Almost Four Dozen Suspected Meth And Heroin Traffickers Indicted; Officials Make Arrests In North County Sweep

Eighteen suspected methamphetamine and heroin traffickers were arrested during pre-dawn raids around the North County today.

More than 200 agents and detectives from the multi-agency North County Regional Gang Task Force made the arrests in Oceanside, Vista, Escondido and elsewhere in the North County. Task force members confiscated 35 weapons during the course of the investigation. Among the weapons seized were hand guns, semi-automatic rifles and shotguns, including a 12-gauge Street Sweeper semiautomatic.

These arrests are associated with the unsealing of 15 grand jury indictments today charging 46 defendants with various narcotics trafficking crimes, including conspiracy plus importation, distribution and possession of methamphetamine. A few defendants were charged with heroin trafficking.

“The number and types of weapons seized in this investigation are troubling,” said U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy. “We will to continue to target these well-armed drug traffickers who operate in our neighborhoods and put all of us at risk – especially our children.”

The North County Regional Gang Task Force is a multi-agency group including the FBI, ATF, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, Homeland Security Investigations and police departments in Oceanside and Carlsbad, with assistance from other federal and local law enforcement agencies as well.

Daphne Hearn, FBI Special Agent in Charge, said: “Today's arrests by the North County Regional Gang Task Force are the result of a long-term multi-agency investigation by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies working together. The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to make our communities a safer place.”

"It is only by the extremely hard work, commitment, and passion from the collaborative North County Gang Task Force that made Operation Corridor such a tremendous success,” said Oceanside police Chief Frank S. McCoy. “This operation is a great example of local and federal law enforcement agencies from all over San Diego joining together to combat drug traffickers in our community who threaten the safety and security of our citizens."

“ATF considers the North County Gang Task Force a critical partner in its long-term mission of combating violent crime and removing criminals from our communities as was shown in Operation Corridor,” said Steven J. Bogdalek, Special Agent in Charge ATF Los Angeles Field Division. “ATF will continue to dedicate federal resources and work with our local agencies in the pursuit of eradicating illegal firearm trafficking and criminal activity.”

“Operation Corridor exemplifies the good work done by multiple agencies in San Diego County,” said San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore. “This is a multi-faceted approach to reducing violent crime, and those who perpetrate it. This investigation is a prime example of how effective Intelligence Led Policing can be with respect to targeting prolific, criminal offenders and managing law enforcement resources. Operation Corridor has been extremely effective in restoring quality of life to our residents in the North County along the 78 corridor.”

“I commend all of the law enforcement professionals in the San Diego area who worked tirelessly in this coordinated effort to combat the threats that violence and fear tactics pose to public safety in our communities,” said Derek Benner, special agent in charge for Homeland Security Investigations San Diego.

DEFENDANTS
Case Number: 13cr1128-BEN
LAURA CRUZ RAUL ALVARADO ROBERT RODRIGUEZ CARRIE BROWN-RODRIGUEZ ANTHONY PALAFOX JESSICA HOLGUIN ROBERT AGUILAR CHRISTIAN GARDUNO ERICK GARCIA-MARTINEZ JOSHUA SANCHEZ TRAVIS JOB BRIAN RAMIREZ ANDY ESPINOZA LORI STORY ANGEL OLMOS BRAD WOOLARD JOSE ANTONIO EMILY BAKER MONORIN PHIAKEO JESSICA KISNER HECTOR MEDRANO FRANKIE KING	Already in custody Already in custody Already in custody Arrested 4/15/13 Arrested 4/17/13 Arrested 4/17/13 At Large Already in custody At Large Arrested 4/17/13 Arrested 4/17/13 Arrested 4/17/13 Arrested 4/17/13 Arrested 4/17/13 At Large Arrested 4/17/13 Already in custody At Large Arrested 4/17/13 At Large Arrested 4/17/13 Arrested 4/17/13
Summary of Charges
Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 846 - Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine; Title 21, United States Code, Sections 952, 960 (b) (1) (H) and 963 – Conspiracy to Import Methamphetamine; Title 21, United States Code, Section 841 (a) (1) – Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute
Case Number: 13cr1238BEN
LYDIA LUCIO DAVID GAMEZ ANA ALVIZOVITAL ERROL WHITE RUDOLPH FIGUEROA	Arrested 4/17/13 Arrested 4/17/13 Already in Custody Arrested 4/17/13 Arrested 4/17/13
Summary of Charges
Title 21, United States Code, Sections 952, 960 (b) (2) (A) - Conspiracy to Import Heroin; Title 21, United States Code Sections 952, 960 and 963 – Conspiracy to Import Heroin
Case Number: 1232BEN
ALEXANDRA AGUIRRE	Arrested 4/17/13
Summary of Charges
Title 21, United States Code, Sections 952, 960 – Importation of Heroin
Case Number: 13cr1239MMA
THOMAS MEDINA PABLO DIAZ	Arrested 4/17/13 Arrested 4/17/13
Summary of Charges
Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 846 - Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine; Title 21, United States Code, Section 841 (a) (1) – Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute
Case Number: 13cr1237L
STEVEN HERNANDEZ JUAN URIBE	Arrested 4/17/13 Already in Custody
Summary of Charges
Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 846 - Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine; Title 21, United States Code, Section 841 (a) (1) – Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute
Case Number: 13cr1243BEN
ROBERT SARMIENTO	Arrested 4/17/13
Summary of Charges
Title 21, United States Code, Section 841 (a) (1) – Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Title 18, United States Code, Section 922 (g) (1) - Felon in possession of a firearm
Case Number: 13cr1242AJB
CARLOS RIVERA	Arrested 4/17/13
Summary of Charges
Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 846 - Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine; Title 18, United States Code, Section 922 (g) (1) - Felon in possession of a firearm
Case Number: 13cr1241BEN
STEVEN NORTH ROBERT AGUILAR	Arrested 4/17/13 At Large
Summary of Charges
Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(B) - Distribution of Methamphetamine; Title 18, United States Code, Section 922 (g) (1) - Felon in possession of a firearm
Case Number: 13cr1231JAH
JAVIER ALVAREZ	Already in custody
Summary of Charges
Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) - Distribution of Methamphetamine
Case Number: 13cr1244W
PAUL WOODS	At Large
Summary of Charges
Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) - Distribution of Methamphetamine
Case Number: 13cr1233BEN
ARMANDO ARELLANO	Already in Custody
Summary of Charges
Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) - Distribution of Methamphetamine
Case Number: 13cr1234WQH
RUDY BLANCO AMANDA KOPP	Arrested 4/17/13 Arrested 4/17/13
Summary of Charges
Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 846 - Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine; Title 21, United States Code, Section 841 (a) (1) and (b) (1) (B) (viii) – Distribution of Methamphetamine
Case Number: 13cr1240L
GEORGE MOLINA ULYSSES RAMOS	Already in Custody Already in Custody
Summary of Charges
Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 846 - Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine; Title 21, United States Code, Section 841 (a) (1) and (b) (1) (B) (viii) – Possession of Methamphetamine with intent to distribute
Case Number: 13cr1235JAH
ROUANNE DIAZ DEANDRA COX	Arrested 4/17/13 Already in custody
Summary of Charges
Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 846 - Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine; Title 21, United States Code, Section 841 (a) (1) and (b) (1) (B) (viii) – Distribution of Methamphetamine
Case Number: 13cr1236GPC
ADAM ESPINO	Arrested 4/17/13
Summary of Charges
Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a) (1) - Distribution of Methamphetamine
AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation Oceanside Police Department Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms San Diego County Sheriff's Department Homeland Security Investigations Carlsbad Police Department
An indictment or complaint 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.