36 Arrested in Drug Raids Tied to Gang

Law enforcement officials announced that they cracked a “major” San Diego cocaine distribution ring Wednesday by arresting 36 people, including many Los Angeles gang members who police allege muscled their way into the local drug market.

San Diego Police Chief Bill Kolender said the organization “is believed to be responsible for the sales of large amounts of rock cocaine and numerous acts of violence, including several homicides.”

However, none of the 36 people arrested was charged with a violent crime. In addition, only two ounces of rock cocaine were seized by more than 80 police and federal agents Wednesday morning when they served search warrants on 13 houses in Southeast San Diego. Police said they recovered 16 handguns and rifles.

“The Los Angeles gangs have attempted to go into some cities, San Diego being one of them, to take over the narcotics trafficking,” Kolender said at a press conference. “San Diego has enough narcotics problems without people coming from Los Angeles.”

The chief added, “We think we put a real damper on their operations with this.”

Eight of the people arrested in San Diego and one person arrested in Los Angeles were named in a 14-count federal indictment charging them with conspiracy to possess and intent to distribute cocaine.

The other 27 people arrested Wednesday were taken into custody on drug and weapons charges or outstanding warrants.

The indictment lists 13 transactions during the past four months in which suspects allegedly sold cocaine to undercover agents. The purchases, which ranged from $20 to $800, amounted to a total of two ounces of cocaine.

According to the indictment, the only indication of a large cocaine transaction occurred in February when “Frank Albert Brown Jr. directed a number of subordinates . . . to transfer multiple pounds of cocaine from the garage at 5940 Old Memory Lane to an enclosed truck parked at the residence.”

U.S. Atty. Peter K. Nunez identified Brown, 19, as the organization leader. Brown and his father, Frank Brown Sr., are among 11 people named in the indictment who are still being sought.

Most of the people arrested were members of a gang known as the Cripps, Nunez said.

“We’re dealing with violent gang members trying to monopolize the ‘crack’ network in a part of the city,” he said.