May 29, 2021 - SAN DIEGO – Eleven federal indictments unsealed in San Diego on Thursday charge twenty-three documented gang members and associates with heroin, methamphetamine and 
firearms trafficking. The crackdown announced today is the latest in a series of efforts by the Department of Justice to turn the tide of the opioid epidemic and reduce the inevitable violent crime that accompanies widespread drug trafficking.
As of today at 1 p.m., 17 of the 23 defendants are either in federal or state custody. Twelve were arrested this week, including nine this morning; the rest were already in custody. Authorities are continuing to search for six defendants. Many of the defendants are scheduled to be arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Berg at 2 p.m. today and tomorrow.
This yearlong investigation involved federal wiretaps, dozens of undercover drug and gun buys and extensive surveillance. Many of the defendants are documented members or associates of violent South Bay street gangs operating out of National City, San Ysidro, and elsewhere. Many of these gang have long-standing ties to the Mexican Mafia. In total, authorities seized 2.1 kilograms of methamphetamine, 160 grams of heroin, and nine firearms tied to these defendants during the investigation.
“Gangs, drugs, and illegal firearms are infesting many of our neighborhoods and creating a violent culture that is unsafe for residents,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Randy S. Grossman. “This prosecution underscores that coordinated criminal activity will be met with a coordinated and focused law enforcement response by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners at the federal, state, and local level. 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. “Today’s 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. “These collaborative efforts continue to make our communities safe.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Grossman praised the coordinated federal and state team effort in the culmination of this investigation. Agents and officers from the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force-Gang Group, San Diego Police Department, San Diego Sherriff’s Department, National City Police Department, Chula Vista Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, San Diego County Probation and the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office collaborated on this investigation. Attorneys from the Department of Justice, Office of Enforcement Operations, Electronic Surveillance Unit, also provided critical assistance to the investigation. Grossman also praised Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew J. Sutton and Adam Gordon for their excellent work on this case.
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.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew J. Sutton and Adam Gordon.
DEFENDANTS Case Number: 21CR1404-DMS
|
Name |
Age |
Hometown |
|
Jose Garcia (1), aka “Little Man” |
38 |
San Diego |
|
Hector Esquivel (2), aka “Kracks” |
31 |
San Diego |
|
Paul Godoy (3), aka “Loco” |
40 |
San Diego |
|
Laura Mejia (4) |
23 |
San Diego |
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, U.S.C., Secs. 841(a)(1) and 846;
Distribution of Methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, U.S.C., Sec. 841(a)(1);
Felon in Possession of a Firearm, in violation of Title 18, U.S.C., Secs. 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).
Maximum Penalties: For the drug charges: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a $10 million fine. For firearms charges: Ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
DEFENDANTS Case Number: 21CR1405-DMS
|
Name |
Age |
Hometown |
|
*Alexa Allen (1) |
29 |
San Diego |
|
*Yuliana Guillen (2) |
43 |
San Diego |
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Distribution of Methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, U.S.C., Sec. 841(a)(1).
Maximum Penalties: For the drug charges: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a $10 million fine.
DEFENDANT Case Number: 21CR1406-DMS
|
Name |
Age |
Hometown |
|
Fernando Banuelos (1), aka “Puma” |
39 |
San Diego |
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Distribution of Methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, U.S.C., Sec. 841(a)(1);
Maximum Penalties: For the drug charges: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a $10 million fine.
DEFENDANT Case Number: 21CR1407-DMS
|
Name |
Age |
Hometown |
|
Victor Cantero (1), aka “Scooby” |
44 |
San Diego |
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Distribution of Methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, U.S.C., Sec. 841(a)(1);
Maximum Penalties: For the drug charges: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a $10 million fine.
DEFENDANTS Case Number: 21CR1408-DMS
|
Name |
Age |
Hometown |
|
Rodolfo Estrada (1) |
27 |
San Diego |
|
*Alberto Flores (2) |
40 |
San Diego |
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Felon in Possession of a Firearm, in violation of Title 18, U.S.C., Secs. 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2);
Maximum Penalties: For firearms charges: 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
DEFENDANTS Case Number: 21CR1409-DMS
|
Name |
Age |
Hometown |
|
Andres Rodriguez (1), aka “Dragon” |
33 |
San Diego |
|
Omar Solis (2), aka “Lazy” |
26 |
San Diego |
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Distribution of Methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, U.S.C., Sec. 841(a)(1);
Maximum Penalties: For the drug charges: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a $10 million fine.
DEFENDANT Case Number: 21CR1410-DMS
|
Name |
Age |
Hometown |
|
*Daniel Rodriguez (1), aka “Flea” |
36 |
San Diego |
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Felon in Possession of a Firearm, in violation of Title 18, U.S.C., Secs. 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2);
Maximum Penalties: For firearms charges: Ten years in prison, and a $250,000 fine.
DEFENDANTS Case Number: 21CR1411-DMS
|
Name |
Age |
Hometown |
|
Lucy Simmons (1) |
47 |
San Diego |
|
Jesse Gonzales (2) |
40 |
San Diego |
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Distribution of Methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, U.S.C., Sec. 841(a)(1);
Maximum Penalties: For the drug charges: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a $10 million fine.
DEFENDANT Case Number: 21CR1412-DMS
|
Name |
Age |
Hometown |
|
Alexander Sotelo (1), aka “Venom” |
30 |
San Diego |
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Felon in Possession of a Firearm, in violation of Title 18, U.S.C., Secs. 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2);
Maximum Penalties: For firearms charges: Ten years in prison, and a $250,000 fine.
DEFENDANTS Case Number: 21CR1413-DMS
|
Name |
Age |
Hometown |
|
Gilberto Tovar (1) |
32 |
San Diego |
|
*Sandra Gonzalez (2) |
55 |
San Diego |
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Distribution of Methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, U.S.C., Sec. 841(a)(1);
Maximum Penalties: For the drug charges: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a $10 million fine.
DEFENDANTS Case Number: 21CR1414-DMS
|
Name |
Age |
Hometown |
|
Carlos Teran (1), aka “Tadow” |
42 |
San Diego |
|
*Andrew Diangelo (2), aka “Cowboy” |
37 |
San Diego |
|
Luis Quintana (3), aka “Maniac” |
37 |
San Diego |
|
Sylvia Freeman (4) |
60 |
San Diego |
|
Joe Franco (5) |
44 |
San Diego |
*Fugitives
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substance, in violation of Title 21, U.S.C., Secs. 841(a)(1) and 846;
Conspiracy to Import Heroin, in violation of Title 21, U.S.C., Secs. 952, 960 and 963;
Felon in Possession of a Firearm, in violation of Title 18, U.S.C., Secs. 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2);
Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin, in violation of Title 21, U.S.C., Sec. 841(a)(1);
Importation of Heroin, in violation of Title 21, U.S.C., Secs. 952 and 960;
Maximum Penalties: For the drug charges: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a $10 million fine. 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.
AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
San Diego Police Department
San Diego Sheriff’s Department
Internal Revenue Service
Homeland Security Investigations
National City Police Department
Chula Vista Police Department
Federal Bureau of Prisons
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
San Diego County Probation
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office
Source: DOJ Release
