A Gilroy woman captured in Monterey County's largest undercover sting operation pleaded guilty to conspiracy and faces up to three years in prison.
Raquel Gonzalez, 33, will be sentenced Nov. 13 after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit auto theft, according to the according to the Monterey County Office of the District Attorney. She is among 48 alleged drug traffickers, car thieves and firearms violators arrested in May during the culmination of Operation Money Train - an undercover sting launched in June 2008 that turned up dozens of stolen vehicles, drugs and firearms.
Initially launched by the California Highway Patrol to combat a 48 percent increase in auto thefts in Monterey County during 2007, the operation included investigators and agents from multiple law enforcement agencies who set up shop buying stolen vehicles in Prunedale, according to Monterey County Deputy District Attorney Marisol Mendez.
"They wanted to get as many firearms off the street as possible," she said.
About half a dozen "notable" suspects who were responsible for large amounts of methamphetamine trafficking were arrested in Gilroy and the Gilroy Police Department's gang task force participated in the sweep, said CHP Sgt. Juan Cervantes.
Police recovered 60 stolen vehicles worth about $500,000, 33 firearms and nearly $1.4 million in drugs, according to a statement issued earlier this year by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. All told, 1,361 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 180 grams of heroin and 320 grams of cocaine were recovered.
All of the suspects arrested during the sting were charged. Their crimes range from firearms and drug possession to vehicle theft and conspiracy, Mendez said. Three defendants face federal charges, 37 face state charges and eight face both federal and state charges, according to a press release issued by her office. A number of the defendants were identified as felons and some are documented gang members and associates, police said.
Though Mendez said she is wrapping up the prosecution as far as the state is concerned, recent developments include the sentencing of three defendants from Salinas and Watsonville. A judge sentenced Gabriel Cortez, 21, of Salinas, to six years in state prison; Rodrigo Vaca, 32, of Watsonville, to 16 months in state prison; and Salina Davis, 24, of Salinas, to three years and four months in state prison. However, the judge deferred the execution of Davis' prison sentence and placed the defendant on felony probation, according to the press release.
Sara Suddes Sara Suddes is the education reporter for South Valley Newspapers. Send her an email or (408) 847-7158.
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