Sixteen Charged in Takedown of Drug Trafficking Network

SAN DIEGO – Four indictments were unsealed in federal court charging 16 individuals throughout San Diego County with distributing large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl and heroin and laundering drug-trafficking proceeds.

In a coordinated takedown yesterday, more than 115 federal, state and local law enforcement officials arrested 10 defendants and executed three search warrants in the Nestor, Palm City, and Encanto neighborhoods within the City of San Diego. Six defendants were still being sought.

Including seizures today and throughout this investigation, authorities have confiscated 26.8 kilograms of powdered fentanyl; 5.7 kilograms of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl (estimated to be 57,000 pills); 25.7 kilograms of methamphetamine; 1.5 kilograms of cocaine; 1.1 kilograms of heroin; ketamine; MDMA; more than $40,000 in U.S. currency; a Maserati Ghibili; and nine firearms including an AK-47.

U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon said: “Together with our law enforcement partners, this office will disrupt and dismantle criminal organizations throughout the district. We are focused on the Department’s Take Back America priorities, and this investigation shows the direct results of implementing these priorities.”

“Drug trafficking organizations fuel addiction and erode the safety of our communities,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian Clark. “This extensive drug trafficking investigation exposed a criminal network that peddled poison from coast to coast. Law enforcement put their collective authorities together to dismantle this organization brick by brick. We stand with our fellow law enforcement partners to ensure the community is safe and those involved in drug trafficking are brought to justice.”

“The indictments unsealed today paint a picture of an organization responsible for trafficking dangerous drugs into our communities – drugs that are killing Americans daily,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher, IRS Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office. “These indictments should send a clear signal to drug trafficking organizations that where there’s money, there’s a trail, and IRS-CI is the best in the world at finding and following those trails.  We are proud to partner with fellow law enforcement agencies to flush out DTOs that put our communities at risk.”

Today’s charges are the result of a 16-month investigation that included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, undercover agents, and confidential sources. According to the indictments, the defendants distributed dangerous drugs such as fentanyl throughout the U.S., including in Ohio and Kansas, on behalf of a San Diego County-based drug trafficking organization. The investigation uncovered the use of shell companies to gather and launder the proceeds of the drug trafficking enterprise from other states, including Colorado, Minnesota and Nebraska. 

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Deshong.

DEFENDANTS                                           

Case Number 25cr0818-BAS

Rodrigo Maciel-Cortez                                  Age: 25

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Possession with Intent to Distribute more than 500 Grams of Methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)

Maximum Penalty: Life in prison; Mandatory Minimum: Ten years in prison; $10 million fine

Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 846

Maximum Penalty: Twenty years in prison; $1 million fine.

Criminal Forfeiture; Title 21 U.S.C. § 853

Case Number 25cr0819-BAS

Elijah Roman                                                Age: 28

Leonela Veronica Leal                                  Age: 26

Cindy Camarena-Gonzalez                          Age: 27

Adan Antonio Sandoval-Luna                      Age: 30

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Conspiracy to Distribute more than 50 Grams of Methamphetamine (Actual) and more than 400 grams of Fentanyl, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 846

Maximum Penalty: Life in prison; Mandatory Minimum: Ten years in prison; $10 million fine

Distribution of more than 50 Grams of Methamphetamine (Actual), in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)

Maximum Penalty: Life in prison; Mandatory Minimum: Ten years in prison; $10 million fine

Possession with Intent to Distribute more than 50 Grams of Methamphetamine (Actual), in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)

Maximum Penalty: Life in prison; Mandatory Minimum: Ten years in prison; $10 million fine

Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. § 1956

Maximum Penalty: Twenty years in prison; $5,000 fine

Criminal Forfeiture; Title 21 U.S.C. § 853

Case Number 25cr0820-AJB

Luis Carlos Franco                                         Age: 24

Jesus Adrian Garcia Jr.                                  Age: 32

Jose Alexander Flores                                   Age: 23

Andres Emilio Arce-Corrales                        Age: 18

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Conspiracy to Distribute more than 100 Grams of Heroin, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 846

Maximum Penalty: Life in prison; Mandatory Minimum: Ten years in prison; $10,000,000 fine

Distribution of more than 100 Grams of Heroin, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)

Maximum Penalty: Life in prison; Mandatory Minimum: Ten years in prison; $10 million fine

Conspiracy to Distribute more than 500 Grams of Methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 846

Maximum Penalty: Life in prison; Mandatory Minimum: Ten years in prison; $10 million fine

Possession with Intent to Distribute more than 500 Grams of Methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)

Maximum Penalty: Life in prison; Mandatory Minimum: Ten years in prison; $10 million fine

Criminal Forfeiture; Title 21 U.S.C. § 853

Case Number 25cr0821-WQH

Diego Hernandez                                           Age: 24

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Distribution of more than 400 Grams of Fentanyl, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)

Maximum Penalty: Life in prison; Mandatory Minimum: Ten years in prison; $10 million fine

Criminal Forfeiture; Title 21 U.S.C. § 853

INVESTIGATING AGENCIES

Drug Enforcement Administration

Oceanside Police Department

IRS Criminal Investigation

U.S. Bureau of Land Management

San Diego Police Department

San Diego County Sheriff’s Department

Carlsbad Police Department

United States Marshals Service

* Six defendants are still being sought

*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This case is the result of ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership that brings together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, dismantle and prosecute high-level members of drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations and enterprises.

This investigation is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program, created by Congress with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, provides assistance to federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug-trafficking regions of the United States. This grant program is administered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). There are currently 33 HIDTAs, and HIDTA-designated counties are located in 50 states, as well as in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.