Thirty-Seven Defendants Charged in Crackdown on San Diego Gang Members and Methamphetamine Dealers

Assistant U. S. Attorney Matthew Sutton (619) 546-8941, Jarad E. Hodes 546-7432 and Janaki S. Gandhi 546-8817

NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – April 27, 2017

SAN DIEGO – Thirty-seven documented gang members and associates were charged this week in federal court with methamphetamine distribution and firearms trafficking. The defendants are accused of dealing in substantial quantities of methamphetamine and illegal guns, using Teralta Park in City Heights as their headquarters and operating throughout Mid-City San Diego.

As of today at 1 p.m., 29 of the thirty-seven defendants are either in federal or state custody. Twenty-two were arrested this week; the rest were already in custody. Authorities are continuing to search for eight defendants. During the two-day takedown, investigators executed ten search warrants and seized more than three pounds of methamphetamine, 17 firearms and over $25,000 in narcotics proceeds from the defendants. Many of the defendants are scheduled to be arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruben B. Brooks at 2:00 p.m. today and tomorrow.

The yearlong investigation, dubbed “Seeing Blue,” was co-led by the Homeland Security Investigations Gangs & Weapons Group and the San Diego Police Department in partnership with the United States Marshals Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It involved months of federal wiretaps, dozens of undercover drug buys and extensive surveillance. Many of the defendants are documented members or associates of violent San Diego street gangs, including the Oriental Mafia Crips, West Coast Crips, Neighborhood Crips and Lincoln Park Piru.

As alleged in the indictments, complaints, and search warrants unsealed today, HSI began the investigation by targeting a prolific methamphetamine distribution network headed by OMC gang member Soulidao Chounlaboudy, aka “Lazy.” Investigators were able to introduce undercover agents to Chounlaboudy in order to purchase ounce quantities of methamphetamine, firearms, and stolen vehicles from him and his co-conspirators. During the course of the investigation of Chounlaboudy, agents also identified Ruben Contreras-Ramirez, a Claremont 13 gang member, as a firearms distributor involved in the manufacture of assault style semi-automatic firearms for illegal distribution.

Investigators subsequently targeted WCC gang member, John Quarles, aka “J-Money,” and his methamphetamine and crack cocaine drug distribution network. According to the charging documents, Quarles’ network was responsible for distributing dozens of pounds of methamphetamine and grossing tens of thousands of dollars in narcotics proceeds. His network utilized an array of distributors and sub-distributors, many of them convicted drug dealers and gang members, to distribute methamphetamine and crack cocaine from Teralta Park.

“Gangs and drugs are infesting many of our neighborhoods and creating a violent culture that is unsafe for residents,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Alana W. Robinson. “With today’s action, we are reclaiming these parks and streets for our families, our children and our communities.”

“ICE Homeland Security Investigations is committed to working jointly with its law enforcement partners to dismantle criminal gang networks that distribute narcotics on the streets and spread violence in our communities,” said Dave Shaw, special agent in charge for HSI San Diego. “As part of this joint investigation, our agents continue to fight against crime to help keep our communities safe.”

“This was a long, complex investigation and I couldn't be prouder of our detectives and all the other law-enforcement partners who have worked tirelessly on this case,” San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman said. “The bottom line is these arrests make our city and our region a safer place.”

“DEA will continue to support our law enforcement partners in any way possible,” said DEA San Diego Special Agent in Charge William R. Sherman. “Methamphetamine poses a huge threat to the fabric of our communities in San Diego. It is important to rid our neighborhoods of this dangerous drug, the people selling it, and the ancillary crime that follows drug trafficking.”

Acting United States Attorney Robinson also praised the coordinated federal and state team effort in the culmination of this investigation. Agents and officers from the Homeland Security Investigations Gangs & Weapons Group; San Diego Police Department; United States Marshals Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Prisons, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations; the Chula Vista Police Department; and the 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.

This case is also the result of the 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.

Operation Seeing Blue Defendant Information

DEFENDANTS Criminal Case No: 17CR1026-BTM

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

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

Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition, in in violation of Title 18, U.S.C., Secs. 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2);

Distribution of Methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, U.S.C., Sec. 841(a)(1);

Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute 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 dollar fine. For firearms charges: 10 years’ in prison, and a $250,000 fine.

DEFENDANTS Criminal Case No: 17CR1027-BTM

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

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

Maximum Penalties: For drug charges: 20 years in prison and a 1 million dollar fine.

DEFENDANTS Criminal Case No: 17CR1028-BTM

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

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

Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition, in in violation of Title 18, U.S.C., Secs. 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2);

Distribution of Methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, U.S.C., Sec. 841(a)(1);

Possession of Methamphetamine and Cocaine Base with Intent to Distribute 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 dollar fine. For firearms charges: 10 years’ in prison, and a $250,000 fine.

DEFENDANTS Criminal Case No: 17MJ1212-RBB

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Distribution of Methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, U.S.C., Secs. 841(a)(1);

Maximum Penalties: For drug charges: 20 years in prison and a 1 million dollar 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.