Kazarian no longer part of federal case

-- Greg Risling

A former Orange County deputy district attorney indicted in a federal

drug smuggling case is no longer a defendant in the case.

Federal authorities declined to specify the circumstances surrounding the

case against 35-year-old Bryan Kazarian for the past several days.

Kazarian was one of seven defendants who did not appear at a court

hearing Monday.

“His case has been disposed of,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney James

Spertus. “It means he isn’t in the case anymore.”

When asked whether Kazarian will appear on behalf of the federal

government in the upcoming trial, Spertus refused to comment.

Kazarian, formerly assigned to handle Costa Mesa gang cases for the

district attorney’s office, was accused of leaking confidential

information about an open investigation to 28-year-old John Ward.

Ward is the alleged ringleader of a coast-to-coast drug smuggling

operation. Kazarian allegedly provided details about Peter Perry, a

purported member of Ward’s ring who was suspected of moving 106 pounds of

chemicals used to manufacture methamphetamine.

Five defendants remain in the case, including Ward, his parents and

Howard Coones, chapter president of the Orange County Hells Angels. The

ring was reportedly headquartered in Orange County and New Jersey with

cocaine, methamphetamine and prescription drugs shipped to various points

across the United States.