Sixteen members and associates of Escondido-based Diablos
street gang are charged with firearms and methamphetamine trafficking in most
recent case
SAN DIEGO, CA – A crackdown on violent street gangs in San
Diego County over the last 75 days has resulted in federal charges against more
than 140 gang members and associates, many of whom are accused of terrorizing
neighborhoods with shootings, robberies and other violent crimes.
More than 60 firearms and 30 pounds of methamphetamine, plus
cash and other illicit drugs were seized by law enforcement during the course
of four long-term gang investigations that culminated this spring with various
indictments charging crimes such as racketeering, money laundering and gun,
drug or sex trafficking.
“This is an unusually large number of gang members arrested
in a very short period of time,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Alana W. Robinson.
“The sheer number of arrests illustrates that gangs are a significant problem
in this county. But it also underscores our enormous commitment to use every
tool we have to attack this problem and restore communities to families who
should not have to live in fear in their own homes.”
The most recent charges, unsealed this week in federal
court, involve the prosecution of 16 members and associates of the
Escondido-based Diablos street gang. The defendants are facing various drug
trafficking offenses.
According to court records, in the last year the Diablos
gang has been responsible for more than 25 gang-related shootings, multiple
attempted murders, dozens of armed robberies, multiple instances of witness
intimidation and the widespread distribution of narcotics and firearms in North
San Diego County.
This investigation helped to identify and locate Dionicio
Torrez, a Diablos gang member, as the suspected shooter of Cathy Kennedy, who
was fatally wounded by gang gunfire March 7 as she drove home from church in
Escondido.
The case involved a total of 13 wiretaps, the interception
of over 20,000 telephone calls and text messages and the seizure of
approximately 13 pounds of high-quality methamphetamine and 10 rifles and
handguns, including 4 AR-15 type rifles, an AK-47 rifle, an SKS rifle and 2
handguns, one of which had an obliterated serial number.
The Diablos Enterprise claims control of the eastern and
north central areas of Escondido. The approximate boundaries of the territory
they claim is Lincoln Avenue to the north, Grand Avenue to the south, Midway
Drive to the to the east and Escondido Boulevard to the west. There are
approximately 311 documented members of the Diablos Enterprise and an
additional 400 individuals who are “associates” of the Diablos Enterprise.
The four proactive gang cases involved months of federal
wiretaps, extensive surveillance and scores of undercover drug and gun buys.
Defendants were charged with crimes ranging from money laundering and
racketeering to heroin, methamphetamine, firearms and sex trafficking.
“When members of criminal street gangs are arrested during
joint operations, the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office reviews their
criminal histories and coordinates with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to determine
where a defendant would be most appropriately prosecuted,” said Chief Deputy DA
Summer Stephan, who oversees the DA’s Gangs Division. “In essence, we
collaborate to get the most effective bang for our prosecutorial buck and make
sure justice is served, whether that happens on the state or federal side.”
“The arrests in these investigations illustrate that when
there is violence and drug trafficking in our communities, it will be dealt
with swiftly,” said DEA San Diego Special Agent in Charge William R.
Sherman. “Local and federal agencies
will combine resources and do what is necessary to ensure the safety of our citizens.
DEA will continue to partner with local agencies to rid our neighborhoods of
drug traffickers and all the related crime they bring to our communities.”
Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Eric
S. Birnbaum stated, “Dismantling violent gangs is a continuing priority for the
FBI. We share an unwavering commitment with our law enforcement partners to
address the dangerous threat facing our communities today. The impact of our
recent gang cases clearly demonstrates our focus and determination to strike at
gang related enterprises and to eliminate the terror these groups inflict on
our neighborhoods.”
“Our communities are safer because of ATF’s expanded efforts
to target and dismantle criminal gangs and organized criminal enterprises that
use firearms and violent acts to further their illegal gains,” said ATF Los
Angeles Field Division Special Agent in Charge Eric Harden. “ATF and its
partners are dedicated to carrying out our mission by ridding our communities
of these gang members and associates who shatter families and destroy lives.”
“Our agency plays a unique role in federal law enforcement’s
resolve to dismantle the criminal gang enterprises terrorizing our streets. Our
agents target the profit and financial gains of these organizations, following
the money in an effort to disrupt these organizations and restore order to our
communities,” stated Special Agent in Charge R. Damon Rowe for IRS Criminal
Investigation. “We are proud to provide this financial expertise as we work alongside
our law enforcement partners to bring these criminals to justice."
The success of these cases is due to the collaborative
effort of our federal, state and local partners working in task forces in order
to leverage resources provided by the Office of National Drug Control Policy
and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), which are federal
anti-drug programs. The OCDETF program was created to consolidate and
coordinate all law enforcement resources in this country's
battle against gangs, major drug trafficking rings, drug
kingpins and money launderers.
DEFENDANTS
Case Number:
17CR1071-BEN
Gustavo Cisneros Age: 38 Vista
Rafael Zamora Age:
33
Vista
Case Number:
17CR1070-BEN
Gustavo Cisneros Age: 38 Vista
Eduardo Rojo Age: 32 Tijuana,
Mexico
David Bollschweiler Age: 55 Escondido
Jesus Salazar Age:
23 Chula Vista
Case Number:
17CR1069-BEN
Gustavo Cisneros Age: 38 Vista
David Bollschweiler Age: 55 Escondido
Leonel Ayala-Arambula Age: 47 El Cajon
Case Number:
17CR1068-BEN
Augustine Aragon Age: 23 Escondido
Francisco Torres-Cortez Age: 27 San Marcos
Sarah Hudgins Age:
27 San
Marcos
Case Number:
17CR1067-BEN
Gustavo Cisneros Age: 38 Vista
Adrian Nieves Garcia Age: 22 San Diego
Fredy Cruz Age:
30 San
Diego
Case Number:
17CR1066-BEN
Augustine Aragon Age: 23 Escondido
Marcia Cervantes Age: 27 Escondido
SUMMARY OF CHARGE COMMON TO ALL ABOVE CASES
Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, in violation of
Title 21, U.S.C. Sections 846 and 841(a)(1).
Penalty:
Mandatory-minimum of 10 years, up to life in prison.
DEFENDANTS
Case Number: 17MJ1232
Charles Osterholtz Age:
55 Escondido
Justin Cartwright
Age: 27
Escondido
David Trejo
Age: 27
Escondido
SUMMARY OF CHARGE
Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, in violation of
Title 21, U.S.C. Sections 846 and 841(a)(1).
Penalty: Mandatory-minimum of 5 years, up to 40 years in
prison.
SUMMARY OF CHARGE
Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, in violation of
Title 21, U.S.C. Sections 846 and 841(a)(1).
Penalty:
Mandatory-minimum of 5 years, up to 40 years in prison.
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
DEA
Escondido Police Department
ATF
San Diego County Sheriff’s Department
North County Regional Gang Task Force
*A complaint or
indictment is not evidence that the defendants committed the crimes
charged. The defendants are presumed
innocent until the Government meets its burden in court of proving guilt beyond
a reasonable doubt.
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