The California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo is at the center of attention after a five-month long investigation reveals illegal activity on prison grounds.
In all, 21 people have been arrested for smuggling drugs onto CMC property. Among the suspects charged are two CMC employees and one inmate.
Officials at CMC worked with state, federal and local law enforcement agencies to bust the individuals they say were committing crimes in and around CMC property.
The guard’s gate, metal bars and locked doors at the California Men’s Colony are meant to keep inmates inside and criminal activity outside. But it doesn’t always work that way.
After a five-month long investigation dubbed, “Operation Broken Badge,” 20 people, including two CMC correctional officers, one inmate and an elementary school teacher are arrested and charged in connection with smuggling drugs into the California Men’s Colony.
San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Pat Hedges said, “Operation Broken Badge allowed us to assist the Depart of Corrections and Rehabilitation to remove persons at their organization that were on the wrong side of the bars.”
Officers say the suspects, some connected to each other, some acting alone, were smuggling marijuana, methamphetamine and heroin into the prison.
With cooperation from CMC, local, state and federal agents worked together to uncover the illegal activity that was taking place on prison grounds.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officer David Wales said, “By pooling our expertise and our resources, we have succeeded in dismantling a criminal organization that for the past several years has been a major threat to public safety.”
One man wanted in connection with the case is still outstanding. His name is Federico Solorio Pineda. He’s 49 years old out of the Los Angeles area. He is wanted on a $500,000 bail warrant for sales of controlled substances.
The San Luis Obispo County Grand Jury is set to hear testimony on the case next week. After that, it will provide its findings to the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Reported by: Jill James, Sarah Spotten
About 20 arrests were made this week in a drug bust involving inmates, visitors, and employees of the California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo.
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Department detailed the bust this morning in a press conference. The drug operation involved one CMC officer, inmates and visitors to the prison including a grade school teacher.
The drugs included marijuana, methamphetamines and heroin brought in from Mexico.
Search warrants were served at 11 different locations in northern San Luis Obispo County and the Los Angeles area. The majority of those arrested are from northern San Luis Obispo County.
Local and state officials worked together in this four-month investigation. One suspect remains at large in the Los Angeles area:
- Federico Solorio Pineda
- DOB: January 1, 1960
- Wanted on $500,000 bail warrant for sales of controlled substances
According to David Wales, resident agent in charge for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the drug operation had been going on for several years.
“Operation Broken Badge allowed us to assist the California Department of Corrections in removing persons from their organization that were on the wrong side of the bars,” said Sheriff Pat Hedges.
Click here to see the full list of suspects arrested and the charges against them.
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