Judge throws out two convictions against supermarket mogul George Torres

LA TIMES
11:09 AM | June 9, 2009

A federal judge today tossed out two of the most serious convictions in the racketeering case against supermarket mogul George Torres, dramatically reducing the amount of time Torres faces behind bars.

U.S. District Judge Stephen V. Wilson ordered Torres released immediately on the condition he sign papers stating he would attend future hearings in the case.

The judge issued the order after federal prosecutors over the weekend turned over tape recordings of at least one key informant in the case that contained potentially exculpatory evidence.

The judge’s ruling marks a serious blow to prosecutors who last month won a conviction against Torres. Before the judge's action, Torres faced a potential life sentence. With two of most serious convictions dismissed, Torres potential sentence will likely be significantly shorter. Authorities could not immediately say how much prison time he might face.

The convictions voided by Wilson were at the heart of the government's case -- racketeering and conspiracy, including murder.

Federal prosecutors had contended that Torres was a ruthless businessman who cultivated an aura of danger. He ran his highly profitable supermarkets as a criminal enterprise in which he hired illegal workers, bribed a public official and -- when people crossed him -- arranged to have them killed, prosecutors said.

Torres' defense attorneys portrayed him as a self-made entrepreneur who earned the respect of neighborhood mothers -- and, by extension, their sons -- by bringing fresh meat and produce to their neighborhoods at a fair price. He was a man who treated customers with respect and gave at-risk youths jobs to help steer them from gangs and drugs, his attorneys said.

The case relied heavily on the testimony of current and former Torres employees as well as allegedly incriminating statements by Torres caught on wiretapped phone calls.

-- Scott Glover at the L.A. Federal Courthouse

Comments:

Welcome to the Third World.

Posted by: Jim Q. Citizen | June 09, 2009 at 11:43 AM

are you kidding me? this guy is the Mexican Al Capone. I'm sure the judge will be paying off his mortgage soon.

Posted by: Iknow Thisguy | June 09, 2009 at 11:18 AM

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2 ... mogul.html