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Nine now face charges in drug trafficking bust

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Nine men are now facing charges in one of the largest drug street sales operation busts in the last two decades in Fallbrook. John Chisholm, 24, and Carlos Gonzalez, 27, of Fallbrook voluntarily surrendered to law enforcement officers early the week of June 23 due to outstanding felony warrants that had been issued for their arrest.

Chisholm and Gonzalez were wanted in connection with what authorities are calling an organized crime narcotics trafficking operation that had been based in Fallbrook with ties to a local street gang. Seven other men associated with the drug ring were arrested June 18, 19 and 23.

Authorities say members of the criminal enterprise purchased drugs, including cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamine, from Canada and Mexico, transported them to Fallbrook and distributed them to street-level dealers throughout San Diego County.

“I can tell you [this] was a long-term investigation into drug trafficking in the Fallbrook area,” said Deputy District Attorney Chris Lindberg of the Major Narcotics Division, who will be prosecuting the case. “They utilized undercover officers as well as wiretap equipment.”

Chisholm and Gonzalez were both booked into the Vista jail on counts of transportation of narcotics, sales of narcotics (controlled substances) and conspiracy. Bail was set at $100,000 for Chisholm and $90,000 for Gonzalez.

All nine men arrested, ranging in age from 23 to 36, have been arraigned on a variety of drug-related charges and have a tentative preliminary hearing date of July 7 at Superior Court, San Diego Central Division.

When asked what type of sentences might be expected if the defendants are found guilty of the charges, Lindberg said, “It will differ according to each defendant, depending on the individual’s charges and prior record. It could result in anything from probation with the possibility of up to one year of jail time, to possibly eight years or more in state prison.”

Lt. Derek Clark of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department North County Gang Task Force summarized the drug ring’s operation by saying, “They were a middle-man distributorship – a mid-level narcotics trafficking organization.”

The group had been under investigation for close to two years before arrests were made. Due to the international nature of the operation, the US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agency was involved in the case as well.

“[This is] definitely significant for this community,” Lindberg said. “The Sheriff’s Department did a good job putting together this operation and targeting people who are selling drugs in the Fallbrook community.”

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