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Auto theft suspect jailed in Industry

By Brian Day on April 3, 2010 8:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

INDUSTRY -- Sheriff's deputies jailed a suspected car thief Saturday, authorities said.
Hector Cabral Jr., 31, of Downey was booked on suspicion of auto theft, Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. Mario Estrada said.
The incident began about 5:15 p.m. when deputies from the sheriff's Walnut-Diamond Bar Station tracked a LoJack vehicle anti-theft system signal to Castleton Street and Hanover Road in Industry, the sergeant said.
Deputies watched as Cabral Jr. and female passenger got into the car and began to drive, Estrada said.
Cabral immediately pulled over when deputies pulled up behind him, he added, even before they turned on their emergency lights. He surrendered to deputies without incident.

Huntington Park cop known as "The Godfather" sentenced in drug case

By Frank Girardot on September 21, 2009 1:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) |

This from the U.S. Department of Justice:

A former Huntington Park Police Officer who for a time worked on federal drug trafficking investigations was sentenced today to 15 years in federal prison for stealing cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana from narcotics dealers and then selling the drugs for personal profit.

Sergeant Alvaro Murillo, 45, of West Covina, who was called El Padrino (The Godfather) by his co-conspirators, was sentenced late this morning by United States District Judge Stephen V. Wilson.

The sentencing follows a trial in May in which a federal court jury found Murillo guilty of two drug conspiracies, one count of extortion and one count of submitting a false tax return. The evidence at trial showed that Murillo orchestrated six thefts, which yielded him nearly 700 pounds of marijuana, four pounds of methamphetamine and well over 10 pounds of cocaine. Murillo attempted a seventh theft of 30 kilograms of cocaine - "the big one," as he called it - but that was not successful because the target was an undercover federal agent who was posing as a drug dealer. Sentencing papers filed by the government argued that Murillo was involved in additional drug thefts not discussed at his trial.

From late 2002 through the fall of 2006, Murillo worked with informants - who sometimes called themselves the "black tactic group" - to identify drug dealers from whom they could steal narcotics. Once a target was identified, Murillo checked law enforcement databases to obtain information about the dealer and to make sure there were no legitimate investigations into the target. After planning the thefts, the informants would trick the drug dealer into turning over narcotics or otherwise cause the drug dealer to leave without payment, often with Murillo in the area to act as backup. Once they had secured the narcotics, Murillo and the people involved in the thefts made arrangements to store and then to sell the stolen drugs. Testimony at trial showed that Murillo typically demanded to receive the sale of drug proceeds in cash, and the jury heard evidence that he received training on money laundering tactics used by narcotics traffickers.

Fatman and the Godfather

By Frank Girardot on January 17, 2008 4:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) |

UPDATED AND CORRECTED 1/17/07 7:14 p.m.

Federal authorities indicted Huntington Park police Sgt. Alvaro Murillo on conspiracy charges in connection with a coke and pot distribution scheme he operated.

Murillo, identified in court documents as 'El Padrino" was arrested at his West Covina home Thursday morning and appeared in federal court Thursday afternoon.

Federal documents indicate Murillo was ratted out by an informant. His co-defendant has been identified as Alberto Del Real-Gallardo, aka "Panzon."

Here's how their scheme worked: A target would be identified. Del Real-Gallardo and another informant would allegedly trick the target out of their dope through a series of ruses. Murillo is suspected of turning around and selling the drugs.

Murillo, described by those who knew him as a likeable guy, was suspended by the HPPD in Sept. 2006. If convicted he faces a life prison sentence.

Here's a copy of the indictment.

There's some supplemental information that I'll need to scan. It contains transcripts of some wiretaps and other information. A public records search of information associated with El Padrino indicates he was also employed by a Los Angeles trucking company.

Murillo was placed on paid administrative leave by the HPPD in Sept. 2006, after they were approached by federal authorities.