SAN DIEGO — Four people on Monday pled not guilty in connection with an alleged protection racket that siphoned money from businesses in Barrio Logan.
One of the suspects is accused of attacking people in Chicano Park. The others are accused of terrorizing business owners along Logan Avenue, trying to force them to pay for so-called security for their businesses.
Authorities arrested a half-dozen suspects last week in connection with the alleged 18-month series of gang-related offenses. The crimes — involving demands for money backed by threats of assault, burglary and vandalism — have "caused great fear" for storefront proprietors and their employees in the 1900 to 2200 blocks of Logan Avenue, according to a statement from the San Diego Police Department. Investigators also mentioned they're investigating two murders that could be tied to the string of crimes.
Monday prosecutors told CBS 8, a fifth suspect was charged with violating probation. Charges haven't yet been filed against a sixth suspect. The DA's office said none of the suspects have been charged with murder.
"During the investigation, gang detectives and San Diego County District Attorney gang prosecutors learned that, in addition to the extortion to the local businesses, there were also physical assaults to (visitors to) Chicano Park, drug violations and the illegal possession of weapons," the statement asserted.
The alleged crimes, which led to 130 calls for police service, included 18 violent crimes, as well as 11 burglaries with losses exceeding $100,000, and four acts of vandalism.
The arrests took place during a search-warrant sweep carried out by SDPD officers, personnel with the county sheriff's and probation departments, the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, police said.
Four suspects arraigned
Jesus Cuevas, 43, faces charges including extortion in association with a street gang. Prosecutors say Cuevas committed nine burglaries between May and August. The judge set his bail at $500,000.
Other suspects arraigned Monday include Jhon Monrreal, 30, Christian Madueno, 46, and Angel Rodriguez, 31. Prosecutors say Rodriguez physically attacked skaters at Chicano Park with a hammer. His bail was set at half a million dollars.
One of the other two suspects police originally arrested in connection with this case was charged with a parole violation. The other suspect has not yet been charged.
Police suspect ties to organized crime
The court orders were served at 16 locations, police Capt. Manny Del Toro told reporters during an afternoon briefing last week. Investigators also "reached out" for potential information from 54 jail and prison inmates, he said.
"And the reason we did this is because we believe this potentially has ties to organized crime," Del Toro told news crews outside downtown SDPD headquarters.
The suspected gang members who allegedly carried out the cash- generating scheme initially would "befriend" their targets, the police captain said.
"They would act non-threatening, welcoming them to the community," Del Toro told reporters. "But over time, the local gang members ... would start to cause problems for the businesses, such as loitering out in front of their businesses ... (leaving) trash, (committing) vandalism to these businesses."
Eventually, an "opportunistic" gang member would approach the victims and suggest that they join a "protection program" for $200 a month — thereby, supposedly, ensuring that "they would not be bothered," Del Toro said.
"However, if they didn't, the business would get vandalized, would get burglarized," the police captain told news crews.
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