Countywide Raid Picks Up Alleged Hell's Angels Members and Associates

Raids around San Diego County on Thursday resulted in the arrest 26 alleged members and associates of the motorcycle gang on suspicion of trafficking in methamphetamine, authorities reported.

The sweep, which involved about 250 law enforcement personnel, including , local, state and federal agents, began around 6 a.m., according to the FBI.

"The searches resulted in the seizure of thousands of dollars in U.S.
currency, 10 firearms and quantities of drugs,'' FBI spokesman Darrell Foxworth said. "During this investigation, agents and detectives (also) prevented a kidnapping."

According to Foxworth, the raids took place at 19 locations around San Diego county. In addition to the 26 arrested, six suspects were alread in custody and four suspects were not located and remain at large.

The raids and charges are the result of a two-year probe into drug related violent crimes allegedly committed by the San Diego-area chapter of the notorious motorcycle gang. The probe was led by the FBI's Violent Crime Gang Task Force.

Arrested suspects were booked into the Metropolitan Correctional Center in downtown San Diego and are expected to appear before a federal judge Friday afternoon.

The FBI supplied a list of the defendents:

"The complaint charges the following defendants with Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1), 846-Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine.

• Michael Edward Ottinger Jr. (1)
• David Raymond Garcia (2)
• Ernesto Verdugo Jr. (3)
• Jonathan Alfredo Garcia-Jara (4)
• Robert Cota Jr. (5)
• Martin Francisco Moreno (6)
• Jaime Mota-Marquillo (7)
• Hugo Gomez Flores (8)
• Rory Cruz Flanigan (9)
• Jason Alex Scanlon (10)
• Stephan Paul Vukelich (11)
• Eduardo Andres Sarquiz (12)
• Juan Antonio Mendez (13)
• Philip John Castagnola (14)
• Billy Manuel Castellano (15)
• Daniel Joseph Seiler (16)
• Grant Eugent Bisel Jr. (17)
• Cynthia Marie Stephan (18)
• Matthew Joseph Mooney (19)
• Cheryl Marie Frega (20)
• Darrel Lee Cooper (21)
• Robert Blaine Hodges (22)
• Mercedes Nina Cohen (23)
• Bruce Kevin Lambert (24)
• Jason Michael Bradford (25)
• Douglas Edward Witcher (26)
• Phalen Farber (27)
• Tina Marie Bray (28)
• Derek Ralph Low (29)
• Mary Elizabeth Saber (30)
• Martin Thomas Forschner (31)
• Quinton Lynn Koonce II (32)
• Anthony James Medvec (33)
• Andre Guy Almarez (34)

Charged in a separate complaint were Patrick James Haggerty and Leo David Garcia, Jr. Both were charged with Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a) (1), 846-Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine.

An arrest itself is not evidence that the defendants committed crimes charged. The defendants are presumed innocent until the government meets its burden in court of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt."

City News Service contributed to this report.