3 Ex-Deputies Indicted in Drug Money Probe

Two former Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies and a third deputy who had been working as a narcotics officer until his recent arrest were indicted on corruption charges as part of a massive drug money skimming investigation, federal officials said Friday.

The indictments brought to 33 the number of defendants named in the “Operation Big Spender” probe, which has resulted in the conviction of 19 former deputies.

In the latest indictments, Thomas Mulligan, 45, of Long Beach, and Jack (Jake) Gray, 41, of Arcadia are accused of skimming money seized from drug transactions and laundering the stolen cash. Both had worked as narcotics deputies before leaving the Sheriff’s Department.

Deputy Richard Ballestros, 34, of Huntington Beach was charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice, obstruction of justice and being an accessory after the fact for allegedly hiding money stolen by another deputy.

Ballestros had been a member of one of the department’s elite teams investigating major drug traffickers and money launderers until his arrest two weeks ago, said Assistant U.S. Atty. Stefan Stein. Ballestros has since been relieved of duty.

He is accused of concealing about $150,000 stolen by former Deputy John Hurtado, who pleaded guilty last week to corruption charges.

Mulligan and Gray are charged with stealing money seized during a 1988 narcotics investigation in La Habra Heights, said Assistant U.S. Atty. Steven M. Bauer.

If convicted on all counts, Gray faces up to 63 years in federal prison and $2 million in fines. Mulligan faces 50 years and $1.25 million in fines. Ballestros could be sent to prison for 24 years and fined $1 million.