Santa Ana : Trial of 4 Accused in Drug Case Postponed

Superior Court Judge John J. Ryan Friday postponed a trial for four South Americans charged with conspiracy to distribute and sell cocaine when their attorneys said new evidence has been discovered that makes another pretrial hearing necessary.

Colombians Uldarico Cabuya and Conzalo Ruiz, Ecuadorean Juan Perez Sanchez and Venezuelan Clara Perez were arrested April 4 in connection with what has been called the largest cocaine seizure on the West Coast. Los Angeles police confiscated 1,764 pounds of cocaine with an estimated street value of $500 million in five raids in Anaheim, Fullerton and Placentia.

Seven other suspects in the case were arrested but later released because of a lack of evidence. The four remaining suspects are being held in County Jail on $4 million bail each.

Defense attorneys had struck a deal with the prosecution to have Ryan determine the guilt or innocence of the four based on transcripts from an eight-day preliminary hearing last April, thus avoiding a long jury trial.

But defense attorney James D. Riddet told Ryan Friday that the defense had just discovered a document presented to Superior Court Judge Ronald E. Owen at the time he signed the search warrants for the raids.

“This could be important for a motion to suppress the evidence,” Riddet said.

Ryan will hear the new defense arguments Nov. 14. The defendants waived their right to a speedy trial in favor of the November hearing.