Drug Ring Leader Gets 30 Years, Fined $8 Million

An Orange County man, who pleaded guilty to being the leader of a Compton-based drug trafficking and money-laundering ring, was sentenced Friday to 30 years’ imprisonment and fined $8 million, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.

Patrick Johnson, 29, of Orange pleaded guilty to being the mastermind behind the drug ring that distributed for sale hundreds of gallons of PCP and hundreds of pounds of cocaine. He also pleaded guilty to committing tax fraud and money-laundering, the U.S. attorney’s office said.

Seven other members of Johnson’s organization, including his sister, also pleaded guilty to drug and money-laundering charges and were sentenced and fined Friday in federal court as well, the attorneys said.

Johnson’s sister, Sheila Wilson, 33, of Orange, was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment and fined $1.1 million. Tyrone Hall, 43, of Los Angeles was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment and fined $4 million. Ronald Crutchfield, 36, of Carson was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment and fined $4 million.

Derek Burkes, 27, of Compton was sentenced to 18 years and fined $50,000. Craig Smith of Compton was sentenced to 11 years. Oscar Mellado of National City was sentenced to five years and fined $10,000. Alicia Young, 27, of Orange, was sentenced to two years.

The U.S. attorney’s office said agents seized more than $4.6 million from the organization during the investigation.