Crime & Safety

Hells Angels Associate, Co-Defendant Sentenced in SD Meth Trafficking Probe

David Raymond Garcia and co-defendant Michael Ottinger Jr., sergeant-at-arms for the SD Hells Angels, allegedly 'used violent force and intimidation to control the meth trade in San Diego,' federal officials said.

A man accused of being a methamphetamine dealer and associate of the San Diego Chapter of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang was sentenced this week in U.S. District Court to more than 20 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute the drug, federal officials said.

David Raymond Garcia, 43, was sentenced to 262 months on March 25 in San Diego, along with Jason Alex Scanlon, 42, another accused meth supplier who was sentenced to 188 months in custody, officials with the Southern District of California U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement.

Garcia and Scanlon were roommates in Clairemont, about 10 miles northwest of Lemon Grove, according to federal officials.

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Garcia supplied drugs to or employed at least 20 co-defendants, as well as Scanlon and at least four others, during an investigation of meth trafficking and violent crimes committed by the San Diego Hells Angels and their criminal partners, according to court documents and information provided at sentencing by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew G. Schopler.

Court documents also show Garcia and co-defendant Michael Ottinger Jr., the sergeant-at-arms for the SD Hells Angels, allegedly "used violent force and intimidation to control the methamphetamine trade in San Diego," federal officials said.

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On Dec. 3, U.S. District Judge Marilyn L. Huff sentenced Ottinger, 43, for his role in the alleged methamphetamine conspiracy to serve 262 months in federal prison, federal officials said.

"Ottinger still faces murder charges in state court relating to the 2010 murder of a rival member of the Mongols motorcycle gang," federal officials said.

The stabbing death of Mongols member Fernando Fernandez, 30, occurred March 16, 2010 at Los Panchos Taco Shop on Washington Street in Hillcrest, about 10 miles west of Lemon Grove, according to law enforcement.

Garcia, Scanlon and Ottinger were prosecuted as part of an FBI Violent Crimes Task Force investigation that resulted in 36 defendants being charged with conspiracy to distribute meth, federal officials said.

Huff found both Garcia and Scanlon to be career offenders under federal law.

Garcia now has nine felony convictions, including eight drug felonies and one felony for forging an access card to commit fraud. Scanlon has ten felony convictions, including eight drug felonies, one felony for receiving stolen property, and one felony for evading a peace officer, federal officials said.

"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," U.S. Attorney Laura E. Duffy said.

"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," Duffy said.

Agencies involved the investigation included National City police, Chula Vista police, San Diego police, Oceanside police, San Diego County probation, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, the San Diego County District Attorney's Office and the FBI.

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