36 members of the Sinaloa cartel arrested; drugs and weapons seized, US prosecutor says

Those arrested include border patrol agents and residents of East County

Two more AR rifles, a pistol, magazines and ammunition made in Russia, all of which prosecutors say were exchanged for drugs. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California

Among those arrested was Alexander Grindley, who is accused of trafficking meth while working as a U.S. Border Patrol agent. Also arrested in the raid or named in the indictment were Cory Gershen, 36, of Jacumba; Christopher Landon Bustin, 40, of Chula Vista; and Yomayra Patricia Penuelas, 37, of El Cajon.

The raids resulted in the seizure of approximately 2 million doses of fentanyl (nearly 9 pounds) and 714 pounds of methamphetamine. In addition, 52 firearms were confiscated, including several AR-style weapons, as well as pistols, magazines, unfinished gun parts used to make the Ghost Gun, and a stockpile of Russian-made ammunition.

“With this dismantling, the Department of Justice has dealt another blow to the Sinaloa cartel and its allies,” said U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.

According to the district attorney’s office, dozens of agencies – including the Department of Homeland Security, DEA, Border Patrol, ICE, ATF and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department – coordinated the raids in San Diego, Imperial County, Fresno, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Salem, Oregon.