Cocaine Trial Set Despite Lack of Narcotics Evidence

Four members of what authorities said was a major San Fernando Valley drug operation were ordered to stand trial Wednesday even though investigators said they found only trace amounts of cocaine left in boxes after a major shipment was sold.

“This is an indication that we can go forward with major narcotics cases even when no narcotics are found,” said Burbank Police Sgt. Don Goldberg, whose department spearheaded the investigation of the alleged drug ring.

Ordered held for trial were Arturo J. Aguilera, 33, of Tarzana; Haripal H. Sagoo, 22, of Granada Hills; Galo P. Iturralde, 26, of Granada Hills; and Filiberto Prieto, 32, of Houston. They are charged with one count each of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and one count each of distributing in excess of 100 pounds of the drug.

In ordering the trial at the end of a two-week preliminary hearing, Los Angeles Municipal Judge Patti Jo McKay dismissed an additional count each of distributing.

The defendants were among eight suspects arrested in June by Burbank police and federal agents at the end of a three-month investigation.

About $1.7 million in cash was seized during the arrests, along with jewelry, furs and several luxury cars, but no cocaine was seen by detectives during the investigation and only “trace residue” of the drug was found during a series of raids, Goldberg said.

$2-Million Load

Police said evidence showed the arrests were made shortly after the ring sold a 332-pound shipment of cocaine valued at $2 million.

Without the cocaine shipment as evidence, Los Angeles County prosecutors decided not to file charges against four of the suspects, who have been released.

In the preliminary hearing that ended Wednesday against the other four, Deputy Dist. Atty. Carolyn L. McNary presented a case she said was built largely on circumstantial evidence.

McNary said that evidence includes boxes found in a home used by the group, which contained trace amounts of cocaine that police drug dogs reacted to and laboratory technicians were able to identify. She said evidence also includes “pay-and-owe” ledgers detailing the group’s drug sales.

McNary said federal undercover drug agents and an informant testified during the hearing about their previous drug negotiations with Aguilera, who is believed to have been the leader of the ring.

And Burbank detectives testified about the suspects’ frequent attempts to lose investigators who were following them and about their use of pay phones to conduct business.

McNary said the result of the preliminary hearing showed that major drug charges can successfully be filed against suspects even without large amounts of drugs as evidence.

A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday to set a trial date for the four suspects, who remained in jail on $2-million bail each.