Orange Man Admits Guilt to Drug Role

An Orange man has pleaded guilty to heading a major drug trafficking ring that officials allege was responsible for distributing hundreds of gallons of PCP and hundreds of kilograms of cocaine, the U.S. attorney’s office here said Wednesday.

According to the plea agreement, Patrick Johnson, 28, will be sentenced to 30 years in prison without parole and will forfeit more than $8 million in real property, jewelry and money to the U.S government.

Eight other organization members also pleaded guilty to drug and other charges.

Assistant U.S. Atty. Monica Bachner said Johnson established the organization in Compton about 1984 and extended it to include such major cities as Washington, Detroit, Honolulu and Dallas.

She said Johnson laundered some of the drug profits through real estate. Among the properties being forfeited by Johnson are three houses in Orange, a residence in Villa Park and commercial property in Compton and San Pedro.

Johnson was arrested in June when federal agents raided his sister’s house in Orange and seized more than $1.5 million from a safe buried beneath its patio.

Among the charges Johnson admitted Monday were: tax fraud, money laundering and distributing drugs.

Others involved in the case included Johnson’s sister, Sheila Wilson, 33, who pleaded guilty to charges of tax fraud and money laundering and will receive a five-year sentence.

Alicia Young, 27, of Orange also pleaded guilty to involvement and will be sentenced to two years in prison.