's Comeback", Why Is No One Stopping This via Anonymous. A locked padlock Zapin admitted in his plea agreement to coordinating at least three shipments of cocaine into the U.S. in 2014. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. In addition to the drug-trafficking conspiracy, Sanchez-Mendez, Zamora-Cardenas, Valencia-Ochoa, Valencia-Mendoza and Suarez-Reinoso are charged with participating in a money-laundering conspiracy related to transporting or transferring the proceeds of the drug-trafficking conspiracy to Mexico. 880 Front Street, Room 6293 Padilla was described in Mexican media reports as one of El Menchos lieutenants. A few months after the brothers killing, his nephew was fatally shot in a Mexico City hotel. San Diego, California 92101-8807, Telephone: (619) 557-5610 Drug cartels, such as the Sinaloa cartel, are driving addiction and overdose deaths in the United States, said DEA Special Agent in Charge Shelly S. Howe. The .gov means its official. Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force. Lock Please reload the page and try again. But lawyers for the hospital say the medical records show he was unconscious. At the time, he was in Mexican custody following his 2017 capture in Guadalajara. No Deals! Before the killing, prosecutors say Duberek bought a car and other items used in the killing, including a knife, hatchet, shovel and more. With the generous support of readers like you, Times of San Diego publishes timely and accurate news coverage for a better-informed community. He was expected to be extradited to San Diego, but he died in May 2019 under unclear circumstances in a Mexican prison. San Diego Man Pleads Guilty to Fatally Stabbing Boyfriend 93 Times in Texas, Man Pleads Guilty to Murder in Pregnant Womans 2018 Encanto Stabbing, Girl, 15, Sentenced Following Assault, Hate Crime Convictions in Lakeside Stabbing, Daniel Scott Jordan Pleads Guilty in Fatal Stabbing of His Husband in Mount Helix, K-9 Sniffs Out $4M of Cocaine Within Decorative Stone at Tecate Port of Entry, Home or Business Damaged in Recent Storms? Mr. The brother, who went by the moniker Julian Grimaldi Paredes, was shot to death in 2020 in Jalisco, Mexico. Zapin admitted in his plea agreement to coordinating at least three shipments of cocaine into the U.S. in 2014. Joe Sery, the former owner and chief executive officer of Tungsten Heavy Powder & Parts (THPP), and his brother, Dror Sery, are charged with violations of federal export laws pursuant to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). The case may be one of the first local prosecutions to target prominent members of the CJNG, one of Mexicos most ruthless cartels that has grown in influence over the last dozen or so years. In 2018, the Department of Justice announced 15 indictments nationwide aimed at taking down CJNG leaders, including one case unsealed that day in the Southern District of California. No one thought they would overcome Sinaloa. The DEA encourages parents, along with their children, to educate themselves about the dangers of legal and illegal drugs by visiting DEAs interactive websites at www.JustThinkTwice.com, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com, www.CampusDrugPrevention.gov, and www.dea.gov . This Is Huge! And while the indictment deals with criminal conduct carried out several years ago . So far, 17 defendants have been arrested. Theyre proud of the violence they use, Caldern said. The group is suspected of being behind attacks this summer involving dozens of burning vehicles that essentially shut down Tijuana and several other Mexican cities over the course of several days. The bravado helps them rule by fear and intimidation. The indictment further alleges that Sery and his brother Dror Sery accomplished this, in part, by creating a non-THPP email address to surreptitiously receive ITAR-controlled documents. Vivid Dreams again! OPERATION SANDMAN Activated! The (CJNG) was kind of underrated for a while. For media inquiries about this release, call (347) 541-1085. Help us grow with a monthly contribution. Both were extradited to San Diego within the last two years. U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of California, Multi-Year Investigation Leads to Indictment of 26 Defendants and Seizure of Nearly 500,000 Counterfeit Pills Laced with Fentanyl, Flight Attendant Pleads Guilty to Possessing Fentanyl with the Intent to Distribute, Doctor and Office Manager Indicted in Scheme to Defraud Medicare, Manufacture and Distribute Fentanyl, Poway Men Sentenced in Fentanyl Overdose Death of Firefighter, Multi Year Investigation Leads To Indictment of 26 Defendants and Seizure of Nearly 500,000 Counterfeit Pills Laced With Fentanyl. He NEVER lets me be by myself. The takedown resulted in the arrests of 31 defendants charged in the indictment as well as three additional felony state arrests. The group is suspected of being behind attacks this summer involving dozens of burning vehicles that essentially shut down Tijuana and several other Mexican cities over the course of several days. This long-term investigation has resulted in the seizure of nearly half a million fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills plus additional quantities of fentanyl in powder form, said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. Ultimate Clinical Potency Curcumin- Natural pain relief, reduce inflammation and so much Thanks Juan O Savin & Clif High! That arrest in Jalisco was unrelated to the recent sentencings here of Zapin and Padilla, according to Zapins attorney. Main Office: The 2022 Locality Pay Adjustment for this locality is 32.01%, which means that GS employees in this area are paid 32.01% more then the GS Base Pay Table.. On Nov. 20, 2020, agents served a search warrant there and seized a cache that was described as the largest of its kind in the Southern California border district: $3.5 million in cash, 685 kilograms of cocaine, 24 kilograms of fentanyl, about 20,000 rounds of .50-caliber ammunition, 100 rifle magazines and 427 body armor vests, according to court records. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. 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 |. San Diego, California 92101-8807, Telephone: (619) 557-5610 Have a question about Government Services? TTY: (619) 557-3450. The Valenzuelas have pleaded not guilty and are being held in custody without bail. This could be an increasing trend, Caldern said of the targeting of top CJNG members. "My Fellow Americans, The Storm is Upon Us" MUST WATCH!! I don't know who Zapien's attorney thinks he's fooling.As these cases develop we will see who is cooperating and who is not. Meanwhile, federal agents had under surveillance an Otay Mesa truck yard tied to Jorges cross-border trucking companies. As recently as last week she was receiving threats from the same people who killed her brother, attorney Jeremy Warren told the judge. The U.S. Attorneys Office will work together with our law enforcement partners to protect military technology. Grossman thanked the prosecution team, HSI and DCIS for their excellent work on this case. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the San Diego Union-Tribune. So far, 34 defendants have been charged, including Rodriguez Alcala, who was charged in an indictment returned in October. Canadian Prepper, Grandma Took Her Kid to Get Vaxxed Behind Mom's Back to Play SportsNow His Heart Is Damaged. Enter address: This website, like most media sites, uses small files called cookies to anonymously customize the advertising that you see. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Defense Criminal Investigative Services, U.S. Army, Criminal Investigation Division, National Security Division, and the Department of Justice began the probe in November 2017. A San Diego man who traveled across state lines and fatally stabbed his boyfriend, leaving the victim with nearly 100 stab wounds, pleaded guilty Tuesday in a Texas federal courtroom. One of the defendants, Raul Barajas-Padilla, appeared in federal court yesterday for an initial appearance on the indictment. Prosecutions bring a lot of money, Broke Ass San Diego needs a lot of help to keep ots ass out of bankruptcy. According to the initial indictment, both men were part of a conspiracy to traffic cocaine, heroin, cannabis and methamphetamine into the U.S., and both were also part of a conspiracy to launder the drug proceeds. The bravado helps them rule by fear and intimidation. The seized phones have provided federal investigators a window into the inner workings of the Valenzuela Drug Trafficking Organization, allegedly headed by Jorge Valenzuela Valenzuela, and have led to recent charges against dozens of others, including his sister, a Chula Vista restaurateur. Totonacapan, Veracruz: We Are The Absolute Mob For The Lord Of The Numbers! Episode 5: What's it like to be a special agent with HSI? My guess is there have been some prosecutions (of top CJNG leaders) but (authorities) are keeping the cases more low profile, said Laura Caldern, program director for the University of San Diegos Justice in Mexico project. Domestic Cannabis Suppression / Eradication Program, Red Ribbon Toolkit - Resources For Your Community, DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Intelligence Research Specialist Job Announcements, Schedule A Hiring Authority: Intelligence Research Specialist, Privacy Impact Assessment and Management Information Systems, Victim Witness Assistance Program Resources. Padilla admitted to at least four separate incidents in 2014 and 2015 in which he coordinated cocaine shipments into the U.S. This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justices violent crime reduction efforts. The investigation into the Valenzuela cell is part of a decade-long probe into the Sinaloa cartel and its San Diego ties. Both men admitted the shipments of cocaine they coordinated totaled more than 330 pounds but less than 990 pounds. Factory Orders At 2008 Levels! 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The group made international headlines again this week when Mexican soldiers and federal agents captured El Menchos older brother, Antonio Oseguera Cervantes, alias Tony Montana. One part of his responsibilities was allegedly manufacturing the groups armored vehicles. Millions in America Are About to Wake Up to the Mother of All DisastersInside Leaks! Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. The next court date is scheduled for February 24, 2022. The investigation has continued to broaden with recent charges against 30 people. *The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. Warren said the couple owned a Mexican-style seafood restaurant in Chula Vista and food trucks, noting her husband comes from a family of restaurateurs, and that they had made it a success through hard work. They know how volatile El Mencho is, how extreme his measures of violence are.. HSIs workforce of over 10,400 employees consists of more than 7,100 special agents assigned to 220 cities throughout the United States, and 80 overseas locations in 53 countries. pathogens and gives you more These drawings contained information, which is required for the design, development, production, manufacture, assembly, operation, repair, testing, maintenance, or modification of defense articles. Court records show a judge issued arrest warrants for both men in March 2016. San Diego quietly prosecuting high-ranking members of ultra-violent Crtel Jalisco Nueva Generacin. Federal Office Building Official websites use .gov The pilot peeked in one of the suitcases, finding what appeared to be cellophane-wrapped bricks of drugs. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. According to publicly filed documents, the Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation into a drug-trafficking conspiracy extending from Sinaloa, Mexico into the United States. The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. According to the indictment, DEA agents also identified the distributors in the U.S.; the couriers who were responsible for transporting drugs; the people who managed stash houses; the people who smuggled the illicit proceeds back to Mexico; and other dealers. The U.S. Attorneys Office has kept the prosecution against Zapin, Padilla and their unnamed co-defendants mostly under wraps and did not respond to multiple requests for comment. (See Video). Last updated on: April 15, 2021, 10:15h. Lock Doctor and Office Manager Indicted in Scheme to Defraud Medicare, Manufacture and Distribute Fentanyl. ; and Jose Bernabe Zamora-Cardenas, also known as Mufa, 52, a citizen of Mexico residing in Kansas City, Kan. We won't use your email for any other purpose, and you can opt out at any time via an unsubscribe link. They just love showcasing what they can do.. - Twenty Mexican nationals are among 39 defendants indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a $4.7 million conspiracy to distribute more than 335 kilograms of methamphetamine and 22 kilograms of heroin over the past two years. Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( destroys When asked about a tattoo he had on his ring finger of his boyfriends first name, the Department of Justice alleges Duberek said that it was the name of the person he had killed.. Caldern said CJNG soldiers have filmed themselves driving military-style armored vehicles into towns previously controlled by rival groups and claiming them as their own. A federal grand jury handed down that indictment around the same time the CJNG was expanding into Baja California, fueling a wave of violence and murders. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, A 2023 San Diego bucket list of things to do for a more adventurous year, Interactive map of all homicides in San Diego County since 2010, Fat Leonard, set to finally be sentenced in long-running Navy bribery scheme, is on the lam, High-ranking cartel leader, cousin of drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero, sentenced to time served. I believe my client was treated fairly by the court, he accepted responsibility for what he did, and he at no point did, or will ever, cooperate, Zapin attorney Jason Conforti said. According to the initial indictment, both men were part of a conspiracy to traffic cocaine, heroin, cannabis and methamphetamine into the U.S., and both were also part of a conspiracy to launder the drug proceeds. Call 1-866-DHS-2-ICE to report suspicious activityReport Crime, Learn facts about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Twenty Mexican nationals are among 39 defendants indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a $4.7 million conspiracy to distribute more than 335 kilograms of methamphetamine and 22 kilograms of heroin over the past two years. He was sentenced to two years and four months in prison. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. - Must Video, The Walmart War Zone - Battle in the Beauty Aisle, But Why? * The cartel bas Blog dedicated to reporting on Mexican drug cartels, San Diego Quietly Prosecuting CJNG Members, Mexican soldiers and federal agents captured El Menchos older brother, manufacturing the groups armored vehicles, he died in May 2019 under unclear circumstances, Las Vegas, Nevada: Son Of Rene 'Boxer' Enriquez Is Killed And Dismembered, Baby Among Six Killed in Central California Home. Lock Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Kalim is prosecuting the case. U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of California, San Diego Man Indicted for Sale of Ghost Guns, Possession of Homemade Machine Gun, and Distribution of Fentanyl, San Diego Man Indicted For Sale of Ghost Guns, Possession of Homemade Machine Gun, and Distribution of Fentanyl. Jorge largely ran the business from Mexico and San Diego by communicating through encrypted messaging apps such as Threema and WhatsApp, and the tens of thousands of messages, photos, voice memos and videos recovered from the devices helped propel the case forward, according to investigators. 8:45 yeah and santa was in my house last night. In 2018, the Department of Justice announced 15 indictments nationwide aimed at taking down CJNG leaders, including one case unsealed that day in the Southern District of California. ; Santiago Raul Mendieta-Sanchez, 41, a citizen of Honduras residing in Kansas City, Mo., Jennifer S. Lawson, 35, of Buckner, Mo. In October, a fourth defendant was arrested in Texas or possibly extradited there from Mexico and then transferred last month to San Diego, where he pleaded not guilty to a trafficking count from the indictment. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. At the time, he was in Mexican custody following his 2017 capture in Guadalajara. This could be an increasing trend, Caldern said of the targeting of top CJNG members. An alleged Sinaloa Cartel drug trafficker has been extradited to the United States from Ecuador, and made his initial appearance . The 91-count indictment was returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on June 1, 2022. Approximately 20 pounds of methamphetamine seized on January 20, 2022. Duberek was indicted about six months later and pleaded guilty on Tuesday to one count of interstate domestic violence resulting in death. 12.06. . Randy Dalo says he awoke during neck surgery at UCSD Hillcrest and has suffered from nightmares ever since.