Lawyers Protest Bail of $500 Million in Drug Case

Defense attorneys on Friday protested the record $500-million bail that is holding a suspected Colombian drug money launderer in County Jail, but they withheld his plea for a week so they can examine legal documents.

Judge Charles W. Campbell Jr. agreed to postpone the arraignment of Otoniel Urrego, 63, and his sister-in-law, Luz Urrego, 37, who were arrested March 18 at their homes in Miami and North Hollywood, respectively.

Luz Urrego stood with her hands clasped behind her while Otoniel Urrego, a paraplegic since age 16, according to his attorneys, sat quietly in a wheelchair.

A sealed grand jury indictment handed up June 12, 1991, charges the Urregos and two unidentified people with conspiracy to sell cocaine and violating California money-laundering laws, according to Deputy Dist. Atty. James Grunert.

“I think it’s a bit ridiculous,” defense attorney Terrence Roden said of the $500-million bail set for Otoniel Urrego, the highest ever set in Ventura County and one of the highest in California.

Roden said his client is a retired marine hardware importer and had nothing to do with laundering money.

Luz Urrego’s attorney also criticized her $1-million bail, saying that the mother of three has worked as a keypunch operator in the same place for many years and poses no risk of fleeing.

“We find this $1-million bail totally outrageous,” said attorney Daniel Gonzalez of Simi Valley.

On May 28, 1989, Simi Valley police arrested Otoniel and Luz Urrego, along with Floriberto Urrego and his wife, Martha Urrego, seizing $1 million from the family’s home and $1.5 million from a car that was being driven away. All four were released without being charged.

Court records show that Floriberto and Martha Urrego laid claim to the house and the cash, but later went back to their home in Barranquilla, Colombia, and forfeited the claim.