The United States Attorney's Office

HUNTINGTON PARK POLICE OFFICER AND ONE OF HIS INFORMANTS ARRESTED ON FEDERAL DRUG TRAFFICKING CHARGES

A Huntington Park Police Officer, who was a member of a federal drug trafficking task force, and one of his informants were arrested this morning on federal charges that allege they conspired to “ripoff” cocaine and marijuana from drug dealers.

Sergeant Alvaro Murillo, 44, of West Covina, who sometimes was called El Padrino (The Godfather), was arrested without incident this morning. He is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in Los Angeles.

The informant, Alberto Del Real-Gallardo, 40, of Palmdale, also known as Panzon (Fat Man), was also arrested without incident. He is expected to make his first court appearance tomorrow.

According to an indictment unsealed this afternoon, Murillo recruited Del Real to be an informant in 2000, and by 2002 they were working with additional informants to identify drug dealers from whom they could steal narcotics. Once a target was identified, Murillo sometimes would check law enforcement databases to obtain information about the dealer and to make sure there were no legitimate investigations into the target. After planning the “ripoff,” Del Real and a second informant would trick the drug dealer into turning over narcotics or otherwise cause the drug dealer to leave without payment. Once they had secured the narcotics, Murillo and the people involved in the ripoffs allegedly made arrangements to store and then to sell the stolen drugs.

The indictment details a series of ripoffs: five kilograms of cocaine in November 2002, 250 pounds of marijuana in February 2003, another 250 pounds of marijuana in August 2003, 160 pounds of marijuana in early 2004, 90 pounds of marijuana in April 2004. The indictment also alleges that Murillo attempted to steal cocaine from an undercover DEA agent who was posing as a drug trafficker.

“Sergeant Murillo abused his position of trust to line his pockets with money earned from the sale of illicit drugs,” said United States Attorney Thomas P. O’Brien. “As a result of his long-running scheme, Murillo now finds himself on the wrong side of the law, facing a lengthy stint in federal prison.”

Murillo was suspended by the Huntington Park Police Department in September 2006.

The indictment charges Murillo and Del Real with one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana, a charge, that because of the quantities of narcotics involved, carries a statutory maximum penalty of life in federal prison.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Office of Professional Responsibility and the Huntington Park Police Department. IRS-Criminal Investigation also participated in the investigation.

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