Eleven Defendants Charged in Takedown of Alleged Gang-Associated Drug Dealing

SAN DIEGO - Five indictments and one complaint were unsealed in federal court this week charging 11 individuals with distributing methamphetamine throughout San Diego County.

The charges are the result of a 16-month investigation by the FBI San Diego Violent Crime Task Force - Gang Group and Homeland Security Investigations that targeted Asian Crips-affiliated drug dealers in Mira Mesa and elsewhere. The investigation included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, undercover agents and confidential sources.

In a coordinated takedown this morning, more than 200 federal, state, and local law enforcement officials executed four search warrants in Escondido, National City, Ramona and San Diego and arrested seven defendants. Four defendants were arrested on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.

Including seizures today and throughout this investigation, authorities have confiscated more than 11 pounds of methamphetamine and two firearms.

"We allege that these defendants turned neighborhoods into a marketplace for drugs and crime," said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. "By dismantling this network, we're helping give the community back its streets-and its peace of mind."

"The success of this joint Homeland Security Task Force operation is a testament to the dedication, collaboration, and professionalism of all our law enforcement partners," said Kevin Murphy, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in San Diego. "Together, we have made significant strides in disrupting gang-associated drug trafficking and protecting our communities. HSI remains committed to prioritizing public safety."

"Today's multiple arrests of alleged violent gang members resulted from FBI San Diego and our law enforcement partners at HSI, SDCSO, SDPD, CVPD, and CDCR working together to stop the flow of drugs into our neighborhoods," said TJ Holland, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI San Diego Field Office. "The FBI will continue to coordinate complex joint investigations to ensure justice is served and our communities are safe."

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Keith D. Ellison and Daniel Casillas.

DEFENDANTS

Case Number 26CR0903-DMS

Muriel Burless (Age: 43)

Eric Rose (Age: 45)

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Conspiracy to Distribute more than 50 Grams of Methamphetamine (Actual), in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 846

Maximum Penalty: Life in prison, mandatory minimum 10 years in prison; $10 million fine.

Case Number 26CR0904-DMS

Roy Elazgui (Age: 50)

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Possession with Intent to Distribute more than 50 Grams of Methamphetamine (Actual), in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)

Maximum Penalty: Life in prison, mandatory minimum 10 years; $10 million fine

Case Number 26CR0905-DMS

Rex Hernandez (Age: 57)

Antonio Gregorio Amposta (Age: 52)

Jesus Rodriguez (Age: 49)

Clyde Johnson (Age: 64)

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Conspiracy to Distribute more than 50 Grams of Methamphetamine (Actual), in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 846

Maximum Penalty: Life in prison, mandatory minimum 10 years; $10 million fine

Case Number 26CR0906-DMS

Jeremy Espiritu (Age: 36)

Albert Mora (Age: 54)

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Conspiracy to Distribute more than 5 Grams of Methamphetamine (Actual), in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 846

Maximum Penalty: Forty years in prison, mandatory minimum five years; $5 million fine

Case Number 26CR0907-JLS

Jason Quila (Age: 45)

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Distribution of more than 5 Grams of Methamphetamine (Actual), in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)

Maximum Penalty: Forty years in prison, mandatory minimum five years; $5 million fine.

Case Number 26MJ01036

Priscilla Violante (Age: 38)

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Possession with Intent to Distribute more than 50 Grams of Methamphetamine (Actual) and 40 Grams of Fentanyl, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)

Maximum Penalty: Life in prison, mandatory minimum 10 years; $10 million fine

INVESTIGATING AGENCIES

Federal Bureau of Investigation, Violent Crimes Task Force - Gang Group (VCTF-GG), which included investigators from the following agencies:

• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Homeland Security Investigations
• San Diego Police Department
• California Department of Corrections
• San Diego County Sheriff's Office
• Chula Vista Police Department
• National City Police Department
• San Diego County District Attorney's Office Investigations

*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This investigation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF San Diego comprises agents and officers from FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, Department of Defense, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and INTERPOL, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California.

High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program, created by Congress with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, provides assistance to Federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug-trafficking regions of the United States. This grant program is administered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). There are currently 33 HIDTAs, and HIDTA-designated counties are located in 50 states, as well as in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.