Trial Begins of AFO Cell in San Diego, Prosecutor: Victims Kidnapped and Dissolved in Acid

by Chivis Martinez

Opening arguments opened the trial of Jose Olivera and David Valencia in San Diego yesterday.  District Attorney Mark Amador said the men were members of "Los Palillos" (The Toothpicks) was an  Arellano Felix Cartel cell group, that  trafficked meth and marijuana   through the Tijuana-San Diego route, in addition to operating a kidnapping ring that targeted drug dealers and businessmen in the U.S., who were vulnerable and who were unlikely to have their kidnappings reported to US authorities. 

The gang operated in Tijuana as a cell of AFO cartel, but splintered and became bitter enemies after AFO leadership killed Victor Rojas Lopez, the brother of Los Palillos leader Jorge Rojas Lopez. 

Victor reported to an AFO lieutenant who has ordered Victor to execute a Los Palillos member who had a dispute in a TJ bar with Jorge Briseno.  When Victor refused the order he was killed.

Jorge Rojas Lopez

 It was then the group moved to San Diego and began its flurry of crime.

Amador stunned the courtroom as he described the heinous crimes including the strangling of victims, then placing the bodies in 55 gallon barrels of simmering acid heated by propane tanks. 

When investigators were led to the San Diego ranch of horrors, owned by one of the defendants, a gruesome discovery of bones, body parts and teeth were found in vats containing a brownish gelatin explained Amador.

The practice of stewing human remains in acid is not an uncommon practice by Mexican organized crime, but almost unheard of happening in the US.  The practice was made famous by Jose Santiago Meza, aka "El Pozolero"  (stew maker)  on whose TJ ranch it was discovered 3 graves filled with body parts and teeth.  He confessed a few years ago to liquefying at least 300 bodies in acid  for lieutenants of the Arellano Felix drug.

Shown in court was photos of victims with the toothpick calling card left by Los Palillos

Amador said the chemicals use to dissolve bodies are readily available at home improvement stores such as Home Depot.  Jurors were shown photos of three boxes found in one safe house in Chula Vista, a San Diego Suburb.  Chula Vista is 7 miles from the Tijuana point of entry and has a huge Latino population, the majority are foreigners. 

Ironically, the Mexican affluent often relocate to escape Mexico’s violence and settle in Chula Vista only to find themselves living close to organized crime groups that have settled in the same city to conduct criminal operations or to relocate their families.  The Population of Chula Vista is 244K, 58% Latino and 38% foreign Latino.

The current trial is the first of three scheduled for members of Los Palillos.  There were indictments of 17 suspects on multiple charges including numerous murders and kidnappings, Amador said.  Speaking to the jury he defined the group as “a paramilitary style organization”.  3 additional suspects were executed in Tijuana before they could be brought to trial.

A  Full Sized Chart (of below) LINK HERE

Beritan is also charged with an attempted kidnapping. The victim was allegedly abducted in January 2007  by assailants wearing police uniforms but managed to escape. That victim is expected to testify.

"Disturbing news, horrifying events, graphic images, evil deeds motivated by greed and revenge," Amador said.

In his opening statement Amador gave an overview of four of the charges;

o   January 3, 2007 Olivera Beritan is accused in an attempted kidnapping at a Bonita apartment complex in which a drug trafficker was shot but managed to escape

o   March 23, 2007 Olivera Beritan is charged in the kidnapping of Ivan Lozano, whose body was found in the trunk of a car in Claremont 12 days later

o   May 3, 2007 both defendants are accused of the, abduction of a drug trafficker named Cesar Uribe and Uribe's associate, Marc Leon, whose remains were found on property where Valencia kept horses

o   June 8, 2007 kidnapping of a businessman, who was rescued from a Chula Vista safe house which subsequently lead to the arrests of the defendants

Amador said Uribe’s family had complied with ransom demands and two ransom drops were executed.  Uribe and Valencia operated drug trafficking together, but a dispute incurred over money which led to Uribe’s death.

FBI Swat tacker Los Palillos to this Chula Vista home and recused Eduardo Gonzales-Tostado

The families of Leon and Lozano reported not to have heard from them after their disappearances and did not hear from the kidnappers.

Amador explained that the operation was revealed in June 2007 when the family of one kidnap victim, Eduardo Gonzalez Tostado, called the FBI for help. Families of previous victims refused to contact authorities, thereby

Badges found at safe house

Gonzales-Tostado, who owned a seafood restaurant in Tijuana, was targeted by Valencia.  It was the wife of Gonzales-Tostado that contacted the FBI.  A ransom drop sting was enacted.  After the family paid nearly 200,000 USD, federal agents raided a Chula Vista home where the victim had been held for 8 days.

A woman is accused of luring Gonzales-Tostado to the kidnappers, she has been arrested and charged in the case.

Because of special circumstance, torture and multiple murders,  if convicted the defendants face life in prison without parole.  Four other suspects face the death penalty if convicted.

Prosecutors have not addressed why they are not seeking the death penalty in the Olivera and Valencia cases. Steve Walker a spokesman said “the office does not comment on specific internal discussions or decision making process when it comes to death penalty decisions, particularly in a pending case.”

(See footage of trial in video below)

The trial is expected to last 8 weeks or longer.

District Attorney's press release with overview of case see here

Video Interview about the case with Mark Armador

Read FBI's report on the Los Palillos

District Attorney Office updates to press by 7:30PM PST daily