A Covina criminal defense lawyer who specializes in gang cases is set to be arraigned this morning on federal charges of money laundering for the Mexican Mafia.
Isaac E. Guillen, 48, is among about 40 alleged members and associates of a Los Angeles street gang charged with various offenses in a federal racketeering indictment unsealed June 16.
Guillen is charged with laundering illegal proceeds on behalf of the Mexican Mafia prison gang, which controls Latino street gangs statewide.
Federal prosecutors claim Guillen regularly transferred thousands of dollars in cash belonging to the MacArthur Park-based Columbia Lil Cycos gang to an imprisoned Mexican Mafia member who is being held at a high-security "Supermax" federal penitentiary in Colorado.
Prosecutors contend Guillen and the jailed gang member are business partners who run a real estate holding corporation, liquor distributorship and limousine service.
The indictment also alleges Guillen transferred about $27,500 into the imprisoned gang member's bank account from 2003 to 2008.
At an initial federal court appearance Friday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew J. Wistrich agreed with prosecutors that Guillen presents "a risk of flight and danger to the community" and ordered him held without bail.
Guillen's defense attorney, William S. Harris, declined comment.
Guillen earned his law degree from UCLA and also studied at UC Berkeley, his firm's Web site states.
According to the 114-page indictment, gang members would "tax" drug dealers and street vendors around MacArthur Park.
Refusal to pay resulted in retribution, including murder and other acts of violence.
Innocent bystanders killed by the Lil Cycos included a 3-week-old baby in a stroller and a 22-year-old man with no gang affiliation.
Source: Daily Breeze
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