Thirteen defendants have been charged with trafficking methamphetamine in the Imperial Valley.
An indictment of ten alleged members of the Imperial Valley-based methamphetamine distribution network was unsealed in a San Diego federal court Thursday. Three others were charged as well via complaint with drug trafficking offenses. According to the indictment, the Imperil Valley-based network allegedly smuggled multi-kilogram quantities of methamphetamine across the international border and then used cars, the U.S. Postal Service, and other services like FedEx to distribute the meth throughout Imperial County as well as the state of Minnesota. The network also used a corrections officer to smuggle fentanyl and cell phones into Centinela State Prison. As of Thursday, 9 of the 13 defendants are in custody.
According to United States Attorney for Southern California, Randy Grossman, a co-ordinated multi-state takedown took place Wednesday with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies participating. Agents seized narcotics and two firearms. Over the course of the multi-year investigation, 119 pounds of methamphetamine and other illegal drugs were seized as well as $80,000 in cash.
The nine defendants named in the indictment are:
Omar Castro, 30, of Calexico
Brianna Nunez, 31, of Imperial
Ramon Luna, 40, of Calexico
Vanessa Vega, 37, of Calexico
Sasha Brown, 34, of Calexico
Michelle Figueroa, 22, of Calexico
Violette Espinoza, 38, of Hillsdale, Illinois
Hector Perez, 28, of Colton
Brent Boggess, 32, of Calexico
Guillermo Hernandez, 30, of Calexico
The three defendants charged Thursday are:
Mario Gallegos, 37, of Calexico
Ray Munoz, 41, of Calexico
Ricardo Velarde, 41, of Calexico
Charges include Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments, Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances, Distribution of Methamphetamine and Importation of Methamphetamine.