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Oceanside gang hit with federal charges
Allegations include distributing heroin inside Vista jail and state prison
By SARAH GORDON - Staff Writer | ∞
OCEANSIDE ---- Twelve Oceanside gang members and associates are facing federal charges after a three-year investigation that, among other findings, found the gang routinely smuggled heroin for sale into the Vista Jail, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced Friday.
The 12 are leaders in the Varrio Posole Locos, a third-generation gang that claims territory bordered by Interstate 5 to the west, Mission Avenue to the south and Canyon Drive to the east, said Oceanside police Sgt. Adam Knowland. The probe was headed by the North County Gang Task force.
"The case targeted the leadership," Knowland said. "What we wanted to do was disrupt their command and control."
The gang has about 330 documented members and associates, Knowland said. It is the most violent of Oceanside's 13 gangs, known for extorting drug dealers, trafficking stolen firearms and a ruthless drug trade, he said.
The investigation began as a probe into the gang's gun trade, Knowland said. Over three years, law enforcement seized 26 firearms and over 10,00 rounds of ammunition, according to the U.S. Attorney's office in San Diego.
In the course of the investigation, the task force also stumbled on the gang's prison heroin-dealing racket, Knowland said.
"We're estimating the prison smuggling has been going on for years," he said.
Members of the gang would smuggle about an ounce of heroin at a time into the Vista Detention Center and the Ironwood State Prison in Blythe, Knowland said. Details on how that worked were not available.
Gang members inside the facilities arranged for payments, which ranged from $5,000 to $10,000 per ounce, with a smuggled cell phone, he said.
With the street value of an ounce of heroin about $1,000 on the outside, the prison trade was lucrative, Knowland said.
In addition to the drug smuggling, the crimes outlined in the federal complaint include the purchase, theft and possession of multiple firearms, the robbery of a heroin dealer and the street sale of methamphetamine and heroin.
Six of the gangsters named in the federal complaints already were in custody on other charges, prosecutors said. The other six were arrested Friday. All 12 are expected to answer the charges in federal court Tuesday.
Those arrested are:
Cesar Diaz, a.k.a. Big Ceez; Tomas Sarenana, a.k.a. Tommy Gun; Jesse Moreno Jr., a.k.a. Mosco; Frank Sandoval a.k.a. Sapo; Armando Navarro, a.k.a. Gato; Mario Gomez; Jose Gonzalez; Roman Garcia, a.k.a. Spider; Lisa Illian; Abel Salgado, a.k.a. Shadow; Joseph Moreno, a.k.a. Chapo; and Eliseo Nunez, a.k.a. Popeye.
They face charges that carry maximum sentences of between 10 to 40 years in prison, and many of them face multiple charges.
The suspects' ages were not available Friday.
Contact staff writer Sarah Gordon at (760) 740-3517 or sgordon@nctimes.com
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anotherview wrote on Oct 10, 2008 9:40 PM:Thank goodness the police have removed these street gang criminals from normal society. Yet, this removal seems like a pittance by comparison with the 400,000 documented gang members in California. We citizens deserve to know how law enforcement will remove the rest of these gang members. After all, criminal street gangs debase neighborhoods and threaten public safety. This criminal presence surely must lower the quality of community life. In addition, criminal aliens make up a sizable fraction of criminal street gangs. What does ICE propose to do to target these foreign-born criminals, to identity and detain them for their due deportation? We citizens should not have to tolerate the presence of criminal aliens in our midst. Besides, America already has enough criminals. Let us hope the proper authorities find a way to accelerate the removal of criminals from society.
Good Job wrote on Oct 10, 2008 10:52 PM:Great job by all agencies involved including. This could not have been done by OPS alone....thus the federal charges. The Gang Task Force is actually under the command of a Sheriff's Lt.
Not a fan of Bonnie DA wrote on Oct 11, 2008 12:14 AM:Yeah I wonder when the white collar criminals will be arrested? Don't flatter yourselves OPD Ware just SD DA's puppets. This is all politically motivated to get points for Wood.
Oceanside is known for its lawsuits against the city for officer's misconduct.
To Anotherview wrote on Oct 11, 2008 12:34 AM:Nice sentiment, but there is a naive/ignorant tone in your comment regarding law enforcement. The liberal judges have tied the hands of law enforcement in the name of Constitutional Rights. If you really want to make a difference you need to demand accountability from the judges who have made it so amazingly difficult for law enforcement to arrest criminals. The fact that law enforcement is able to make a difference in spite of liberal constitutional case law is absolutely amazing.
We love you OPD wrote on Oct 11, 2008 12:35 AM:Our police department has been a wonderful, professional reflection of Oceanside. It's a shame that Feller, Chavez, and Gibson have nothing negative to say about our officers, and therefore have made up a bunch of hogwash. I've asked Mayor Wood about the accusations these chumps have made on some 12% raise. Turns out our officers were severely underpaid and therefore suffering vacancies and high turnovers. They were the lowest paid in the county, and furthermore I understand that Riverside and Orange County, very close to Oceanside, pay even higher than our county. So a 12% raise, which was recommmended by the city manager, was what was needed to stabilize and improve public safety. Tough decision, and the city has been able to continue protecting us without raising taxes or cutting services. I understand that our police officers have made their recommendations for the coming election. I am very happy to support their candidates of Wood, Sanchez and Lowery. Thank you for keeping us safe!
Grump wrote on Oct 11, 2008 7:18 AM:Our cummunity would be much nicer if these scumballs would just "disappear."
Good Job OPD wrote on Oct 11, 2008 8:32 AM:Isn't this Council Member Sanchez's neighborhood? DOes she still oppose Gang Injunctions?
Not amused wrote on Oct 11, 2008 10:39 AM:"Not a fan" suggests white collar criminals need to be arrested now seemingly to keep things equal and just, something about puppets, political motivated arrests, and law suits against the PD. Gee, sounds like you are a well rounded open minded person that does not suffer from any levels of paranoia, hostility, or any other personality deficiency issues. Of course I could be wrong.
grj wrote on Oct 11, 2008 10:52 AM:I lived in Oceanside for 7 years and the Police do agreat job.Throw the book at these gang members,they ruin Oceaside for everyone else.Why not ship them off to a foreign country with no rights. These gang injunctions should be in place.I grew up in Escondido when there were no gangs now look at it.
Nelson wrote on Oct 11, 2008 11:25 AM:Good Job OPD in recognizing this was a federal crime and getting them involved. Now these guys face federal charges and will probably get to play the game "Rat out your Boss" or face 20 years federal time.
Native Osider wrote on Oct 11, 2008 1:11 PM:This is OUR Oside, good job OPD, thanks for getting these people off our streets, hopefully there will be more soon. Doesn't matter to me if it's election time or not, they did the job and did it right! I am neither a fan of Bonnies, but yes a fan of wood and sanchez, from way back when! Maybe the backgate will be next or wherever the scumms are, just get them off O'side Streets.
Sad wrote on Oct 11, 2008 2:05 PM:I use to oversee a recreation center within the city and It's sad to say, that I knew 4 four these gang members who are charged with this serious crime. These were kids that I use to take on field trips, attended the youth center but they got caught up in the system. It's sad to hear about our youth getting involved and becoming a menace to soceity.
grj wrote on Oct 11, 2008 4:12 PM:it's their own fault and their familys fault and no matter how young they are they should serve the maximum amount of time as to stay off the streets. Someone tagged my fence when I was renting in O'side but they didn't have funds to clean it up.I have no pity for these scum of the earth. Gang task force need all available funding to keep up good work.
Whoo Pee wrote on Oct 11, 2008 4:46 PM:Job well done OPD! Now you earned yourselves a medal! You now have a case! But how about start to really work on these gang members out there from the beginning of their criminal career. When they are minors! Instead, they get a ride home!
Tato wrote on Oct 11, 2008 4:50 PM:Great job OPD!... Keep on track, clean up our streets of the human garbage and let them rot in jail.
Rocky wrote on Oct 11, 2008 10:35 PM:Everybody get a life and worry about better thing's like your family, with this gang members gone your life an't going to change at all or even get better. they only stick with each other and don't miss around with any body who an't like them, which is everybody who wrote comments.
gaga wrote on Oct 12, 2008 2:30 AM:geez the government is terrible its a messed up world on both sides
L......... wrote on Oct 12, 2008 8:23 PM:keep ur heads up guy's..... it will be over soon ,and u guy' s will return to ur families soon.....innocent untill proven gulity!!!
Angry about no punishment wrote on Oct 13, 2008 7:55 AM:Start gassing/hanging/shooting violent criminals. There is no longer any deterrent for this scum. They are happy to go to jail, three squares, drugs, entertainment, etc... Gas em.
esteban wrote on Oct 13, 2008 8:34 AM:I agree with angry. Prison is not punishment. ALL gang members need to be executed once arrested. In jail or prison, they will become more violent. The worls really is better off without them. Why can't you people see this?
GREEN BAY wrote on Oct 13, 2008 6:24 PM:WE LOVE YOU TOMMY AND WE'RE PRAYING THAT THE TRUTH WILL PREVAIL,SO YOU CAN RETURN HOME TO YOUR FAMILY. YOUR FAMILIA SARENANA IN LA.
SD CHARGERS FAN wrote on Oct 17, 2008 8:17 AM:KEEP UR HEAD UP TOMMY.. YOUR FAMILY AND I ALWAYS HAVE UR BACK NO MATTER WHAT. THE TRUTH WILL COME FORWARD AND U WILL BE HOME SOON..I LOVE U PRIMO
YOUR FAMILY SARENANA IN SD. *HUNNYBUNNY*
CHARGER CHICK wrote on Oct 20, 2008 1:53 PM:WHY DOESN'T OPD STOP HARRASING THAT PART OF OSIDE AND START LOOKING SOME WHERE ELSE THATS NOT THE ONLY PLACE THATS HAS PROBLEM
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