This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Crime & Safety

Long Beach Among Marijuana Arrests in Sweep

Updated: Belmont Shore's pot dispensary was one of several during regional raids in Orange and L.A. counties.

Updated 5:20 p.m. Friday. Here is the DEA press release link.

Authorities Thursday arrested a dozen people, including several from Long Beach, on federal drug trafficking charges for their alleged involvement in medical marijuana organizations.

The dozen are among 14 defendants named in a 14-count indictment returned last week by a federal grand jury. The indictment alleges a narcotics-trafficking conspiracy led by John Melvin Walker, 56, of San Clemente, who owned and operated nine marijuana dispensaries in Los Angeles and Orange counties.

Find out what's happening in Belmont Shore-Napleswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The dispensaries named in the indictment that are operated by Walker are Alternative Herbal Health in Long Beach, Safe Harbor Collective in Dana Point, Garden Grove Alternative Care in Garden Grove, Santa Ana Superior Care in Santa Ana, Santa Fe Compassionate Health Care in Santa Fe Springs, Costa Mesa Patients Association in Costa Mesa, the Whittier Collective in Whittier, and APCC in San Juan Capistrano.

Most of the dispensaries have been closed, but investigators suspect several are still in operation, including Belmont Shore Natural Care, said Thom Mrozek of the U.S. Attorney's Office. The indictment alleges the dispensaries generated tens of millions of dollars in income. It is illegal for medical marijuana dispensaries to make a profit.

Find out what's happening in Belmont Shore-Napleswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Walker also faces a charge of being a felon in possession of firearms, including a handgun, a 12-gauge shotgun and an AK-47. Authorities seized the weapons and about $390,000 in cash from his home last year, Mrozek said.

The other defendants are: -- Ryan Aparicio Mondragon, 30, of Westminster, who is still at-large; -- Danielle Pamela Stebel, 25, of Long Beach; -- Nicholas Einar Lattu, 28, of Long Beach, who is still at-large; -- Ryan Scott Hunt, 36, of Fullerton; -- Perry Brooks Forehand, 33, of Mission Viejo; -- Nicholas Martin Butier III, 32, of Lakewood; -- Sierra Marina Serhan, 33, of Long Beach; -- Alvin Wesley Walker, 29, of Long Beach, who authorities believe is John Walker's nephew; -- John Eugene Scandalios, 59, of Lakewood; -- Karen Lee Leto, 70, of Huntington Beach; -- Craig Lawrence Leto, 49, of Newport Beach, who is Karen Leto's son; -- Michael Alan Nixon, 33, of Long Beach; and -- Alan David Nixon, 59, of Long Beach, who is Michael Nixon's father.

--City News Service with Nancy Wride

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Belmont Shore-Naples