15 busted in drug ring tied to Pasadena gang

Fifteen people connected to the Pasadena Denver Lane Bloods gang were arrested Friday and face federal and state drug trafficking charges.

The arrests by the San Gabriel Valley Safe Streets Task Force culminates in an 18-month investigation, according to a statement from the United States Attorney’s Office. The investigation was launched after two 2010 grand jury indictments were unsealed, targeting the Denver Lanes Bloods’ drug trafficking in the Antelope Valley.

The task force includes agents and officers with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pasadena Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

During the probe authorities seized eight firearms, about $40,000 in cash, five kilograms of cocaine and two-and-a-half kilograms of crack cocaine.

Of the 15 arrested Friday, eight face federal charges and seven face state charges.

Most of the eight federal defendants face life sentences if convicted. They are expected to be arraigned Friday afternoon in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles.

The defendants in one of the grand jury indictments that were unsealed this morning are: Jesus Campos, 43, of La Puente; Lyonel Washington, also known as “Dough,” 33, of Altadena; Myoshi Smith, 23, of Bellflower; Dayna Guyton, 29, of Pasadena; Monte Russell, also known as “Godfather,” 35, of Pomona and Pasadena; Jesus Campos, 43, of La Puente; and Jesse Vargas, 34, of El Monte, who faces a special charge of possessing three pounds of cocaine on one day.

Two other defendants charged in federal court are Keno Montez Norris, 33, of Pasadena, who is charged with distributing crack cocaine, and John Eugene Brown, 48, of Pasadena, who is charged with possession with the intent to distribute crack cocaine.

Authorities are searching for Cuong Nguyen, also known as “David Thai,” 32, of Mid-City Los Angeles.

-- Adolfo Flores, Times Community News

Twitter: @AdolfoFlores3