Twelve people from Orange and Riverside counties were arrested Tuesday and charged with conspiring to distribute at least $2 million worth of heroin through two Orange County-based call centers.
In a release from the Department of Justice, Julio Cesar Martinez, a.k.a. “Primo,” 43, of Riverside, and his brother, Victor Martinez, a.k.a. “Hector,” 44, of Hemet are accused of owning and operating a heroin distribution organization in Orange County, obtaining the drug from suppliers in Mexico and the United States. Heroin was transported to the organization by couriers who concealed the drug, sometimes in their body cavities, to Orange County.
Maricela Guerrero, a.k.a. “Carla,” 53, of Santa Ana, and Marla Portillo Cordova, a.k.a. “Yvette,” 34, also of Santa Ana, allegedly assisted in the daily operations of the distribution organization and, on an almost daily basis, accepted telephone orders for heroin. These four defendants allegedly directed and paid other alleged conspirators to deliver the heroin to buyers and collect payment.
The organization allegedly distributed $2 million worth of heroin. To conceal the source of the income the organization generated, from September 2013 to May 2019, Julio Cesar Martinez and Victor Martinez allegedly deposited money from the heroin sales into banks and accounts held by Cordova and other individuals.
Money from the sales were also allegedly funneled into an escrow account that was used to purchase property in Hemet.
These four defendants, along with others, are charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Victor Martinez also is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin, and, along with Cordova, is charged with four counts of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from unlawful activity.
The 12 defendants were expected to be arraigned Tuesday afternoon in United States District Court in Santa Ana. Seven more suspects in the alleged crime ring are currently fugitives.
The charges of conspiracy to distribute heroin and distribution of heroin each carry a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The charges of money laundering conspiracy and engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from unlawful activity carry statutory maximum sentences of 20 years and 10 years in federal prison, respectively.