17 indicted in alleged kidnapping-murder ring in San Diego County

LA TIMES
August 13, 2009 | 11:10 am

Seventeen people have been indicted as part of a kidnapping and murder gang believed to be responsible for nine slayings, San Diego County authorities announced today.

A group known as Los Palillos, with ties to the infamous Arellano Felix drug cartel in Tijuana, would kidnap their victims and dump their bodies in Chula Vista, San Diego and Bonita. Two bodies were dumped into acid.

Among the victims were rival drug dealers and former gang members, officials said. In some cases, the killings were revenge against people who had left the gang. In some cases, ransom was sought.

Nine of the 17 were already in jail on other charges when the 22-count indictment was unsealed. Some had been arrested in 2007, others in 2008.

Dist. Atty. Bonnie Dumanis said the kidnappings, torture and murders "demonstrate the ugly reality of cross-border violence." Dumanis said the 17 had been involved in drug distribution and were citizens of the U.S. and Mexico.

Among the charges is the attempted murder of a Chula Vista police officer. Los Palillos members often impersonated police, Dumanis said.

-- Tony Perry in San Diego

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