Full Press Conference — Arrests in the takedown of a gang in Poway announced

[0:07] Good afternoon. Thanks for being here. I'm United States Attorney Adam Gordon. [0:12] On stage with me are Assistant United States Attorney Jill Strasia, the lead prosecutor on [0:17] this case, Mark Remley, Special Agent in Charge, FBI's San Diego Field Office, San Diego County [0:24] Under Sheriff Richard Williams, California Highway Patrol Assistant Chief Mike Vargas, [0:29] Oceanside Police Department Assistant Chief John McKean, Carlsbad Police Chief Christy Calderwood, [0:36] Assistant United States Attorney Bianca Calderon Penaloza, who will deliver remarks in Spanish, [0:41] and Tammy Bredsky, Deputy SAC for Homeland Security Investigations. We are here to announce multiple [0:49] indictments charging 42 alleged members of a conspiracy led by a prominent Poway gang member. [0:57] The defendants, including members and associates of various San Diego County gangs, are accused of [1:03] distributing large amounts of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and other drugs. The lead defendant, [1:10] John Marquez, is a documented member of the Poway Street Gang known as the Farrio Hidden Hills. [1:16] We allege that Marquez is the leader of an international drug trafficking organization [1:21] with gang associates and his distributors. Now, criminal gangs are less territorial than they [1:28] have been in the past. San Diego isn't like the wire where you have gangs obsessively fighting over corners. [1:36] Instead, criminal networks operate across suburban and urban boundaries, enabled by technology, [1:44] often with less visible footprints and increasingly sophisticated. They're business-like connections [1:51] to domestic trafficking organizations, as well as foreign terrorist organizations. Their legal [1:56] activity isn't just limited to narcotics trafficking. Many of these defendants have criminal records that [2:02] include robberies, assaults, and other violent or dangerous conduct. Case in point, [2:08] FBI agents came under fire while serving one of the arrest warrants early Wednesday morning [2:13] in a house in Lemon Grove. Here's a photograph of this. You'll also have it in the press release [2:18] and in the digital images. So shots were fired through the front door of the home, many of which [2:24] were passed by law enforcement hit nearby residences and vehicles, endangering the lives both of law [2:30] enforcement and members of the community. Luckily, no one was injured and the tactical team was able to [2:36] take the target into custody safely. That shooting is now under investigation and additional charges [2:42] will be forthcoming. There'll be additional media of the seizures that took place as well. This case is a reminder [2:52] that gang crime doesn't always look the way that people expect. It doesn't always announce itself. [2:58] Sometimes it operates quietly behind an ordinary suburban landscape, but out of sight doesn't mean [3:06] out of mind. With these arrests, the people who live and work in this community can know that law [3:13] enforcement is working diligently to protect them from the criminals that quietly lurk in the shadows. [3:19] I'll finish by thanking our partners. San Diego law enforcement is unusually tight-knit. The North County [3:27] Regional Gang Task Force, represented in part by the agencies on this stage, is a terrific example. [3:35] As we now have fully transitioned to the Homeland Security Task Force model, championed by President [3:40] Trump and Attorney General Blanche, we will continue to focus on violent crime and criminals [3:47] to ensure that the historic and unprecedented gains in public safety continue now and in the future. [3:55] Now, I'm going to introduce AUSA Jill Strasia, who is the lead prosecutor in this case. At the very end, [4:01] we will have time for questions related to this investigation. All right, Jill, come on up. [4:06] Good afternoon. I want to thank everybody for being here, and particularly thank all the federal, state, [4:22] and local law enforcement agencies who have all come together to make sure that this operation was a [4:27] success. Here's what I can share with you today. Law enforcement currently has 34 indicted defendants [4:34] in custody charged as part of this drug trafficking organization. There are more charges pending and more [4:40] arrests to come. These arrests arise out of an FBI investigation that was initiated in mid-2024 into the [4:49] Vario Hidden Hills criminal street gang and associated illegal activity in Poway, and specifically a senior [4:56] ranking member of that gang, John Marquez and his associates. The investigation quickly expanded to all of [5:04] San Diego County and other parts of California due to the expansive and overlapping criminal networks. Among numerous [5:13] investigative techniques, the investigation has included multiple rounds of court-authorized Title III [5:19] interceptions, including interceptions over cell phones used by Marquez, as well as over phone lines [5:26] used by several of his co-conspirators. The investigation revealed Marquez's role as the leader of a transnational [5:34] narcotics distribution network. In particular, investigators identified several Mexico-based sources of supply [5:42] who provided methamphetamine and fentanyl to the Marquez network. Investigators also were able to identify a [5:49] United States-based source of supply. Marquez, who crossed to and from Mexico regularly to meet with his suppliers, [5:57] worked with his primary sub-distributors to distribute narcotics throughout San Diego County [6:02] through a highly productive multi-tiered organization. Marquez would then collect money from the [6:08] sub-distributors and then send those funds back to his sources in Mexico. Two of these sub-distributors, Kevin [6:14] Plowman, and another charged co-conspirator, in addition to being trusted and reliable sub-distributors in the Marquez [6:22] network, each had their own distribution networks composed of its own sources of supply, sub-distributors, [6:28] and customers, and they have therefore also been charged separately with their own network of co-conspirators. [6:35] Through the investigation, investigators conducted multiple seizures of narcotics, including well over 27 [6:42] kilograms of methamphetamine, over a thousand grams of cocaine, as well as seizures of fentanyl, heroin, [6:49] and other substances, and over $45,000 in cash. As part of the law enforcement action over the last two days, [6:57] law enforcement also executed 10 residential search warrants, at which they recovered multiple firearms, [7:04] including rifles, handguns, and a shotgun, various ammunition, rifle magazines and parts, [7:10] a Glock full auto conversion guide, additional controlled substances, and over $64,000 in cash. [7:19] The indictments and documents that are unsealed at this point detail the evidence at a high level. [7:24] We'll be providing more information as the cases proceed. And at this time, [7:29] I'd like to introduce Mark Remily, Special Agent in Charge, FBI. [7:32] Mark Remily, Special Agent in Charge, FBI. [7:37] Thank you, AUSA Estreja. Good morning and thank you all for being here. My name is Mark Remily. I'm the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI San Diego Field Office. [7:44] This coordinated operation reflects the FBI's ongoing commitment to protecting the communities of San Diego County from violent crime. [7:53] Since 2024, FBI San Diego and our partners have been investigating criminal activity around Poway. [7:59] As the investigation developed, we identified the lead subject as a leader of the Vario Hidden Hill Street Gang, [8:06] which is a Sereno-based gang affiliated with the Mexican Mafia. The lead subjects frequent cross-border travel to meet with individuals in Mexico, [8:15] who were believed to be associated with cartel activity, indicated to investigators that he had [8:19] ties to broader trafficking networks, including contacts believed to be members or associates of the Sinaloa cartel. [8:25] Over two years, we uncovered a drug trafficking network responsible for removing fentanyl, methamphetamine, [8:31] cocaine, heroin, MDMA, ketamine, and other narcotics into San Diego County and beyond. [8:39] The complexity and dangers of this operation were made clear on the first day of the takedown, [8:43] when agents came under fire through the front door of a residence as they attempted to execute a lawful [8:47] federal arrest warrant in Lemon Grove. Those actions put our agents and nearby families at risk. [8:55] Fortunately, no one was struck by gunfire, though an agent did sustain non-life-threatening injuries [9:00] while taking the subject into custody. Because this was an agent-involved shooting, the FBI's inspection [9:07] division is conducting a thorough and objective review. In keeping with FBI policy, we will not be able to [9:12] discuss specifics while that review continues. The safety of the public and our personnel is always [9:18] our top priority, and ensuring that safety required significant coordination. We deployed specialized [9:24] resources from the FBI's Critical Incident Response Group, including SWAT and HRT, supported by multiple [9:30] FBI field offices from Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Sacramento, and Phoenix. This operation depended on broad [9:38] collaboration, and I want to recognize the many agencies whose partnership was essential. San Diego County [9:44] Sheriff's Office, California Highway Patrol, Oceanside Police Department, California Department of [9:49] Corrections and Rehabilitation, National City Police Department, Riverside County Sheriff's Office, [9:54] San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, Tulare County Sheriff's Office, ATF, HSI, CBP, the U.S. Marshals, [10:01] and others. We're also grateful for the support of the San Diego Imperial County HIDA and the Homeland Security [10:07] Task Force teams. The professionalism and coordination demonstrated by the hundreds of law enforcement [10:13] personnel involved truly stood out and reflect the strength of the partnerships across this region. [10:19] As of this morning, we have arrested 34 of the 42 indicted subjects. Our local law enforcement [10:24] partners also made 10 additional probable cause arrests. We've seized over $64,000 in cash, [10:31] along with guns and ammunition, and over the course of the investigation, we've seized more than 29 [10:35] kilograms of methamphetamine, more than a kilogram of cocaine, and additional quantities of heroin, [10:41] fentanyl, and other drugs. I want to thank all our partners for their continued dedication to the [10:46] community, for their patience and cooperation. Today's outcome represents meaningful progress [10:52] in our efforts to reduce violent crime and keep our neighborhoods safe. Our commitment to safeguarding [10:57] this region is unwavering, and we will continue working with our partners to hold violent offenders [11:01] accountable. Thank you, and with that, I'll turn it over to the San Diego Sheriff, Under Sheriff, [11:06] Rich Williams. Good afternoon, I'm Under Sheriff Rich Williams with the San Diego County Sheriff's Office. [11:24] On behalf of Sheriff Kelly Martinez and our entire organization, I want to commend every law [11:29] enforcement agency involved in this investigation, which led to dozens of arrests. San Diego County [11:35] is blessed to have incredible teamwork and cooperation among local, state, and federal law enforcement [11:39] partners. This kind of collaboration makes it much easier for law enforcement to keep our region safe [11:44] from any kind of threat, including drug trafficking. I especially want to spotlight the fantastic [11:49] investigative work of the North County Regional Gang Task Force, which includes deputies, analysts, [11:54] and sheriff's leadership. For more than two years, they worked tirelessly with our partner law enforcement [11:59] agencies with one goal in mind, to keep our communities safe from the illicit drug trade. [12:05] Their great investigative work led to the arrest of several drug dealers and documented gang members. [12:10] Street gangs pose a danger to any community they are in and often use drug trafficking to fund other [12:15] illegal activities. In this case, we saw an increase in violent acts from the street gang that was the focus of this operation. [12:21] That started out as an investigation to take down what started out as an investigation to take down [12:26] a local street gang uncovered a major drug trafficking operation that was smuggling methamphetamine [12:32] into America from Mexico. Working together on this investigation and this week's operation, [12:38] law enforcement and our region have successfully dismantled a dangerous drug trafficking operation [12:43] and sent a clear message to criminals. Once again, thank you to everyone who worked together [12:49] to keep our region safe from drug traffickers and street gangs. Now I'd like to introduce [12:54] California Highway Patrol Assistant Chief Mike Vargas. Good afternoon and thank you for being here today. [13:19] For more than 30 years, the California Highway Patrol has proudly partnered with local, state, [13:24] and federal law enforcement agencies to combat criminal activity and protect the communities we serve. [13:29] Our participation in these task forces is about collaboration, sharing resources, [13:36] and working toward a common goal, keeping our communities safe. Today, the CHP participates [13:42] in more than 75 task forces statewide with approximately 190 personnel assigned to operations [13:49] involving organized crime, drug trafficking, human trafficking, vehicle theft, organized retail crime, [13:55] crime, and other serious criminal activity. The CHP provides statewide resources, specialized personnel, [14:03] air operations, canine teams, intelligence sharing, and seamless communication capabilities. Criminal [14:10] organizations do not recognize jurisdictional boundaries and neither should our ability to work [14:16] together to bring them justice. A prime example of this partnership is Operation Tell No Tales. An [14:24] extensive investigation conducted by the North County Regional Gang Task Force led jointly by the FBI, the CHP, [14:31] and our allied agency partners. And we have already heard the outstanding results of that operation and collaboration. [14:37] The CHP's involvement has extended well beyond traditional traffic enforcement. Our investigations have [14:45] worked alongside federal agents as case investigators supported by CHP K9 units, specialized enforcement teams, [14:53] and additional Border Division Investigative Services personnel. This operation demonstrates the importance of [15:00] combining investigative expertise, specialized resources, and strong interagency partnerships. No single agency [15:11] can address the complex criminal organizations alone. But by working together, sharing intelligence, and coordinating our efforts, [15:20] we can disrupt criminal networks and make a meaningful difference in the communities we serve. As California State Police, [15:28] the CHP remains committed to supporting our law enforcement partners, holding those who threaten public safety accountable, [15:37] and protecting the people of California. Thank you. And it is my pleasure to introduce Assistant United [15:43] States Attorney, Bianca Calderón Penaloza. Buenas tardes. Estamos aquí para anunciar varias acusaciones federales [16:03] contra 42 personas que presuntamente forman parte de una conspiración encabezada por un prominente miembro de una pandilla [16:11] de Poway. Entre los acusados hay miembros y asociados de distintas pandillas del contado de San Diego. [16:18] Se les acusa de conspirar para distribuir grandes cantidades de metenfentamina, fentanilo, y otras drogas. [16:26] El acusado principal, John Marquez, es un miembro documentado de la pandilla de Poway conocida como [16:32] Vario Hidden Hills. Alegamos que Marquez es el líder de una organización internacional de narcotráfico y utiliza como distribuidoras de a personas viniculadas a pandillas. [16:42] Las pandillas son menos territoriales que en el pasado. San Diego no es como la serie de televisión, The Wire, [16:51] donde las pandillas luchan obsesivamente por el control de las esquinas. Las redes criminales operan tanto en zonas urbanas como suburbanas, [17:01] a menudo con una presencia menos visible y con viniculos cada vez más sofisticadas y de tipo empresarial con organizaciones de narcotráfico nacionales e internacionales. [17:13] Su actividad ilegal no se limita al narcotráfico. Muchos de esos acusados tienen antecedentes penales por robos, agresiones y otros actos violentos y peligrosos. [17:26] Un ejemplo claro. Agentes del FBI fueron blancos de disparos mientras se ejecutaban una de las órdenes de arresto la madrugada de miércoles en una casa en Lemon Grove. [17:39] Se hicieron disparos a través de la puerta principal de la casa. Muchos de esos disparos pasaron junto a los agentes y alcanzaron viviendas y vehículos cercanos, [17:49] poniendo en peligro la vida tanto de los agentes como de personas de la comunidad. Afortunadamente, nadie resultó herido y el equipo táctico pudo detener al sospechoso de forma segura. [18:02] El tiroteo está bajo investigación y podrían presentarse cargos adicionales. [18:07] Este caso nos recuerda que el crimen organizado no siempre tiene el aspecto que la gente imagina. No siempre se hace notar. [18:17] A veces, operan silencio, oculto tras la apariencia de un suburbio común y corriente. [18:26] Pero que no esté a la vista no significa que lo perderemos de vista. [18:32] Y seguiremos trabajando para salvaguardar a todas nuestras comunidades de estas pandillas. [18:40] Con estas detenciones, las personas que viven y trabajan en esta comunidad pueden estar tranquilas, [18:47] sabiendo que las fuerzas del orden trabajan con empeño para protegerlas de los delincuentes que operan en las sombras. Gracias. [18:55] Gracias. [18:59] All right. As is typical in our district, we will have one-on-one availabilities for individuals who are up on the stage. [19:04] So I'm not going to take a bunch of questions, but if there are any questions for the group, I'm happy. [19:08] Sure. [19:17] So 42 indicted, 34 arrested. So obviously eight in the wind. Sure. [19:27] First is law enforcement's focused on making sure our communities are safe. [19:41] That's why these operations took place, obviously, to take bad people off the streets. [19:45] We have no ongoing concerns in terms of actual threats or anticipated threats. [19:51] But us and all of our law enforcement partners on high alert constantly, whether it's Halloween, major sporting events, [19:58] other times where we need to make sure that our focus is on the community. [20:01] And that will be this weekend as well. [20:03] Any other questions before we do one-on-ones? [20:07] No. [20:08] You know, I don't want to just speculate and give you a number. [20:13] I'd have to do the math on the various seizures. [20:15] We could get that for you. [20:16] You can ask them here or whatever. [20:22] Sure. [20:25] So obviously there's ongoing litigation. It's curling up to the Ninth Circuit. [20:38] So I can't make any statements related to that investigation or obviously that lawsuit. [20:42] But I appreciate the question. [21:04] No, I appreciate the question. [21:05] But again, there's pending litigation, so I can't answer. [21:08] All right. Any other questions? [21:09] All right. Appreciate it, team. [21:11] Thanks so much.