Drug-Ring Figure Gets 29 Years

The longest sentence yet for members of the drug ring operated by Manuel and Jack Battaglia was handed down Friday when Jack Battaglia received a 29-year federal prison term.

Battaglia, 50, of San Diego, is one of the last defendants among 37 people indicted June 16, 1987, by a federal grand jury. Among those indicted were Battaglia’s brother Manuel and architect Paul Thoryk.

Manuel Battaglia, 47, of El Cajon was sentenced a year ago this month by the same judge, U. S. District Judge J. Lawrence Irving, to 20 years in prison.

Thoryk, 47, of El Cajon, was acquitted last year in his federal trial of laundering money for the methamphetamine and cocaine ring and is the only one of the 37 people not to plead guilty or be convicted at trial.

Jack Battaglia pleaded guilty June 2, on the eve of his federal trial, to operating a continuing criminal enterprise, possessing cocaine with intent to distribute and tax evasion. He received 14 years on the criminal enterprise charge, which could have given him a life term; 10 years on the cocaine count, and five years on the tax-evasion charge.

Irving also fined him $100,000.