LOS ANGELES : Bail Set at $5 Million for Drug Ring Suspects
Los Angeles Municipal Judge William Chidsey set bail at $5 million each Monday for seven men arrested with 13 others in a series of law enforcement sweeps that targeted an alleged cocaine smuggling ring. The seven men are scheduled to be arraigned June 15.
Prosecutors contend that since 1988, the smugglers have brought tens of thousands of pounds of cocaine in from Sinaloa, Mexico, to Tucson, Ariz., and then into Southern California for distribution.
According to the criminal complaint, the defendants have moved or possessed more than 2,700 kilograms--roughly 6,000 pounds--of cocaine since Jan. 23, 1991. They also allegedly possessed nearly $400,000 in narcotics proceeds since September, 1991, and had possessed numerous assault weapons. The complaint also states that investigators found ledgers documenting the movement of more than $12 million in drug money. The arrests were made last Thursday and Friday in raids on 75 homes and businesses by local, state and federal authorities.
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