FBI, National City Police Department, and San Diego Sheriff’s Department Seek Public’s Assistance to Identify Hoax Bomb Suspects

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The FBI, Chula Vista Police Department, and San Diego Sheriff’s Department are seeking the public’s assistance to identify the individuals responsible for threatening to use a bomb during an attempted robbery of the Chase Bank, 1130 East Plaza Boulevard, National City, California, on Thursday, October 6, 2011.

On Thursday, October 6, 2011, at approximately 9:12 a.m., the Chase Bank, 1130 East Plaza Boulevard, National City, California, was the victim of an attempted bank robbery involving a hoax bomb threat.

At approximately 9:12 a.m., a call was received by an employee working inside of the Chase Bank, 1130 East Plaza Boulevard, National City, California. The caller, believed to be a male, told the employee to place $100,000 cash inside of a green bag that was sitting near a red bag. The employee was then directed to place the bag near an object outside of the bank. The caller threatened to use a bomb if the employee did not comply with his demands. The employee alerted other employees inside of the bank, at which time the bank was evacuated and law enforcement contacted

At about the same time the call was received at the bank, an unknown female wearing a dark blue hooded sweatshirt and dark sweatpants, was observed carrying a red sports like bag and a green like shopping bag right outside of the bank. The suspect dropped both bags inside of the bank lobby door and walked away heading west across the parking lot. The suspect was observed removing the hooded sweatshirt and pants. The hooded sweatshirt and pants were recovered under a parked car in a nearby parking lot.

Witnesses describe the female suspect as follows:

■Sex: Female

■Race: Black
■Age: Unknown
■Height: Approximately 5’6” to 5’7”
■ Weight: Approximately 145 lbs. to 170 lbs.
■ Build: Heavy
■Hair/Coloring: Unknown
■Clothing: Dark blue hooded sweatshirt and dark blue sweatpants

Anyone with information concerning this attempted robbery is asked to contact the FBI at telephone number (858) 565-1255 or Crimestoppers at (888) 580-8477. You may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 by calling either telephone number.

Thirty-Six Defendants with Ties to Hells Angels Motorcycle Club Charged in Federal Drug Conspiracy Investigation

Bet you didn't know about these San Diego Police books!

Keith Slotter, Special Agent in Charge of the San Diego FBI office, announces the arrest of 26 people with ties to the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. Six defendants were already in custody and four are considered fugitives at this time.

On Thursday, September 29, 2011, over 250 law enforcement officers, deputies, and agents from San Diego County participated in arrests and searches of individuals and locations with ties to the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club.

Twenty-six people were arrested today on federal drug charges, and 19 locations searched. The searches resulted in the seizure of thousands of dollars in U.S. currency, 10 firearms, and quantities of drugs.

The charges in this matter stem from a two-year investigation conducted by the FBI’s Violent Crime Gang Task Force. The investigation focused on the methamphetamine trafficking and violent crimes committed by the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club (San Diego Charter) and their criminal partners. As set forth in the complaint, the defendants are members and associates of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. During this investigation agents and detectives prevented a kidnapping.

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.

Members of the FBI Violent Crime Gang Task Force are as follows: San Diego Police Department, San Diego Sheriff’s Department, Bureau of Prisons, National City Police Department, Chula Vista Police Department, Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Attorney’s Office, San Diego District Attorney’s Office, and San Diego County Probation Department.

Those arrested in today’s operation have been booked into the Metropolitan Correctional Center and will have their initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge on Friday, September 30, 2011. This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

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.

Man Sought for 25 Years on Calif. Homicide Case Captured by CBP Officers at El Paso Port

El Paso, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers working at the Ysleta international crossing in El Paso have arrested a man wanted on an outstanding National City, Calif. homicide warrant. The arrest was made in connection with a 1986 killing.

The arrest was made just before 11:00 a.m. Tuesday after 55-year-old Efren Gutierrez Villalobos arrived in the U.S. from Mexico as a pedestrian border crosser. CBP officers initiated an inspection and confirmed that the subject was wanted in Calif. The man was taken into custody and turned over the El Paso Police Department and booked into the El Paso County Jail to await transport to California to face the charges associated with the warrant. He remains jailed at this time.

According to the National City Police Department, Efren Gutierrez Villalobos and another man were identified as suspects in the July 7, 1986 killing of a 19-year-old man in National City. The man had been struck with unknown object and also run over by a vehicle. National City police believe Efren Gutierrez Villalobos fled the country for Mexico shortly after the killing.

“The CBP inspection process generates numerous fugitive arrests every year,” said El Paso Port Director Hector Mancha. “Fugitives will flee the nation to avoid the reach of U.S. law enforcement however many are identified and captured by CBP officers when they choose to return.”

While anti-terrorism is the primary mission of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the inspection process at the ports of entry associated with this mission results in impressive numbers of enforcement actions in all categories.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

FBI and National City Police Seek Public’s Assistance to Identify California Coast Credit Union Robber

The FBI and National City Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance to identify an unknown male responsible for robbing the California Coast Credit Union, located at

1704 Sweetwater Road, National City, California

, on Friday, March 4, 2011.

On Friday, March 4, 2011, at approximately 9:17 a.m., an unknown male robbed the California Coast Credit Union, located at

1704 Sweetwater Road, National City, California

, According to witnesses, the robber walked into the bank and stood in the teller line. After a few minutes, the robber pulled out a revolver and yelled for everyone to get on the floor. The robber then proceeded to rob several tellers. After receiving a sum of money the robber exited the bank.

Witnesses describe the robber as follows:

Sex: Male

Race: Black

Age: Early 20s

Height: Approximately 5’9” tall

Weight: Approximately 160 – 170 lbs.

Build: Medium

Hair: Black—goatee beard

Clothing: Dark baseball cap, dark long sleeve shirt, and dark pants

Weapon: Revolver—held in left hand

Bank surveillance photographs from the California Coast Credit Union,

1704 Sweetwater Road, National City, California

, on Friday, March 4, 2011.

Anyone with information concerning this robbery is asked to contact the FBI at telephone number (858) 565-1255 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. You may remain anonymous by calling the FBI or Crime Stoppers. This robber should be considered armed and dangerous.