Architect Thoryk Among 37 Linked to Drug Operation

San Diego architect Paul Thoryk and 36 others were named in federal indictments Tuesday stemming from what law enforcement officials describe as one of the largest drug manufacturing and trafficking rings in the Southwest.

The indictments, the culmination of a six-year investigation involving 15 local, state and federal agencies, allege that two San Diego brothers--Jack and Manuel Battaglia--were the leaders of an organization that produced methamphetamine at laboratories here for nationwide distribution. The ring also allegedly distributed cocaine and marijuana.

‘A Substantial Dent’

Combined with the arrest earlier this month of 11 people allegedly involved in a North County drug ring, the five indictments unsealed Tuesday “should have made a substantial dent” in the methamphetamine trade, U.S. Atty. Peter Nunez said at a news conference.

Last year, the local Drug Enforcement Administration office labeled San Diego “the methamphetamine capital of the United States.”

“This is the top . . . of the rings,” Nunez said of the Battaglias and Don Mason, a San Marcos man arrested June 4 who was described by the FBI as the leader of an Escondido-based, family-run drug ring that may have been the nation’s largest manufacturer and supplier of methamphetamine.

Thoryk, a well-known architect and real-estate developer who is a partner in a controversial project to develop a commercial complex at the Mission Beach Plunge, was charged with helping Manuel Battaglia launder drug funds through real estate and investments.

Thoryk, who was arrested Tuesday in Las Vegas, was also accused of conspiring to defraud the government of taxes and filing a false tax return.

Thoryk faces a maximum penalty of eight years in prison and $500,000 in fines.

7 Drug Labs Reported

According to the indictments, unsealed by U.S. Magistrate Roger McKee, the drug operation focused on the manufacture of methamphetamine at seven labs throughout San Diego County for distribution in California, Nevada and elsewhere.

Law enforcement officials said they could not specify or even estimate the amount of methamphetamine that was manufactured and distributed by the ring since the early 1980s, but San Diego County Dist. Atty. Edwin Miller emphasized that it was “one of the largest operations” of its kind in the nation.

As of late Tuesday, 29 of the 37 people indicted--most of whom are San Diego County residents--had been arrested. Two were already in custody in connection with other charges, and the six others were still at large, according to FBI Special Agent Thomas Hughes.

Most of the arrests were made during early-morning raids at homes and businesses in San Diego, Alpine, Jamul and El Cajon. Officers also seized weapons, cash and equipment used to manufacture methamphetamine.

Overall, nearly 70 automobiles, houses, a boat, cash, jewelry, stock and other property worth about $2.3 million have either been seized or may be subject to forfeiture in the San Diego investigation and a related 1986 Reno, Nev., drug case, Nunez said.

An Ironic Bumper Sticker

Somewhat comically, one of the vehicles seized--a truck that prosecutors allege was used as a mobile drug lab--featured a “San Diego Says No to Drugs” bumper sticker.

“That was their attempt . . . at thumbing their noses at law enforcement,” Deputy Dist. Atty. Hugh McManus said. “But we ended up with the truck.”

Investigators charge that, since the early 1980s, the drug ring manufactured methamphetamine at various labs throughout San Diego County, periodically relocating them in an attempt to escape detection.

Several local businesses, including Presidential Limousine Service Ltd., Video Plus and B & L Investments in El Cajon, allegedly were used by the Battaglias in the ring’s operations, including efforts to obtain and distribute cocaine and marijuana, federal prosecutors contend.

Some of the vehicles seized had concealed compartments. Ring members also used telephone beepers, radio scanners and two-way radios to monitor law enforcement activities and to talk to each other, prosecutors said.

Federal Wiretaps Used

Using federal wiretaps, authorities monitored the ring’s activities, and various conversations that led to the charges and arrests are detailed in the indictments. In many of those conversations, the ring’s leaders discussed the price and quality of methamphetamine and other drugs, as well as distribution plans.

Jack Battaglia, a 48-year-old former Hillcrest resident, was arrested in March by Mexican police in Tijuana while allegedly attempting to flee the United States. He later was turned over to U.S. authorities and is being held without bail at the Metropolitan Correctional Center on numerous drug charges.

Federal prosecutors said Tuesday that they plan to ask that Manuel Battaglia, 45, of El Cajon, also be held without bail pending trial. Both brothers face maximum sentences of life imprisonment without possibility of parole.

The charges against Thoryk stem from his alleged participation in a scheme to help Manuel Battaglia launder money, and Thoryk’s subsequent filing of allegedly false tax returns. Thoryk became acquainted with Manuel Battaglia, Deputy Dist. Atty. McManus said, when Thoryk’s sister “married a guy who went to school with Manny Battaglia.”

Plan Allegedly Laundered Cash

Under the alleged laundering plan, Battaglia “would utilize various investments offered by . . . Thoryk and others” to conceal his drug funds, one of the indictments charges. The indictment adds that Battaglia “would provide a source of ready cash for investments” and that Thoryk “would disguise and conceal the true facts regarding various financial transactions.”

Battaglia’s sons, Dino and Mario, and real estate agent Paul Malz also allegedly participated in the laundering scheme and were named in the indictments.

In one of the alleged “overt acts” detailed in the indictment, Battaglia provided Thoryk with $135,000 in cash in 1983 to be used toward the purchase of a trust deed that the architect held on Jake’s Restaurant in Del Mar. To conceal that transaction, $9,000 was deposited in each of three different bank accounts each day for five consecutive days, the indictment says.

Last year, Battaglia also lent Thoryk money to complete construction of the B Street Cafe, according to the indictment. During one conversation on that topic, Battaglia purportedly stated that he might foreclose on the restaurant and expressed interest in buying Thoryk’s house for $1.1 million.

Over the last four years, Thoryk also formed various partnerships with Battaglia that were allegedly used to conceal drug funds. Thoryk also is charged with paying Battaglia more than $48,000 in consulting fees, even though Battaglia “performed no consulting work,” according to the indictment.

Besides the Battaglia brothers and Thoryk, the other defendants include:

Nunzio Guadagni, Spring Valley; Paul Fleischer, Incline Village, Nev.; Robert Morris, San Diego; Tatiana Tomacelli, San Diego; Thomas Cannon, San Diego; Phillip Schwartz, San Diego; Ronda Lynn Dowling, National City; Donald Mottola, Chula Vista; Sherrel Patton, Los Angeles; Darryl Fenton, San Diego; Antonio Arroya Jr., San Diego; Fernando Mariscal, Bonita; Roxanne Marie Reinero, San Diego, and Gerald Puerile, La Mesa.

Brian Wehlage, Ramona; David Sylvia, Ramona; Paul Malz, Santee; Dino Gio Battaglia, El Cajon; Mario Louis Battaglia, El Cajon; Russell Le Vasseur, El Cajon; William Bohac, Lakeside; Timothy New, Lakeside; Kenneth Eaton, Santee; Joseph Battaglia, San Diego, Jack Battaglia’s son; Romeo Metivier, Jamul; John Buckholz Jr., El Cajon; Dennis Deitering, San Diego; Steven Decaro, Lakeside; Dominic Battaglia, El Cajon, Manuel Battaglia’s son; Luigi Guadagni, San Diego; Ronald Luetticke, Santee; Janet Marie Thomas, San Diego; Michael New, Santee, and William Floyd Smith, El Cajon.