SAN DIEGO (CN) - Twelve people were arrested and charged with conspiring to bring methamphetamine into San Diego County for Mexican drug cartels, federal prosecutors said.
A thirteenth defendant already was in custody before the 12 arrests Wednesday, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement. Six of the 19 defendants are fugitives.
The drugs were sold in North San Diego County, where most of the defendants live, according to the U.S. attorney.
Arrested Wednesday and in custody are Jose Isidro Rodriguez Lara, 42; Alma Jaime, 38; Manuel Marcial, 31; Felipe Garcia Gallegos, 27; Guadalupe Natalie Perez; Nancy Blancas Pena, 26; and Sylvia Sanchez Zarate, 47, all of Vista; David Aguilar, 37; and Jose Luis Lopez, 67, both of San Marcos; Rosalia Lourdes Nieves, 30, of Spring Valley; Alicia Reyna Marin, 49, of Oceanside; and Miguel Gutierrez Marantes, 26, of Panorama City.
Already in state custody was Leonardo Garcia Gaytan, 26, of San Marcos,
Fugitive are Sylvia Lara, 29; Julio Cesar Rodriguez Zarate, 38; Jose Juan Mancilla Monje, 46; Edson Solis Valdovinos, 25; Nathan Kahakulani Yasso, 68; and Hernan Sebastian Bernal, 26, all of Vista.
If convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, they face 10 years to life in prison and fines of up to $4 million.
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