SAN GABRIEL VALLEY : 7 Plead Guilty in Cocaine Distribution Ring Case
Seven men have pleaded guilty in an operation that funneled several tons of cocaine from Los Angeles to other North American cities, a prosecutor said Monday.
The men, who had been scheduled to go on trial today in Los Angeles federal court, were accused of running an elaborate distribution ring that transferred drugs from San Gabriel Valley “stash” houses to New York, Chicago and cities in Canada.
“These were the distribution people,” said Assistant U.S. Atty. Lisa Lench. “They would obtain the cocaine in Los Angeles from the people who actually imported it into the U.S., and they would distribute it . . . across the country.”
Diego Fernando Salazar-Izquierdo, 30; Over Arturo Acuna, 34; Jorge Sofrony Gordillo, 42; Wilbert Moises Lopez, 36; Robinson Esmeral, 34, and Gustavo Arias-Pinzon, 40, pleaded guilty to single counts of conspiracy Feb. 27 before U.S. District Judge Edward Rafeedie. Manuel Quevada, 31, pleaded guilty to a money-laundering charge.
All face terms ranging from 10 years to life in prison.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
