State and federal authorities arrested 12 people on April 7 following a raid on an alleged drug trafficking organization in southern San Luis Obispo County, according to FBI spokesperson Laura Eimiller.
Dubbed “Operation: All In The Family,” the raid conducted in the early morning hours was a coordinated effort between the FBI; California Highway Patrol; San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s and District Attorney’s offices; the Department of Homeland Security; and the police departments of Santa Maria, Guadalupe, Grover Beach, Pismo Beach, and San Luis Obispo.
Arrestees included Jose Alfredo Rocha Sr., 52; Irene Rocha, 49; Jose Alfredo Rocha Jr., 24; Tony Perfecto Rocha, 23; Anna Rosa Rocha, 28; Maria Ynez Flores, 19; Kyle Joseph Edelen, 31; Frank Eugene Martinez, 26; and Chase Ross Twomey, 26, from Nipomo. Emil Brieg IV, 19, and Peter Bernard Salinas, 55, from Oceano were also arrested, as well as Jim Elkins, 59, from Grover Beach.
The dozen made their initial appearances before a federal judge in Los Angeles on April 8.
In total, 13 people face federal charges. Victor “Speedy” Gonzales, 36, of Nipomo, managed to escape, and authorities are still looking for him.
Several weapons, including handguns and rifles, were confiscated during the raid, the FBI said.
The bust, which reportedly took place in several locations in south San Luis Obispo County, followed an investigation into the organization by the Central Coast Safe Streets Task Force. The force includes the FBI, CHP, and the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office.
With the help of confidential informants, the investigation began in winter 2013, targeting the Rocha family in Nipomo and several members of an alleged drug trafficking organization, according a federal indictment unsealed on April 7.
Federal authorities accuse the Rochas of conspiring to distribute highly pure methamphetamine and other drugs, including cocaine and heroin, in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties.
The indictment doesn’t mention how the task force believes the family would allegedly acquire the drugs.
“The task force is continuing to investigate what appears to be a very close proximity to the source of the methamphetamine, which was of high purity,” Eimiller told the Sun.
Tony Cipolla, spokesperson for the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office, told the Sun that FBI officials believe there may be a link to Mexican drug cartels.
This article appears in Apr 16-23, 2015.
