Thread: CA-Numero Uno Supermarket mogul convicted in huge fraud case

Numero Uno Supermarket mogul convicted in huge fraud case

LA Times
1:04 PM | April 20, 2009

A jury today convicted supermarket mogul George Torres of federal racketeering charges.

During a three-week trial, prosecutors alleged that Torres was a ruthless entrepreneur who made millions in the grocery business by hiring illegal workers, failing to pay taxes, bribing a public official and arranging to have people killed when they crossed him.

Torres, wearing a dark suit, showed no emotion as the verdict was read. His family members wept outside the courtroom. Defense attorneys had disputed the allegations, saying Torres was a hard-working businessman who was targeted by an overzealous Los Angeles Police Department detective and lying informants who were enticed with promises of cash and early release from prison in exchange for their testimony.

The most sensational allegations against Torres were that he orchestrated the slayings of two men. The jury found Torres guilty of one of those slayings. Prosecutors charged Torres with racketeering under the theory that he ran a "shadow organization" to promote the success of his supermarket chain.

The allegations relied heavily on the testimony of two witnesses, Raul Del Real and Derrick Smith. Both men were associates of Torres, and both are serving lengthy prison sentences for distributing cocaine.

-- Scott Glover

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2 ... ee-we.html

Torres was a hard-working businessman

LOL aren't they all? Work hard and you are free to commit whatever crime you see fit.

Seriously, this stuff does sound just like the Mafia....except they tied a brick around your ankle and threw you into the nearest water hole. They still have their means of silencing you, or pay to play, just like this guy. In positions of power, eventually in government and it continues on.

What did you expect? This government is a part of the Mexican Mafia and the drug cartels. Why else would they leave the border wide open and Obama refuses to send troops allowing Phoenix to become the 2nd highest kidnapping city in the world along with the uncontrolled flood of illegal alien murderers, rapists, child molesters, identity thieves, job stealers and other criminals resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of innocent Americans and the suffering of millions more?

What did you expect?

For the first time ever....just as I expected.

So did CA seize all his assets? They should.