Drug Trafficker Linked to Hells Angels Sentenced to 21 Years

United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that David Raymond Garcia, a methamphetamine dealer and associate of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to serve 262 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. At today’s hearing, U.S. District Judge Marilyn L. Huff also sentenced Jason Scanlon, another methamphetamine supplier charged in the case, to serve 188 months in custody. These two defendants were prosecuted as part of an FBI Violent Crimes Task Force investigation that ultimately resulted in 36 defendants being charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

According to court documents and information provided at the sentencing hearing by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew G. Schopler, Garcia supplied drugs to or employed at least 20 co-defendants (and Scanlon at least four co-defendants) during the course of the investigation into methamphetamine trafficking and violent crimes committed by the San Diego Chapter of the Hells Angels and their criminal partners. Court documents also show that Garcia and co-defendant Michael Ottinger, Jr., the Sergeant-at-Arms for the Hells Angels, used violent force and intimidation to control the methamphetamine trade in San Diego. On December 3, 2012, Judge Huff sentenced Ottinger for his role in the methamphetamine conspiracy to serve 262 months in federal prison. Ottinger still faces murder charges in state court relating to the 2010 murder of a rival member of the Mongols motorcycle gang.

U.S. District Judge Marilyn L. Huff found both Garcia and Scanlon to be career offenders under federal law. This offense is Garcia’s ninth felony conviction, including eight drug felonies and one felony for forging an access card to commit fraud. Scanlon now has ten felony convictions, including eight drug felonies, one felony for receiving stolen property, and one felony for evading a peace officer.

United States Attorney Duffy stated, “Individuals involved in the drug trade not only proliferate the spread of dangerous narcotics in our society, but they also destabilize our communities with violence and related criminal activities. Our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners on the task force have done the San Diego community a great service by taking these dangerous offenders off the street.”

Defendants Case Number: 10CR5016-H

David Raymond Garcia, Age: 43
Jason Alex Scanlon, Age: 42

Summary of Charges

Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine-Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 846

Agencies

Federal Bureau of Investigation
San Diego Police Department
San Diego County Probation Department
Oceanside Police Department
National City Police Department
Chula Vista Police Department
San Diego County Sheriff’s Department
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office

Summary of Sentences in Criminal Case: 10cr5016-H

Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine-Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 846

Summary of sentences for illegal use of a communication facility to facilitate meth trafficking-Title 21, United States Code, Section 843(b):

Martin Thomas Forschner: 30 months
Patrick James Haggerty: 46 months

Law enforcement continues to seek the public’s assistance in locating fugitive defendant Ernesto Verdugo, Jr. Anyone with information regarding this fugitive may contact the FBI at (858) 565-1255.