SAN DIEGO – Two indictments were unsealed in federal court today charging 16 alleged members of an Escondido-based drug trafficking organization with distributing large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and Adderall.
In a coordinated takedown this morning, more than 150 federal, state and local law enforcement officials arrested all 16 defendants and executed 16 search warrants in Escondido, San Diego, Orange County, and Roanoke, Virginia.
Including seizures today and throughout this 16-month investigation, authorities have confiscated more than 2 kg of fentanyl; more than 53 kg (over 116 pounds) of methamphetamine; substantial quantities of cocaine and Adderall; nine firearms; body armor; large capacity magazines; and ammunition.
Crimes charged in the indictments include drug trafficking, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and conspiracy to commit money laundering offenses.
“This group was flooding our community with methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl and prescription pills—drugs that tear families apart and put lives at risk,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden. “Thanks to this law enforcement effort, we’re taking a major step in making our streets safer and holding traffickers accountable.”
“This case is a direct hit against a dangerous drug trafficking network that has been flooding our communities with deadly narcotics,” said Special Agent in Charge of HSI San Diego Shawn Gibson. “Let this serve as a stern warning to those looking to profit from trafficking illicit substances -We are seeking to dismantle these criminal organizations and committed to bringing all of those involved to justice.”
Escondido Police Lieutenant Ryan Hicks stated, “The Escondido Police Department works aggressively to identify and hold accountable anyone who chooses to participate in the poisoning of our community through illicit fentanyl distribution. We can successfully conduct these investigations through crucial support from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our other federal partnerships.”
“The San Diego Sheriff’s Office has dedicated personnel and resources to the Fentanyl Abatement Suppression Team (FAST) since it began,” said San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez. “We value the collaboration with our federal, state and local partners to combat the fentanyl crisis in San Diego. These enforcement efforts increase the safety of our communities and save lives.”
According to search warrants unsealed today, through numerous undercover operations and court-authorized wiretaps, agents conducted a number of controlled purchases and traffic stops of personal vehicles. These wiretap intercepts showed that defendants Hector Armando Espinoza and Demetrius Collins, AKA “Demo” held leadership roles in the organization and coordinated the distribution of kilogram quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl.
In January 2024, an undercover agent conversed with Collins about purchasing methamphetamine and fentanyl, according to the search warrants. Collins agreed to sell the undercover agent four pounds of methamphetamine and 1,500 fentanyl pills for $10,500. Collins directed the agent to send the money to Alexis Amezquita’s address. Several days later, Collins retrieved the money from Amezquita’s mailbox. Collins then mailed a package to the undercover agent that contained approximately four pounds of methamphetamine and a half pound of fentanyl pills that were provided by Espinoza.
In February 2024, Collins agreed to sell the undercover agent five pounds of methamphetamine and 5,000 fentanyl pills for $20,000. Collins again retrieved the money from Amezquita’s mailbox and shipped the drugs, that were provided by Espinoza. The package was found to contain approximately 5.68 pounds of methamphetamine and 1.21 pounds of fentanyl pills.
Agents installed a tracking device on Espinoza’s car that he later discovered, according to the search warrants. Espinoza took the tracker off his car and put it on another random vehicle. Espinoza then began to rely heavily on others to distribute drugs on his behalf. During numerous wiretap intercepts, agents heard Espinoza set up drug sales with customers and then direct others such as Detavius Jones Corteze, AKA “Tay Tay,” Tracie Shean, and Collins to meet with the customers and distribute them on his behalf.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Van Demark and Sarah Akhtar and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Sterling Winchester. Special agents and task force officers with the Fentanyl Abatement and Suppression Team (FAST) led this investigation.
DEFENDANTS
Case Number 25cr0628-JAH
Hector Armando Espinoza 29 Escondido, CA
Demetrius Collins, AKA “Demo” 34 Escondido, CA
Rigoberto Agraz, AKA “Rigo” 31 Escondido, CA
Detavius Jones Corteze, AKA “Tay Tay” 21 Escondido, CA
Oscar Abeleida 26 Cardiff, CA
Bradly Tran 21 San Diego, CA
Jason Hai Duong 20 Irvine, CA
Alexis Amezquita 26 Escondido, CA
Tracie Shean 51 Escondido, CA
Oscar Martinez 32 National City, CA
Evelyn Janet Caballero 31 Escondido, CA
Brianna Isabel Martinez 21 Oceanside, CA
Carlos Vargas 29 Escondido, CA
Celia Veronica Espinoza 46 Escondido, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1), and 846
Maximum penalty: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a $10 million fine
Distribution of Controlled Substances – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841(a) and (b)(1)
Maximum penalty: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a $10 million fine
Distribution of Controlled Substances – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841(a) and (b)(1)
Maximum penalty: Forty years in prison with a mandatory minimum of five years and a $5 million fine
Distribution of Controlled Substances – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841(a) and (b)(1)
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and a $1 million fine
Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1956(h)
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and a fine of not more than $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater
DEFENDANTS
Case Number 25cr0626-JAH
Juan Carlos Gallegos, AKA “Donut” 25 Escondido, CA
Yatzel Hernandez 34 Escondido, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1), and 846
Maximum penalty: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a $10 million fine.
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
HSI San Diego
Escondido Police Department
US Postal Inspection Office
San Diego Sheriff’s Department
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Border Patrol
U.S. Marshall’s Service
Drug Enforcement Administration
California Department of Justice
San Diego Imperial Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area
*The charges and allegations contained the indictments are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
HSI San Diego FAST is a multiagency task force comprising state, local, and federal partners and was first established in August 2022 focusing on the disruption and dismantlement of criminal organizations that smuggle and distribute fentanyl within San Diego County. HSI’s FAST targets fentanyl smuggling and distribution networks to counter the rising overdose rate and decrease the availability and accessibility of fentanyl.
This case is the result of ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership that brings together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, dismantle and prosecute high-level members of drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations and enterprises.
This investigation is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. [use if applicable] Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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.
Kelly Thornton, Director of Media Relations