Assistant United States Attorneys A. Dale Blankenship (619) 546-6705
and Jonathan Shapiro (619) 546-8225
SAN DIEGO - Twenty-three defendants were charged in five indictments unsealed in federal court with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base (“crack"), distribution of cocaine and cocaine base, conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, and money laundering.
Beginning early yesterday morning, members of the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force, plus other law enforcement agencies, made numerous arrests stemming from the indictments. As of noon today, nineteen of the twenty-three defendants are either in federal or state custody. Authorities are continuing to search for four defendants.
The crackdown announced today is the latest in a series of efforts by the Department of Justice to turn the tide of the drug epidemic and reduce the inevitable violent crime that accompanies widespread drug trafficking by gangs.
“Today’s announcement is another strong message to those gang members that operate on the streets of San Diego," said U.S. Attorney Adam L. Braverman. “If you peddle drugs, we will come after you with the full force of the federal government."
FBI Special Agent in Charge John Brown commented, "The FBI is proud to be in the fight to keep our communities safe, free from drug trafficking and associated dangerous criminal activity. Yesterday's arrests demonstrates the unwavering commitment, between and among the FBI and our law enforcement partners, to address these dangerous threats facing our community."
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.
The United States is represented in court by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Shapiro and A. Dale Blankenship.
Defendant Information
DEFENDANT Criminal Case No: 18CR2490-GPC
Name
Age
Hometown
Norman Cluke
28
San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (Title 21, U.S.C., Secs. 841(a)(1), 846);
Distribution of Cocaine (Title 21, U.S.C, Secs. 841(a)(1)).
Maximum Penalties: 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
DEFENDANTS Criminal Case No: 18CR2491-GPC
Name
Age
Hometown
Fernando Cruz-Chavez
aka “Fredy"
31
San Diego, CA
Sitlali Lopez
25
San Diego, CA
Armando Ceja Gonzalez
Aka “Pistolerin"
31
San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine (Title 21, U.S.C., Secs. 841(a)(1) and 846);
Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute (Title 21, U.S.C. Secs. 841(a)(1)).
Maximum Penalties: life in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a $10 million fine.
DEFENDANTS Criminal Case No: 18CR2492-GPC
Name
Age
Hometown
Henry Hendrix
aka “Feeny Boy"
56
San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine (Title 21, U.S.C., Secs. 841(a)(1) and 846);
Distribute of Methamphetamine (Title 21, U.S.C., Secs. 841(a)(1)).
Maximum Penalties: life in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a $10 million fine.
DEFENDANT Criminal Case No: 18CR2493-GPC
Name
Age
Hometown
Roshawn Maurice Walls
aka “Ray Dog"
49
San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Distribution of Cocaine (Title 21, U.S.C, Secs. 841(a)(1))
Maximum Penalties: 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
DEFENDANT Criminal Case No: 18CR2494-GPC
Name
Age
Hometown
Joshua Eugene Quipp
aka “QTip"
33
San Diego, CA
Edna Monserrat Perez-Tapia
aka “Monsay"
31
San Diego, CA
Jose Antonio Jacinto Jr.
23
San Diego, CA
Cuathemoc Solis
aka “Jr." aka “Temo"
38
San Diego, CA
Corey Michael Davis
aka “Word"
35
San Diego, CA
Darius Latrell King
aka “Tiny Mike"
31
San Diego, CA
Alejandro McFadden
aka “Flav"
47
San Diego, CA
Charles Joseph Brimmer
aka “Demon"
31
San Diego, CA
Myron Xavier Castro Jr.
aka “Hard Dog", aka “HD"
32
San Diego, CA
Julius Davis
aka “Labacl"
58
San Diego, CA
James Edward Staton
aka “State Rock"
58
San Diego, CA
Anthony Ray Rhodes
aka “Big A"
55
San Diego, CA
Anthony Frederick Miller
aka “Dread"
62
San Diego, CA
Richard Kelvin Brown
aka “Dreads"
60
San Diego, CA
Shawn Monique King
aka “SK"
48
San Diego, CA
Timothy Raynard Moore
29
San Diego, CA
Linda Quipp
28
San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine Base (Title 21, U.S.C., Secs. 841(a)(1), 846);
Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base (Title 21, U.S.C, Secs. 841(a)(1));
Conspiracy to Launder Money (Title 18, U.S.C., Secs 1956(h), 1956(a)(1)(A)(i).
Maximum Penalties: For cocaine charges: life in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a $10 million fine. For money laundering conspiracy charges: 20 years in prison and a $250,000 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.
AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Violent Crimes Task Force - Gang Group, which includes the Federal Bureau of Investigation,
San Diego Police Department,
San Diego County Sheriff’s Office,
National City Police Department,
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation,
United States Bureau of Prisons,
San Diego Probation Department, and
San Diego District Attorney’s Office
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
