Imperial Beach Man Arrested for Robbing La Mesa Bank

San Diego FBI Special Agent in Charge Keith Slotter, announces the arrest of Cesar Daniel Flores, age 20, of San Diego, California.

Flores was arrested on Wednesday, February 16, 2011, at approximately 9:40 a.m., in the vicinity of the Palomar Trolley Station, Chula Vista, California. Flores had been detained by Metropolitan Transit Station (MTS) Code Compliance Officers for violation of a code compliance matter. Flores was subsequently taken into custody by FBI Agents pursuant to a federal arrest warrant charging Flores with the robbery of the Bank of the West,

8690 Center Drive, La Mesa, California

, on February 4, 2011.

According to the complaint filed in this matter, in the U.S. District Court, Southern District, of California, Flores is alleged to have robbed the Bank of the West,

8690 Center Drive, La Mesa, California

, using a demand note. According to the complaint, on February 4, 2011, at approximately 11:40 a.m., Flores entered the Bank of the West,

8690 Center Drive, La Mesa, California

, and robbed one of the tellers using a demand note. The demand note stated Flores was armed with a weapon and demanded a certain amount of money. After receiving a sum of money, Flores placed the money into a black backpack and was last seen walking towards the Grossmont trolley station.

A review of bank surveillance photographs and trolley surveillance video assisted in identifying Flores as the bank robber. Additionally, an MTS code compliance officer had issued a citation to Flores at the H Street Station in Chula Vista, California, the same morning as the robbery.

Subsequent investigation by the La Mesa Police Department, the San Diego Metropolitan Transit Service, and the FBI led to a federal complaint being filed, charging Flores with the robbery of the Bank of the West,

8690 Center Drive, La Mesa, California

.

Flores is currently being held at the San Diego Central Jail. Flores is expected to appear before a U.S. Magistrate Judge, on or about Tuesday, February 22, 2011. This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

This investigation was conducted by the La Mesa Police Department, San Diego Metropolitan Transit Service (MTS), and the FBI.

An arrest itself 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.

Nearly Two Dozen Arrested on Methamphetamine Conspiracy Charges in "Operation Eclipse"

United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that almost two dozen defendants are now in custody on methamphetamine conspiracy charges after the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the East County Regional Gang Task Force searched locations this morning throughout east San Diego County. These arrests are associated with the unsealing today of two indictments.

The East County Regional Gang Task Force is charged with protecting the public from the criminal and violent acts of street gangs in the East County area. The task force is composed of the FBI, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, the San Diego District Attorney's Office, the San Diego Probation Department, the Department of Corrections - State Parole, the El Cajon Police Department, the La Mesa Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

These indictments and arrests are part of a year-long investigation known as "Operation Eclipse." This operation has focused on long-term methamphetamine distribution rings operating in east San Diego County. As of today, 21 defendants are now in custody, more than $45,000 in drug proceeds have been recovered, and methamphetamine and five handguns have been taken off the streets as the result of this cooperative law enforcement effort.

In addition to the arrests made today associated with the unsealed indictments, two additional defendants, Martin Bowman and Simon Cervantes, both from El Cajon, California, will be charged in a complaint with narcotics-related offenses. The defendants arrested today are expected to be in court on Wednesday afternoon, November 10, 2010.

DEFENDANTS

Case Number: 10CR4247-BTM

Luis Carlos Barragan; Age: 32; Spring Valley, CA; Arrested 9/30/10

Alexander Roberto Espinoza; Age: 20; El Cajon, CA; Arrested 10/4/10

Joel Baeza; Age: 24; National City, CA; Arrested 9/30/10

Sherry June Angel; Age: 44; El Cajon, CA; Arrested 11/9/10

Miguel Angel Ponce; Age: 20; El Cajon, CA; Arrested 11/9/10

Jose Luis Garcia; Age: 31; El Cajon, CA; Arrested 11/9/10

Jeftee Garcia; Age: 21; El Cajon, CA; Arrested 10/22/10

Rex Jaena Dioso; Age: 47; National City, CA; Arrested 11/9/10

Robin Deann Miller; Age: 41; El Cajon, CA; Arrested 11/9/10

Summary of Charges

Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 846 - Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1) - Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute

Maximum Penalties: Life in Custody; Minimum Custody: 10 years; Maximum Fine: $4 million

Case Number: 10CR4248-BTM

Miguel Torres, aka Miguel Torres-Calvillo, aka Miguel Calbillo; Age: 24; San Diego, CA; Arrested 10/14/10

Manuel Vera; Age: 37; Chula Vista, CA; FUGITIVE

Juan Antonio Hernandez; Age: 34; Imperial Beach, CA; Arrested 11/9/10

Jerry Lynn Dempsey; Age: 50; Jamestown, CA; Arrested 11/9/10

Francisco David Valencia; Age: 32; San Diego, CA; Arrested 11/9/10

Summary of Charges

Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 846 - Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

Maximum Penalties: Life in Custody; Minimum Custody: 10 years; Maximum Fine: $4 million

Case Number: 10CR3592-BTM

Daniel Valencia-Cabrera; Age: 42; Azusa, CA; Arrested 8/9/10

Fernando Arroyo Cervantes; Age: 29; Highland, CA; Arrested 8/9/10

Eddgar Efrain Ceballos; Age: 30; Imperial Beach, CA; Arrested 8/9/10

Juan Daniel Romero-Martinez; Age: 32; Spring Valley, CA; Arrested 8/12/10

Alicia Romo Withers, aka Alicia Romo Marin; Age: 51 Spring Valley, CA; Arrested 8/12/10

Summary of Charges

Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 846 - Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

Maximum Penalties: Life in Custody; Minimum Custody: 10 years; Maximum Fine: $4 million

Case Number: 10CR3626-BTM

Joseph Phillip Reynoso; Age: 23; Spring Valley, CA; Arrested 8/12/10

Summary of Charges

Title 21, United States Code, Section 843(b) - Illegal Use of a Communication Facility

Maximum Penalties: Four Years in Custody; Maximum Fine: $250,000

AGENCIES

Federal Bureau of Investigation

San Diego County Sheriff's Department

San Diego County District Attorney's Office

San Diego County Probation Department

El Cajon Police Department

La Mesa Police Department

Department of Corrections - State Parole

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

San Diego Police Department

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

An indictment or complaint itself 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.