The U.S. Justice Department released the below information:
Ten people were arrested in multiple cities over the past day in
relation to two federal indictments charging members of an organized crime
syndicate who allegedly conspired to traffic and import hundreds of kilograms
of cocaine and other controlled substances from Mexico through Los Angeles for
export to Canada or re-distribution throughout the United States.
Arrest and
search warrants were executed this morning by a coalition of international law
enforcement partners in various cities, including Los Angeles; Sacramento,
California; Miami; Odessa, Texas; Montreal; Toronto; and Calgary, Canada.
In addition to
those arrested, two defendants were already in state custody, and seven
defendants are fugitives, including three Mexicans who allegedly supplied
wholesale quantities of narcotics to the traffickers in the United States and
Canada.
The
investigation, known as “Operation Dead Hand,” resulted in two federal grand
jury indictments returned under seal in Los Angeles earlier this month. The
indictments, which were unsealed today, collectively charge 19 individuals for
their alleged roles in the organized crime syndicate, including Mexico-based
suppliers who brought large quantities of narcotics into the United States,
United States distributors, a Canadian who led an exportation organization,
Canadian-based semi-truck drivers who operate in the United States, and a
large-scale Canadian trafficker and Italian organized crime figure, Robert
Scoppa, whom investigators allege was purchasing massive quantities of drugs on
a wholesale basis.
“Today’s
charges and arrests across North America reflect the Justice Department’s close
coordination with our Mexican and Canadian partners to disrupt international
narcotics trafficking,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “These
cases provide yet another example of how our agents and prosecutors work
side-by-side to uncover and dismantle organized criminal networks peddling and
profiting from deadly drugs.”
“Drug
trafficking is a global problem being driven by sophisticated, organized crime
groups who put profits over people’s lives,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada
for the Central District of California. “Motivated by greed, these criminals
destroy lives, devastate families, and wreak havoc in our community. But this
case shows that we will collaborate with our international partners to bring
these criminal networks to justice. Those who traffic in highly addictive and
dangerous drugs will be held accountable.”
“Until today,
the organized members of this conspiracy operated with impunity throughout the
many thousands of miles that comprise the North American continent, poisoning
communities along the way,” said Assistant Director in Charge Donald Alway of
the FBI Los Angeles Field Office. “The strength of this partnership cannot
be overstated. The agents and detectives on this case did an outstanding job of
pooling resources and worked seamlessly across borders toward a mutual goal of
putting this massive drug pipeline out of business.”
Investigators
developed information indicating the organized crime group used Canadian
“handlers” and “dispatchers” who travelled from Canada to Los Angeles for short
amounts of time. The handlers coordinated the pick-up and delivery of large
shipments of cocaine and methamphetamine, which were loaded onto long-haul
semi-trucks destined for Canada. Wholesale quantities of fentanyl were seized
as a result of the investigation. The transportation was coordinated by a
network of drivers working with dozens of trucking companies who made numerous
border crossings from the United States to Canada via the Detroit Windsor
Tunnel, the Buffalo Peace Bridge, and the Blue Water Bridge.
The
indictments allege illicit drug trafficking activity cumulatively involving
approximately 845 kilograms (1,860 pounds) of methamphetamine, 951 kilograms
(2,092 pounds) of cocaine, 20 kilograms (44 pounds) of fentanyl, and 4
kilograms (nearly 9 pounds) of heroin. Over $900,000 in cash was seized during
the investigation. The estimated wholesale value of the narcotics seized was
between $16-28 million.
“Customs and
Border Protection’s partnerships with international, federal, state, and local
law enforcement agencies are a key component of our efforts to combat the
transnational organized crime threat and prevent the movement of dangerous
illicit drugs,” said Director of Field Operations Cheryl M. Davies of U.S.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP)’s Los Angeles Field Office. “CBP will
continue to invest in these partnerships as we work together to keep dangerous
drugs out of our communities.”
U.S. v. Sandoval:
An 18-count
indictment returned on Jan. 4 charges 10 defendants for their roles in an
organization which allegedly began operating on an unknown date and continued
to on or about March 2023. The charges in the indictment allege two drug
trafficking conspiracies; conspiracy to import cocaine; drug exportation
conspiracy; distribution/possession with intent to distribute controlled
substances; possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking; and
being a felon in possession of ammunition.
The defendants
charged in this indictment are:
- Jesus Ruiz Sandoval Jr., 45, of Guadalajara,
Mexico;
- John Joe Soto, 42, of Guadalajara;
- Eduardo Carvajal, 50, of Guadalajara;
- Roberto Scoppa, 55, of Montreal;
- Ayush Sharma, 25, of Brampton, Canada;
- Subham Kumar, 29, of Calgary, Canada;
- Carlos Barragan, 51, of Long Beach, California;
- Corell Carbajal Garcia, 38, of Hemet, California;
- Humberto Luis Bermejo, 26, of Odessa, Texas; and
- Esteban Sinhue Mercado, 24, of San Jacinto,
California.
Sandoval Jr.,
who is currently a fugitive, is believed to be a large-scale drug trafficker
involved in importing drugs from Mexico into the United States for
distribution. John Joe Soto is believed to work under Sandoval. Eduardo
Carvajal, also an alleged large-scale drug-trafficker, is believed to export
drugs from the United States to Canada. Robert Scoppa is an alleged Canadian
drug trafficker with close ties to an Italian organized crime family in
Montreal. Barragan is an alleged drug trafficker who lives in the United
States. Sharma and Kumar are semi-truck drivers involved in exporting drugs to
Canada.
U.S. v. Sidhu:
A 23-count
indictment returned on Jan. 3 charges nine defendants for their roles in a
related criminal enterprise which allegedly operated from at least September
2020 through February 2023. In addition to a drug trafficking conspiracy, the
indictment alleges a drug exportation conspiracy and substantive counts of
distribution/possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
The defendants
charged in this indictment are:
- Guramrit Sidhu, 60, of Brampton, Canada;
- Ivan Gravel Gonzalez, 32, a resident of both the
Dominican Republic and Montreal;
- Daniel Antonio Trejo Huerta, 43, of Riverside,
California;
- Ignacio Lopez, 53, a resident of Santa Ana,
California;
- Daniel Joseph Alan Herrera, 27, of Miami;
- Orlando Velasco Jr., 29, of Stanton, California;
- Angel Larry Sandoval, 32, of Bell Gardens,
California;
- Jorge Pina Nicols, 22, of Long Beach, California;
and
- Bryan Ureta Valenzuela, 24, of Ontario,
California.
Sidhu, also
known as King, is alleged to have orchestrated the trafficking and exportation
of large-scale quantities of controlled substances to Canada working with
several co-defendants described as suppliers. Ivan Gravel Gonzalez is alleged
to be part of Sidhu’s exportation team based in the United States. Sidhu is
charged with one count of engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise.
According to the indictment, Sidhu occupied a position of organizer,
supervisor, and manager, and in this role obtained substantial income and
resources.
If convicted,
each defendant faces maximum penalties ranging from 40 years to life in prison.
If convicted, Sidhu would face a mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years in
prison. If convicted, Sandoval and Carvajal each would face a mandatory minimum
penalty of 15 years in prison.
The FBI, the
Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles Interagency Metropolitan
Police Apprehension Crime Task Force (LA IMPACT), the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police, CBP, and law enforcement authorities in Mexico investigated the case.
Significant assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations and the
Drug Enforcement Administration. The Justice Department’s Office of
International Affairs, the FBI’s Legal Attaché Offices in Mexico City, Ottawa,
and New Delhi, and the FBI Miami, El Paso, and Buffalo Field Offices provided
substantial assistance and support.
Operation Dead
Hand is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF)
investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level
drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal
organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led,
intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of
federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Assistant U.S.
Attorney Brittney M. Harris for the Central District of California’s
International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section is
prosecuting this case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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