Thirteen defendants made their initial appearance in federal court in Los Angeles on Monday, 1 February 2016, to face drug smuggling charges after officers intercepted a Mexican panga carrying nearly 3,000 pounds of marijuana in southern Santa Barbara County over the weekend.[1] A criminal complaint filed the previous Sunday charged the 13 with possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, and included Hector Raul Bernal-Lara, 41; Ricardo Sanchez-Marquez, 36; Daniel Aguilar, 25; Mark Garcia, 23; Susana Tobaldo, 42; Kevin Tes, 22; Josh Rubio, 21; Alfonso Aguilar-Ballestros, 48; Jesus Moreno-Sepulveda, 31; Santiago Galvan-Carrillo, 48; Paul Armenta-Bueno, 34; Bryan Castro, 18; and Daniel Fernando-Huizar, 26.[1]
The U.S. Coast Guard spotted the panga with three occupants early on Saturday, 30 January 2016, at Arroyo Quemada Beach, about 20 miles west of Santa Barbara.[2] According to the affidavit, authorities believed three people were piloting the boat and saw about 15 people on shore helping to unload the bales.[1] Two vans and a pick-up truck drove separately to the beach, bales were loaded into the truck and one van, and the vehicles left about the same time in different directions.[1] Officers stopped the marijuana van in Camarillo, the second van when it returned to Arroyo Quemada Beach, and the truck carrying marijuana in Carpinteria.[1] The Los Angeles Times reported that 13 people were arrested on suspicion of distributing marijuana.[2]
Law enforcement seized 114 bales of marijuana weighing in excess of 2,800 pounds, about 1,270 kg, from the two vehicles.[1] U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation with the Coast Guard, Border Patrol and the sheriff’s departments of Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties.[1]
U.S. Attorney Eileen M. Decker said smuggling by panga boat endangers the lives of both the smugglers and the authorities interdicting the boats and their payloads, and that law enforcement would keep using all available means to curtail it.[1] The charges in the complaint carry a maximum penalty of life in prison, and the Times reported that each defendant faces up to life if convicted.[2] A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime, and every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.[1]
