LOS ANGELES
An Ontario man was arrested Wednesday for allegedly playing a key role in an international drug-trafficking organization that was responsible for shipping more than 1,000 pounds of methamphetamine across the globe, officials stated.
Jorge Gomez Torres, 66, was named in an eight-count indictment that was unsealed this afternoon when he arrived at his arraignment in federal court.
The indictment charges Torres with three counts – one count of drug trafficking and two counts of money laundering.
Torres plead not guilty to the charges.
A Jan. 28 trial date has been scheduled..
Torres – who was also known as “the Filipino,” among other aliases – allegedly coordinated drug shipments to the Philippines, and from there methamphetamine was illegally imported into the United States.
On Christmas Day in 2013, law enforcement seized approximately 84 kilograms (185 pounds) of methamphetamine from a rooster ranch Torres owned in the Philippines.
In shipping the methamphetamine around the globe, the criminal organization employed a variety of means to conceal the contraband.
Members of the conspiracy used shell companies to obtain shipping documents that were used to send drugs to countries such as the Philippines to Australia. The methamphetamine was often hidden in machinery, including an industrial asphalt roller that was recovered in Manzanillo, Mexico and computer equipment that was seized in Memphis, Tennessee.
The indictment charges a total of 17 defendants, most of whom are fugitives believed to be in Mexico, according to authorities.
Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
DOJ NOTED:
This matter is being investigated by the DEA. This investigation is being conducted with the support of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF).
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander B. Schwab of the Major Frauds Section and Ben Balding of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section.