Nine People Linked To Cocaine Distribution To Italy And Domestic Methamphetamine Sales Named In Federal Indictment

LOS ANGELES – A federal investigation into a drug-trafficking organization led by two brothers who oversaw the distribution of cocaine to Italy and across the United States – as well as methamphetamine being trafficked across the U.S. – has led to the indictment of nine people, three of whom were arrested this morning.

Operation “Family Guy” targeted the Urena family drug-trafficking organization through the use of undercover operatives and wiretaps that led to the interception of telephone calls, text messages, and communications sent through BlackBerry Messenger.

The investigation, which culminated with a seven-count indictment being returned by a federal grand jury on April 24, resulted in the seizure of approximately 40 kilograms of cocaine being smuggled into Italy from the Dominican Republic and Mexico. That cocaine was being smuggled by female drug couriers allegedly recruited by two Urena brothers, who were assisted by their uncle Francisco Javier Vargas-Oseguera and others. The investigation also uncovered a conspiracy to distribute significant quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine throughout the United States through the use of vehicles with hidden compartments.

The indictment also alleges that members of the narcotics-trafficking operation laundered drug proceeds from the Dominican Republic through the use of Western Union wire transfers sent to Fontana and Rancho Cucamonga.

Operation “Family Guy” is the product of an investigation conducted by the Los Angeles High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, which is coordinated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and is comprised of agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and
IRS - Criminal Investigation. The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and the Whittier Police Department also participated in this investigation.

Those named in the indictment unsealed this morning are:

Milton Urena, 29, of the Dominican Republic, who is currently being sought by authorities;

Rafael Urena, 27, of Rancho Cucamonga, Milton Urena’s brother, who was arrested this morning;

Daniel Alejandro Agredano Vazquez, 22, of the Dominican Republic, who allegedly oversaw the distribution of cocaine from the Dominican Republic to Italy and conspired to launder drug proceeds, and who is currently being sought by authorities;

Francisco Javier Vargas-Oseguera, 51, an uncle of the Urena brothers, previously of Seattle and recently of Fontana, who is currently in federal custody in Seattle after being charged in federal court there in relation to his alleged possession of eight pounds of methamphetamine in a case unrelated to Operation Family Guy;

Leonel Urena-Partida, 49, of Guadalajara, Mexico, another uncle of the Urena brothers, who allegedly conspired to transport cocaine to Italy, and who is being sought by authorities;

Carmen Garcia, 35, of San Bernardino, who supplied methamphetamine and assisted with the recruitment of drug couriers, and who was arrested this morning;

Eliseo Carrillo Duarte, 45, of Montebello, who is currently in federal custody in Indianapolis after being arrested there in March on unrelated drug-trafficking charges stemming from the seizure of approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine;

Jenna Michelle Martin (also known as Jenna Michelle Smith), 25, of Upland, an alleged drug courier who was arrested this morning; and

Beth Rene Ford (also known as Beth Rene Florance), 26, formerly of Ontario and now living in the Denver area, a second alleged drug courier, who is expected to self-surrender soon to authorities.

The defendants arrested this morning are expected to be arraigned on the indictment this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.

The indictment specifically charges eight defendants (not Duarte) with conspiracy to distribute cocaine to Italy, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Six of the defendants (not Agredano Vasquez, Martin or Ford) are charged in another conspiracy involving the domestic distribution of cocaine and methamphetamine, a charge that also carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.

Various defendants are also named in a charge that alleges the distribution of approximately one pound of methamphetamine, three counts of use of a communication facility in committing a felony drug offense, and conspiracy to launder money.