Raids Net 15 Arrests in Suspected Cocaine Ring
Capping a yearlong investigation, police arrested 15 people Thursday as suspected members of a cocaine distribution ring in a series of raids throughout the Santa Clarita and San Fernando valleys.
The joint investigation began in October, 1994, and involved the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, Sheriff’s Deputy Diane Hecht said.
Agents confiscated small amounts of drugs and cash during their searches, but Hecht said the suspected traffickers usually send the drugs elsewhere.
The raids started about 7 a.m. and ended around noon, Hecht said.
Arrested and held in lieu of $5-million bail were Juan Carlos Giraldo, 35, Leah Dial, 28, and Fred David Giraldo, 32, all of Canyon Country; Saeed Assadi, 21, of Valencia; Robert Guy Saunders, 34, of Woodland Hills; Adam Melikoff, 23, of Van Nuys; Fred Baracco, 34, of Mission Hills; Tricia Hummel, 25, of Los Angeles; Daniel Hardgrove, 35, of Agua Dulce, and John Kline, 28.
Held in lieu of $30,000 bail were Paul Silva, 28, and Suzanne Silva, 22, both of Santa Clarita; Thomas Winchell, 28, of Saugus; Fred Inouye, 30, of Chatsworth, and Kelly McLain, 31, of Woodland Hills.
Hecht said more suspects are at large, and that property acquired with drug profits may be seized as a result of the investigation.
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