BajaNomad

17 member Narco kidnapping, extortion and murder crew (including acid dissolving) dismantled... in San Diego.

Woooosh - 8-13-2009 at 11:49 AM

Now if they had told us two years ago narcos were dissolving bodies in acid in Chula Vista too- it would have taken a lot of media pressure off TJ and Rosarito, or at least spread the blame around more evenly. JMO

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local-beat/DA-Brutal-Kidnapp...

A dangerous kidnapping and murder crew operating in San Diego has been dismantled, according to the District Attorney’s office.

17 members of the alleged crew, known as Los Palillos, have been indicted after a two-year investigation. The indictment includes nine murders that the D.A. said happened in San Diego County.

"This rogue group of individuals is responsible for a string of brutal murders and kidnappings that demonstrate the ugly reality of cross-border violence," said District Attorney Bonnie M. Dumanis.

The nine murder victims were lured to houses rented by members of Los Palillos, or abducted and held at those houses before eventually being murdered, according to investigators. Residents found the bodies of seven of the victims after being dumped in Chula Vista, San Diego and Bonita. The bodies of two murder victims were dissolved in acid in May of 2007 at a rented house on Garber Street.

The grand jury also indicted defendants for two other shootings, the attempted murder of a Chula Vista police officer and several kidnappings of victims whose families paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in ransom.

Members of Los Palillos often impersonated police and used handguns and tasers to assault, rob, kidnap, and often times kill their victims, dozens of witnesses testified to the Grand Jury.

Los Palillos consisted of U.S. and Mexican citizens who previously had ties to the Arellano-Felix Organization in Tijuana but relocated across the border into San Diego, according to Dumanis. The crew then began trafficking methamphetamine and marijuana, and committed numerous violent crimes.

Some members of the ring were arrested in June of 2007, when law enforcement located a kidnapping victim being held at a home on Point Dume Court in Chula Vista. FBI SWAT operations rescued the 32-year old kidnapping victim (a business man living in Chula Vista) and apprehended five kidnappers.

Two leaders of Los Palillos were convicted of kidnapping for ransom in December of 2008 and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole in January 2009. Other kidnappers have since pleaded guilty and two remain set for trial, according to Dumanis.

Los Palillos leader Jorge Rojas-Lopez is charged with nine murders with numerous special circumstances, making him eligible for the death penalty, Dumanis said. Fourteen other defendants are charged with at least one murder with special circumstances also making them eligible for the death penalty. Nine of the 17 charged individuals are already in custody on other charges.

The investigation included the largest DNA analysis ever performed by the San Diego Police Department crime lab.

"These are very significant cases involving individuals who chose to commit heinous acts. I'm very proud of the work our agencies have done together in the effort to arrest and prosecute these people," San Diego Police Chief William Lansdowne said.

The District Attorney's Office is looking for eight more defendants. CrimeStoppers is offering up to a $1,000 reward for information that leads to their arrest. Anyone with information is asked to call 888-580-8477.

JESSE - 8-13-2009 at 12:20 PM

Everybody in Tijuana knew about Los Palillos operating in San Diego for years, they where famous. Funny how the Police and Media on that side of the border, didn't say anything about it during all this time.:rolleyes:Theres a lot more nasty stuff going on in San Diego, its been there for years, but we never hear about it.

A few months ago many people saw one of the Tijuana Cartel most wanted ( he is in the DEA posters ), in La Jolla, loud tambora music, cowboy hats, women, driving around in a Bentley Convertible. Then going into the bar of a famous Hotel and spending some time there.

No law enforcement noticed :rolleyes:

Hook - 8-13-2009 at 01:09 PM

What's so funny about not wanting to publicize an undercover operation before it gets the big fish?

At least in the US, the bad guys dont find out about the operation from the police.

[Edited on 8-13-2009 by Hook]

Eugenio - 8-13-2009 at 01:17 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by JESSE
Funny how the Police and Media on that side of the border, didn't say anything about it during all this time.:rolleyes:


Those of us that read the papers in the US were aware of Los Palillos. They were put out of business in 2007:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20070706-9999-7m6wa...

http://articles.latimes.com/2008/nov/26/local/me-palillos26

http://www.ocregister.com/news/gonzalez-san-diego-1823289-bo...

http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/article/20070829/Region/108...

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-cartels...

If you'd like I could give you a hundred more links like these.

Bajahowodd - 8-13-2009 at 01:22 PM

How undercover could it be if they arrested a bunch of these guys two years ago? I doubt they kept them in solitary confinement.

Eugenio - 8-13-2009 at 01:25 PM

Fact is it was a spillover from what is happening in Mexico - however even in Mexico it's not as common as some might like to think...

This is old news.

irenemm - 8-14-2009 at 04:47 PM

Where is CNN, Fox, ABC, CBS, and NBC on this ?

Only thing that they talk about it Mexico

Come on up guys be fair

k-rico - 8-14-2009 at 07:49 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by irenemm
Where is CNN, Fox, ABC, CBS, and NBC on this ?

Only thing that they talk about it Mexico

Come on up guys be fair


There is a word for the reason for "Only thing that they talk about it (is) Mexico":

schadenfreude - enjoyment obtained from the troubles of others

I really believe that Americans feel better about themselves because of the troubles in Mexico, hence the focus.

[Edited on 8-15-2009 by k-rico]

shari - 8-14-2009 at 07:53 PM

wow..never thought I'd agree to the death penalty...but I hope they fry some of those guys.

Eugenio - 8-14-2009 at 11:53 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by k-rico
Quote:
Originally posted by irenemm
Where is CNN, Fox, ABC, CBS, and NBC on this ?

Only thing that they talk about it Mexico

Come on up guys be fair


There is a word for the reason for "Only thing that they talk about it (is) Mexico":

schadenfreude - enjoyment obtained from the troubles of others

I really believe that Americans feel better about themselves because of the troubles in Mexico, hence the focus.

[Edited on 8-15-2009 by k-rico]


You're missing these guys point krico - they're claiming that NOT ENOUGH coverage was given. That is there was LACK of focus.

irrenemm:

I don't know what you want - do you not know how to use the search feature for news? Sheesh - people were busted, the case has been sealed, it's now unsealed - and there's a trail of news - just look for it. nbc,abc,cbs,ny times, la times, upi, ap, etc etc. I'm out of here. Believe whatever you want.

My theory is that it doesn't much matter what the news organizations do - you guys are going to moan and groan about - bye - carry on....

(I'm with you shari)

nbcsandiego.com http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local-beat/DA-Brutal-Kidnapp...

cbs8.com (cbs san diego) http://www.cbs8.com/Global/story.asp?S=10925940

cbs US http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/08/14/national/main52418...

10news.com (abc san diego) http://www.10news.com/news/20385230/detail.html

abc US http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=8322018

Results of Yahoo news search - first couple of pages:

In San Diego, Jury Indicts 17 in Killings
A grand jury in San Diego indicted 17 men suspected of being members of a kidnapping and death squad who are accused of killing at least nine people.New York Times - Aug 13 8:57 PM

17 Indicted in Calif. Murder-Kidnap Ring
Suspected Members of Mexican Drug Gang Allegedly Killed 9 in San Diego AreaCBS News - Aug 14 7:30 AM

17 indicted in San Diego murder-kidnap ring
Members of a group of Mexican drug traffickers have been indicted in the murders of nine people in the San Diego area — including two victims whose bodies were dissolved in acid, authorities announced Thursday.AP via Yahoo! News - Aug 13 6:46 PM

17 charged in string of brutal kidnappings and slayings in San Diego suburbs
In a spillover of Tijuana violence, Mexican gang members posing as U.S. law enforcement personnel abducted and killed 9 victims. Authorities announced charges Thursday against a Mexican gang that took Tijuana-style violence to the upscale suburbs of San Diego County, kidnapping, torturing and killing well-to-do residents, even after some families paid large ransoms.Los Angeles Times - Aug 13 8:07 PM

17 indicted in Calif. murder-kidnap ring
Members of a group of Mexican drug traffickers have been indicted in the murders of nine people in the San Diego area — including two victims whose bodies were dissolved in acid, authorities announced.MSNBC - Aug 13 6:24 PM

17 indicted in violent crime spree
When the FBI raided a home in Chula Vista two years ago, rescuing a kidnapped businessman and arresting his captors, witnesses started coming forward.San Diego Union-Tribune - Aug 14 2:28 AM

17 Indicted in San Diego Murder-Kidnap Ring
Indictment says Mexican drug ring killed 9 in San Diego, kidnapped othersABC News - Aug 13 4:38 PM

17 alleged drug gang members arrested
SAN DIEGO, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Authorities said Thursday they had broken up a San Diego gang of alleged kidnappers and killers with ties to Mexican drug traffickers.UPI - Aug 13 2:23 PM

Kidnapping and murder crew indicted
SAN DIEGO (CNS) - A newly unsealed indictment names a suspected drug lord and 16 alleged members of his kidnapping and murder crew believed responsible for nine murders and the attempted slaying of a policeman.KUSI News San Diego - Aug 13 7:00 PM

Kidnapping and Murder Crew Indicted
The "Los Polillos" group accused of murdering and kidnapping victims in the South Bay.KOGO 600 AM San Diego - Aug 14 12:01 AM

17 indicted in San Diego murder-kidnap ring
SAN DIEGO -- Members of a group of Mexican drug traffickers have been indicted in the murders of nine people in the San Diego area _ including two victims whose bodies were dissolved in...KRIS-TV Corpus Christi - Aug 13 7:04 PM

DA indicts 17 on kidnapping, murder charges
The District Attorney's Office Thursday announced the indictments of 17 men accused of participating in a kidnapping and murder crew in San Diego County. The 22-count indictment points to nine killings, as well as other crimes, carried out between August 2004 and June 2007.San Diego Union-Tribune - Aug 13 12:28 PM

World › 17 indicted in San Diego murder-kidnapping ring
Members of a group of Mexican drug traffickers have been indicted in the murders of nine people in the San Diego area -- including two…Japan Today - Aug 13 6:59 PM

Deadly Drug Ring Dismantled
A drug cartel goes on a crime spree for three years, basing it's operations not in Mexico but in Chula Vista. Now they are charged with killing nine people.San Diego 6 - Aug 13 11:48 AM

DA: Brutal Kidnapping, Murder Crew Dismantled
17 members of an alleged crew operating in San Diego have been indicted.NBC San Diego - Aug 13 10:39 AM

DA: Leader, Crew Tied To Killings, Kidnappings Indicted
As part of a two-year investigation, the San Diego County District Attorney's Office says 17 people were indicted in connection to several killings and violent kidnappings.KGTV San Diego - Aug 13 10:19 AM

17 Indicted In Alleged Kidnapping-Murder Ring In California
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 Thursday.Free Internet Press - Aug 13 3:14 PM

17 indicted in San Diego murder-kindapping ring
Members of a group of Mexican drug traffickers have been indicted in the murders of nine people in the San Diego area — including two victims whose bodies were dissolved in acid, authorities announced Thursday.AP via Yahoo! News - Aug 13 6:23 PM


[Edited on 8-15-2009 by Eugenio]

Woooosh - 8-15-2009 at 09:00 AM

My point was that during the two years of the investigation the police and media made narco violence purley a Mexico and baja problem. They reported when hundreds of TJ business owners and people were moving to San Diego from TJ for safety. They didn't tell them the narco sharks were all set up in business and waiting for them to arrrive on the US side to pick them off. A lot of people moved to San Diego for saftey that wasn't there apparently. And as a previous poster mentioned- these bad guys weren't in soltary for two years and intra-inmate communications allow them to run their schemes from behind bars.

Eugenio - 8-16-2009 at 02:59 PM

I agree you vis-avis media types, governments, and hate mongerers on either side of the border sensationalizing (or turning a blind eye) to reality - I don't know if it happens more in Mexico or the US or Canada - but it happens.

But ultimately I have faith in the judgement of business folks. Especially owneers of small enterprises. I give them credit for being intelligent enough in general make good decisions regarding the well-being of their own families and to not be duped by news stories or hatemongerers. I think business people in Tijuana saw first hand how things were changing for the worse in Tijuana - and decided to look for options - either in other parts of Mexico - or close by in San Diego.

Yes - some bad guys did follow them to San Diego. Yes - you need to be careful on either side of the border. But that doesn't mean the situation in San Diego in any way comparable to what is going down in TJ.

Give business folks in Tijuana a little credit for intelligence.