ESCONDIDO, Calif. (KGTV) — An 18-month undercover investigation has led to the arrest of over 20 people in Escondido in relation to various narcotics and firearm charges.
According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the investigation was conducted by the San Diego Group IV Field Office and the Escondido Police Department.
“Operation Devil’s Den” targeted the activity of some of the most violent and active gangs operating in and around the City of Escondido to include members of the Diablos, Westside, and Florencia 13 gangs.
"These targets were convicted felons making firearms to include machine guns (using machine gun conversion devices commonly referred to as “switches” and “drop-in auto sears”) and selling those firearms without a federal firearms license," the ATF said in a released statement Tuesday.
"Switches are designed to convert semiautomatic pistols to fire as a fully automatic weapon, and drop-in auto sears convert rifles to a fully automatic weapon. It is illegal to possess switches and drop-in auto sears."
Agents seized 113 firearms with most of the guns being privately made firearms, more commonly referred to as “Ghost Guns." The seizures consisted of 71 pistols, six rifles, 14 machine guns, 19 machine gun conversion kits (33 machine guns in total), two shotguns, and one silencer.
The drugs that were seized were 15.5 pounds of methamphetamine, 115 grams of fentanyl, 20 grams of ecstasy, and 5 grams of cocaine.
Operation Devil’s Den federal defendants’ charges:
- Albert Gutierrez-Bustos, 22, Coachella, Conspiracy to Deal Firearms Without a Licensed and Transfer of Firearm in Violation of National Firearm Act
- Kevin Lemus, 21, Escondido, Distribution of Methamphetamine Cristopher Chavero, 31, Escondido Conspiracy to Deal Firearms Without a License
- Rocky Trinidad, 29, Escondido, Conspiracy to Deal Firearms Without a License
- Adrian Alvarado, 25, Escondido, Conspiracy to Deal Firearms Without a License
- Justin Cartwright, 32, Escondido, Felon in Possession of Ammunition Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute
- Charles Munoz, 23, Escondido, Possession of Cocaine with intent to Distribute, Use, and Carrying a Firearm in the Commission of a Drug Trafficking Crime
- Martin Ochoa, 35, Escondido, Distribution of Methamphetamine
- Julio Segura, 26, San Diego, Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition, Dealing Firearms Without a License
- *One federal defendant, who is charged with the Distribution of Methamphetamine is not yet in custody. There is a current warrant for his arrest.
- *One federal defendant’s name is not being released due to the ongoing investigation.
These federal defendants have pled guilty to the following:
- George Lerena, 22, Coachella, Transfer of Firearm in Violation of National Firearm Act
- Alan Cazaras-Miranda, 23, Coachella, Transfer of Firearm in Violation of National Firearm Act Distribution of Methamphetamine
- Leonel Buenrostro, 32, Escondido, Felon in Possession of a Firearm
- Miguel Alvarez, 34, Escondido, Felon in Possession of Ammunition
State defendants’ charges:
- Jose Bora, 39, Escondido, State Firearms and narcotics charges
- Jason Cardenas, 18, Escondido, State assault, firearm, and burglary charges
- Elijah Salazar, 18, Escondido, State assault, firearm, and burglary charges
- Raymundo Figueroa, 27, Escondido, State firearms charges
- Pedro Manriquez, 28, Escondido, State firearms and accessory charges
- Adalberto Ortiz, 28, Escondido, State attempted murder, gang, and firearms charges
- Ricardo Ponce, 33, Escondido, State firearms charges
- Check Velasco, 20, Escondido, State narcotics charges
