5 Men, 121 Pounds of Cocaine Seized : Brea Police Worked With Federal, State Agents in Probe

A Miami man and four Colombian nationals have been arrested and 121 pounds of cocaine seized in what Brea police described Tuesday as the breakup of a major drug ring.

The arrests, made with the help of state and federal officers, ended a 4-month investigation by Brea police that began with a tip from an informant.

“All we knew about these people was this case,” said Assistant U.S. Atty. Frederick (Rick) Friedman in Los Angeles. “This is where our investigation begins. We hope to find out more about them and their operation.”

The five suspects, including alleged ringleader Richard Allan Jarvis, 42, of Miami, face federal drug charges.

‘Largest Bust Ever’

“For us, this is the largest cocaine bust we’ve ever had,” said Brea Police Capt. James Oman. He credited federal and state authorities for efforts that made the arrests possible.

Charged with distributing cocaine, Jarvis remains in federal custody awaiting a bail hearing Friday before U.S. Magistrate James W. McMahon.

Charged with aiding and abetting cocaine distribution are Gorge Luis Soto-Ocacio, 25, of Hacienda Heights; Vladimiro Renteria, 36, of Tarzana; Antonio Ortega Torres, 45, of Miami, and Francisco Vieira, 30, of Tampa, Fla.

Informant Tips Police

The investigation started about four months ago when Brea police were told by an informant that he knew of a person capable of selling large quantities of cocaine, said Brea Detective Martin Needham.

On Aug. 8, a Brea undercover officer and an undercover officer with the state Justice Department’s bureau of narcotics met in Las Vegas with a man later identified as Jarvis.

Needham said Brea police requested help from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

Tentative Deal Struck

A tentative deal to deliver 55 kilograms--121 pounds--of cocaine at $38,000 to $40,000 a kilogram was struck, and Jarvis flew into Los Angeles on Aug. 20, Needham said, and authorities began intensive surveillance.

After a night at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, the detective said, Jarvis drove his rented Jaguar to the Irvine Marriott to meet the undercover agents and agree on the price and the method of delivery.

About 10 p.m. Saturday, Needham said, the agents purchased five kilograms----11 pounds----of cocaine in Jarvis’ hotel room and arrested him.

In the lobby, police also arrested Renteria, Vieira and Torres. Later that night, police arrested Soto-Ocacio and two others as they left a Hacienda Heights home they shared. The other two suspects were eventually released.

Inside the apartment, Oman said, police confiscated 49 kilograms of well-packaged cocaine and one kilogram of loose cocaine in a plastic pouch. Needham said police also seized $12,000 in cash and a 1985 Ford automobile.