14 people indicted in multi-million dollar cocaine smuggling

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A total of 14 people have been charged in connection with an alleged conspiracy involving the smuggling of large quantities of cocaine from Tijuana through San Diego, according to an indictment unsealed Thursday.

As explained by the office of US Attorney Tara McGrath, those charged are suspected of participating in a multi-million dollar international cocaine trafficking and money laundering scheme. Their ages vary between 23 and 57 years old.

The alleged leader of the trafficking organization, Jesus Ruiz-Sandoval, 45, allegedly led the cocaine smuggling operation. He is a U.S. citizen who allegedly fled to Mexico several years ago in violation of his supervised release conditions for a prior federal drug trafficking offense.

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The alleged plot involved smuggling large, multi-kilo quantities of cocaine from Tijuana through San Diego to Los Angeles, the prosecutor's office said. From there, commercial trucks transported the cocaine from Los Angeles to the mid-Atlantic for distribution in the eastern United States.

Once the drugs were sold, commercial trucks would then transport the proceeds from the cocaine sales across the country to Los Angeles, where they were packaged and loaded into cars that the couriers drove through San Diego and on to Tijuana. The profits were allegedly given to Ruiz.

Investigators seized more than $5 million in cash and more than 130 kilos of cocaine in connection with the alleged international drug trade.

“This office targets sophisticated international trafficking cells by hitting them where it hurts: their wallets,” said U.S. Attorney McGrath. “Following the money takes you to the heart of a trafficking organization and this pursuit seeks to introduce participation in it.”

The defendants in this case are listed below:

— Jose Ruiz-Sandoval, 45, from Mexico

— John Joe Soto, 43, from Mexico

— Esteban Sinhue Mercado, 24, from Mexico

—Brittany Mangrum, 36, of Van Nuys, California

— Liliana Ruvalcaba-Gonzalez, 25, of Anaheim, California

— Yessenia Lazo, 23, from Los Angeles, California

— Ricardo Miranda-Beltran, 57, of Bakersfield, California

— Edwin Rafael Hernandez, 32, of Pasadena, California

This list only reflects those currently in custody. Six other people are still at large, the prosecutor's office said.

They face the following charges:

— Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances (maximum penalty is life in prison, $10 million fine and life supervised release)

— Conspiracy to import controlled substances (maximum penalty is life in prison, $10 million fine and lifetime supervised release)

— Conspiracy to launder monetary instruments (the maximum penalty is 25 years in prison, a fine of $500,000 or double the amount laundered and a period of 3 years of supervised release)

— Bulk cash smuggling (maximum sentence of 5 years in detention, fine of $250,000 and supervised release period of 3 years)

“This indictment marks an important step in our relentless pursuit of justice against transnational criminal organizations. By leveraging collaborative efforts, CBP and our partner agencies are able to target the root causes of crime and dismantle organized criminal enterprises,” said Sidney K. Aki, field office director of field operations. from San Diego. “Ultimately, this unified approach promotes public safety, reduces the flow of illegal drugs and laundered funds, and builds community resilience against these threats.” »

This prosecution is part of an investigation by the Drug and Organized Crime Task Force.

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