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'Operation Hotline Bling' Takes Down Sinaloa Cartel Cell, Including Riverside County Sheriff Deputy Imprisoned for Trafficking Fentanyl

Thursday, April 25, 2024 13:41

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“Socalj” for Borderland Beat

A multi-agency, yearlong investigation targeting the Sinaloa cartel’s alleged drug trafficking network in the Inland Empire has netted multiple arrests and an estimated $16 million in illicit drugs, the Riverside Police Department announced.

The DEA announced the seizure of 10 million lethal doses of fentanyl from a Sinaloa Cartel cell on Wednesday. Among those already arrested was a Riverside County Sheriff’s Correctional Deputy.

Operation Hotline Bling

Dubbed “Operation Hotline Bling,” the investigation began in March 2023. It was initiated by the DEA Riverside District Office and the Riverside Police Department with assistance from the USPS. A total of 376 pounds of methamphetamine, 37.4 pounds of fentanyl, 600,000 fentanyl tablets, 1.4 kilograms of cocaine, and 7 firearms were recovered during the operation, according to Riverside police.

3 federal indictments charging 6 people were handed down, and 16 state arrest warrants were issued. 15 people have been arrested so far, police said.

The DEA named three of the men federally charged during Operation Hotline Bling:

Edwin Michael Alva, 31, of San Jacinto, CA
Christopher Antonio Arreola-Alvarado, 25, of Perris, CA
Jose Javier Raya Cortez, 21, of Perris, CA

Federal prosecutors say the trio shipped kilogram-quantity parcels of narcotics through the United States Postal Service. Officials said Cortez will be prosecuted in Delaware, while the others will be prosecuted in U.S. District Court in Southern California.

Some of the arrested suspects were identified as:

Cesar Noe Raya Cortez, 23
Julio Cesar Maganafranco Jr., 23
David Crosthwaite, 24
Carlos Ninoarias, 25
Cristopher Antonio Arreola Alvarado, 25
Alexis Raeleen Trevino, 26
Andrew Aguilar, 27
Michael Edwin Alva, 31
Rolando Claros, 31
Mario Daniel Miranda Duarte, 33
Herman Leon, 34

“Those who traffic in dangerous narcotics must be held accountable,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. In a released statement about “Operation Hotline Bling,” Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez said his agency’s collaboration with the DEA was about more than enforcement.

“We will continue leveraging every available resource to disrupt drug distribution trying to make its way into our Riverside neighborhoods … so that the city “remains a safe and thriving place for people to live, work, and raise families,” he said.

Sheriff’s Deputy Trafficker

Former Riverside County Sheriff’s Correctional Deputy Jorge Alberto Oceguera-Rocha, 25, of Banning, was also arrested as part of the investigation. In September 2023, he was allegedly caught carrying more than 100 pounds of fentanyl on the 10 freeway near Calimesa, California.

“After a K9 alerted to the presence of narcotics within the vehicle, a search was conducted,” sheriff’s Capt. Rob Roggeveen said. “Located in the vehicle was (104) pounds of packaged fentanyl pills — M30s. Also located in the vehicle was a loaded handgun.”

According to a Riverside police statement, “the DEA and Riverside police provided investigative leads to the sheriff’s department, ultimately assisting in the arrest of the deputy.” That arrest came after the US Attorney initially declined to file charges, resulting in his arrest by his own department.

Likely, the federal investigation was still ongoing, as the specific Mexican cartel the drugs were being transported for wasn’t named until now.

His next court appearance is Monday at the Riverside Hall of Justice.

Sources RPD, Borderland Beat, CBS News, MyNewsLA, KTLA

Source: https://www.borderlandbeat.com/2024/04/operation-hotline-bling-takes-down.html

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