Part 2: Mexico/Australia: Playboy Trafficker

Australia/Mexico cocaine trafficking: Playboy Trafficker

To read part 1 link here

To read 2010 article having establishing Sinaloa in Australia read here 

For several months, Owen Michael Hanson had been talking to the feds, unknowingly, at this point. He bragged about collecting drug debts, his sailboat, private investigators, false passports, his homes in Mexico, his contacts, enforcers, and the price point of cocaine sold in Australia, for up to 150k a kilo, sales that he allegedly coordinated with Australian businessmen and Mexican trafficking organizations. Authorities alleged he ordered a 5 kilogram meth deal, the day before he was arrested by FBI agents in the parking lot of a Hyatt Hotel & Resort golf course.

Owen Michael Hanson, 33, was perhaps not destined for any of this.  A privileged child with affluent parents, he was raised in the Redondo Beach area, a wealthy beach community near Los Angeles. His father is attempting to put up a 1.5 million dollar property as a cash surety bond to secure his sons release from federal custody. The district judge has refused, as prosecutors outline a picture of a successful drug trafficker, with far ranging assets.

Hanson, like many privileged LA youth attended USC, (without scholarship) after graduating from Redondo Union High, he majored in public planning, management, and and planning. He played on the USC Trojans as a tight end, and also mens volleyball in the early 2000's. A strained knee injury benched him, and he graduated in the mid 2000's, and went on to form 310 Development, a real estate development corporation. He married a Mexican citizen, and had two children with her before he was 20.

At some point, Hansen, involved himself, or became involved with the events chronicled in Part One. I imagine he partied a lot, coke, trips to Vegas, abroad, gambling, women, and the circles that comes with, and he became involved with Andrew McManus, and Sean Carolan, and an even wider circle of traffickers, money launderers, and distributors. Hansen's sprawling modern home in Redondo Beach, on a lot purchased by his father in 1985 was the subject of a piece for South Bay magazine.

Hansen, in polo shirt and Gucci drivers, painted himself as a successful businessman, with a insatiable taste for Las Vegas, and partying, but a firm grasp on his business and a cultured taste in contemporary architecture. "The bedrooms at the Palms are my favorite", explained Hansen during the interview, showcasing his Las Vegas style home. The house also had numerous references to Louis Vuitton, including a silver AK-47 in Hansen's home office, one decorating style that felt oddly out of place in the profile.

Not in the world Hanson allegedly inhabited. Federal prosecutors at his latest bail hearing showed the judge text messages detailing Hanson intimidating someone who owed him a drug debt. Hanson allegedly sent the person a text message containing photographsof two men being about to be beheaded, another of a gravestone with a caption saying 'very soon'. (My personal thoughts are these were images from the numerous execution videos that were uploaded in recent years, and not events that Hanson committed personally, or directed, likely the infamous two Sinaloa Cartel members, before they were beheaded with a chainsaw) Bail was refused for a second time, with the judge agreeing Hanson was a flight risk.

Hanson, allegedly bragged to the FBI agent, while undercover, that he took a sailboat he owned, docked in Newport Harbor, as payment for a drug debt. Hanson laughed in court as this was said. The assistant US Attorney also detailed numerous wire transactions to Mexico, in the 50,000 to 100,000 range, and the fact that he owned property in Costa Rica, and was constructing a home in Cabo San Lucas as well.

He was in possession of a fake Mexican identification card, and was trying to purchase the home under that name. District Judge Mitchell Dembin said while there was no question he made the statements, he had to decide whether or not Hanson was 'acting like a big shot' in front of the undercover.

As of now Hanson remains in the San Diego MCC, also housing Chino Antrax, Serafin Zambada, and dozens of other Sinaloa associates. Nothing has been said of Hanson's drug contacts in Mexico, the logistics on the smuggling to Australia, and into the US, or how exactly Hanson was involved. He was in Australia, on the night 700,000 in cash was seized from Sean Carolan at the Hilton Hotel in Sydney, and attempted to tell several stories explaining it. In connection with the case unsealed against McManus and others, Australian authorities are seeking his extradition, while he faces a two count indictment out of San Diego, conspiracy to distribute cocaine, and methamphetamine.

It is likely, if he agrees to cooperate, that he will be granted bail, his fathers home in Montana as the collateral, and he will not face extradition to Australia, where he would be a foreign citizen, in an unfamiliar justice system. He will also likely receive a reduced sentenced, asset forfeiture, and fines, but not a sentence of over 5 years.

As of this writing, he is not listed in the BOP system, with a release date of unknown. He had a court date on October 19th, 2015.  

Part 1:

http://www.borderlandbeat.com/2015/09/part-1-prominent-businessmens-arrest.html

Sources: Sydney Herald, KTLA, Union Tribune, South Bay Magazine