East County

Two East County men described as “lieutenants” of Manuel Battaglia in a huge methamphetamine operation were sentenced Friday to the longest terms to be handed down so far in the case.

Gerald Puerile, 47, of La Mesa received an eight-year term and Kenneth Eaton, 32, of Santee got 10 years.

They were among 20 East County residents indicted along with Battaglia, 46, of El Cajon, and architect and real estate developer Paul Thoryk, 47, also of El Cajon, on June 16, 1987.

Eaton was a building contractor for Thoryk, who was not charged with any drug offenses, as were the 36 other defendants, but was accused of tax evasion and laundering money for the drug ring.

Both Eaton and Puerile had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine with intent to distribute. They could have received 20-year terms.

The sentencing hearing conducted by U. S. District Judge J. Lawrence Irving lasted five hours and included testimony from law enforcement agents. It was lengthy because attorneys for both men challenged statements in the probation reports, which follow the men to prison as a record.

Marc Geller, Puerile’s attorney, was unsuccessful in trying to delete references in the report to the Hell’s Angels as customers of Puerile.

“There’s no question in my mind the defendant was involved in sales of large quantities of methamphetamine and the defendant was involved in some drug transactions with some members of the Hell’s Angels,” Irving said.

“This methamphetamine is about the worst kind of poison to hit the streets. I can’t imagine the number of lives you have ruined by peddling this poison,” the judge told Puerile.

Special Assistant U. S. Atty. Hugh McManus described Puerile as “the scourge of East County” whose name is “notorious in East County among law enforcement agencies.”

Geller maintained that Puerile was not a major dealer, and he asked for a three-year term.

“His role in this conspiracy was to act as Mr. Battaglia’s tester. Mr. Puerile was not ever at any of the labs. He would get small quantities for his own personal use,” Geller said.