REGION: Four more arrests tied to drugs, guns ring

By EDWARD SIFUENTES and TERI FIGUEROA tfigueroa@nctimes.com | Posted: Friday, January 27, 2012 8:00 pm

Authorities on Friday said they found and arrested four more people connected to what the FBI described this week as a massive drug and firearms trafficking ring with strong ties to North County.

The arrests bring to 108 the number of people detained in the wake of a countywide sweep ---- one of the largest sweeps in recent memory.

Federal prosecutors charged 119 people in San Diego County, including two members of the notorious Mexican Mafia gang, with participating in the ring. Of the 104 gang members and associates that federal, state and local law enforcement officers arrested Wednesday morning, 48 were in North County, authorities said.

On Thursday, officers arrested four more people, including Christina Campas, 48; Fantaja Deleal and Christian Ivan Barraza-Guzman, said FBI Agent Darrell Foxworth. Campas was found in National City, Deleal was found in downtown San Diego. Foxworth did not say where Barraza-Guzman was found.

The fourth person arrested, John Atkinson, was nabbed Thursday after crashing his vehicle into a police car, the agent said.

Authorities are still seeking 11 fugitives tied to the case, Foxworth said. "The fugitives are wanted on federal racketeering conspiracy, drug trafficking violations and federal firearms offenses," he said.

On Wednesday, dozens of officers moved across the county in three coordinated operations, including Operation Notorious County in North County, and Operation Carnalismo and Operation 12-Step in Central and south San Diego County, officials said.

Among those arrested in the massive sweep was an Escondido gang member said to have direct ties to the Mexican Mafia.

According to an indictment unsealed Wednesday, the gang member, Rudy Espudo, 39, controlled drug dealers from various gangs and taxed them on behalf of the Mexican Mafia in North County. The gangs include several Escondido, Fallbrook and San Marcos-based organizations.

The Mexican Mafia, also known as La Eme (Spanish for the letter "M"), is a relatively small gang of about 200 members, U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy told reporters Wednesday. The smaller faction runs a larger network of associates, soldiers and facilitators.

Escondido police Capt. Bob Benton said 28 of the people named in the indictments were Escondido residents, including leaders of the city's Latino gangs. He called the detentions "the most significant impact" made in local gangs.

During the 18-month investigation, officers seized more than 14 pounds of methamphetamine, more than 250 grams of heroin and 4 ounces of cocaine, along with several guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition. In addition, they took body armor, five vehicles, Rolex watches, several designer purses, a diamond ring and two homes ---- and more than $150,000 in cash, authorities said.


Call staff writer Teri Figueroa at 760-740-5442.


Read more: REGION: Four more arrests tied to drugs, guns ring