Police break up suspected meth ring

Darleene Barrientos

The luxurious life of a suspected drug ringleader was put on display

Monday as Glendale Police announced they had dismantled his alleged

methamphetamine organization.

Millions of dollars worth of crystal methamphetamine, a

custom-made Hummer -- complete with leather seats, wood-panel floors,

chrome ceiling, fog machine and laser lights -- and a 30-foot speed

boat were just some of the items seized from a man they believe

supplied methamphetamine to dealers in the Glendale area.

The arrest of alleged ringleader Genaro “Henry” Rodriguez, 31, was

a blow to the backbone of the suspected ring, which stretched as far

east as Milwaukee, where he also faces federal charges of

distributing 52 kilograms of cocaine. Arrested last week with

Rodriguez were Jesus Frias, 30, Gabriela Navarro, 30, and Cynthia

Marquez, 22, on suspicion of transporting and selling methamphetamine

and conspiracy to sell methamphetamine, Glendale Police Sgt. Jack

Meier said.

Rodriguez has been released to the custody of federal agents, and

the U.S. Attorney’s and Los Angeles County District Attorney’s

offices will work together on his prosecution, Meier said.

Police began investigating Rodriguez and his alleged partners in

September because of their suspected link to another drug case,

authorities said. In that case, Randy Ward, 30, of Woodland Hills was

arrested and police seized 20 kilograms of cocaine, 30 pounds of

marijuana, five pounds of methamphetamine, guns and $250,000 in cash.

Ward is awaiting trial.

“We believe these are some of the people in the first case that

eluded us,” Meier said. Police believe Rodriguez gave drugs to Ward,

who allegedly supplied methamphetamine to sellers in the Glendale

area.

Frias was being held Monday without bail at the Men’s Central Jail

in Los Angeles. Navarro and Marquez posted bail Thursday and court

dates are pending for them.

Search warrants were served Wednesday at homes in the 900 block of

Lucas Street in San Fernando and in the 11000 block of Blucher Avenue

in Woodland Hills, where the drugs and the vehicles were found.

Authorities are still investigating who owns the homes, Meier said.

More than 60 pounds of methamphetamine and more than four pounds

of cocaine, estimated to be worth about $5 million, along with

$296,696 in cash was seized from those homes. Authorities also seized

the Hummer stretch limousine, worth at least $100,000, along with a

BMW X5 sport utility vehicle, a 1964 Chevrolet Impala convertible and

a 30-foot twin-hull speed boat, worth about $80,000. Police believe

the luxury vehicles and the boat were bought with the money made from

selling cocaine and methamphetamine.

The drugs will be destroyed and the vehicles and the boat will

probably be sold at auction at a later date. A percentage of those

proceeds will be given to Glendale Police to fund drug prevention and

enforcement activities.

Glendale Police conducted the investigation with the help of the

Ventura office of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the

Santa Barbara Regional Narcotic Enforcement Team, Meier said.