San Diego Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog

In San Diego, Mark Anthony Diaz was found guilty of murder as well as a couple of other charges.

The 50 year old former boxing trainer shot one man in a gym in Vista as well as wounding two other people. Diaz was found guilty of not only murder, but also attempted murder, making a criminal threat in a previous incident that occurred in April of 2010 and lastly assault with a firearm. The San Diego murderer faces 96 years or more to life behind bars.

The victim that Diaz had shot was 52 year old Hector Gil, a boxing trainer at Pacific Coast Boxing. This was in response for 21 year old Ricardo Gutierrez, a boxer, switching over to train with Gil instead of Diaz. In February, court records showed that Pacific Coast Boxing filed for a restraining order against Diaz not to come around the gym. In April, Diaz stormed into the gym opening fire ultimately killing Gil, and wounding trainer Peter Moreno in the shoulder as well as shooting Gutierrez in the leg.

It took two days for the jury to come up with a verdict. The San Diego criminal did not make eye contact when the verdicts were read in court on Wednesday.

Boxing Trainer Guilty of Murder in Vista shooting, Sign On San Diego, April 27, 2011

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In San Diego, Carlos Cunningham was caught smuggling 10 tons of marijuana through a tunnel from Mexico into Otay Mesa in his tractor-trailer.

On Monday, Cunningham was sentenced to 21 years and eight months behind bars in Federal Court. The reason for such a long sentence was not only for this drug occurrence but previous occurrences of drug smuggling as well. The twenty-eight year old San Diego criminal was convicted in 2002 and 2005 for smuggling vast amounts of drugs. The drug load was so immense, even Larry Burns, a U.S. District Judge explained that “This is a sit-up-and-take-notice amount of narcotics, even in a district where we have become jaded by very large amounts,” he said. “It’s enough to fill a house.”

Back in early November, Cunningham was driving a rig when it was stopped at the checkpoint near Temecula. There were nearly 20, 000 pounds of marijuana packed in the rig. Agents looked in warehouse and found an exit within the tunnel that routed 600 yards underneath the border into a warehouse in Tijuana, Mexico. The very sophisticated tunnel included a rail line, ventilation and lighting. A second tunnel was discovered in late November within a warehouse located on Marconi Drive.

Sherri Walker Hobson, Assistant U.S. Attorney filed that there were 100,000 pounds of marijuana seized between both of the tunnels. As a result of both tunnels being found, ten people have been arrested and are currently being prosecuted.

Trucker Gets 21 Years for Pot Smuggling, Sign on San Diego, April 25, 2011

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An Oceanside prostitution ring led by an Oceanside gang was that was broken up by law enforcement leaves 38 people indicted including a North San Diego motel owner.

According to a special agent in charge of investigations for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in San Diego, prostitutes as young as 13 years old were rescued “from this nightmare that they have been living” said Michael Carney. Prostitutes were solicited on the internet in “a form of modern day slavery,” according to U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy.

The 18 month multi-agency investigation in which 29 people were arrested included the owner of the Oceanside Travelodge motel, Vinod Patel and his 27 year-old son Hitesh. The indictment states that there were other motels where the prostitution took place but the Travelodge was “the most egregious example,” said Duffy.

According to Duffy at a news conference, “The Patels were targeted in the case because they not only knowingly assisted the Crips use of the facility to conduct prostitution and other gang activities, but they personally profited from it,” she said. Each defendant could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted of racketeering conspiracy in this San Diego crime.

Child and Adult Prostitution Ring Busted in Oceanside, San Diego 6 the CW, April 18, 2011

38 indicted in prostitution ring in northern San Diego County, L. A. Times, April 18, 2011

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San Diego resident of posing as a policeman pleads not guilty to 11 counts of impersonating an officer.

41 year-old Kevin Kenniston plead guilty to the multiple charges of 11 felony counts of posing as a police officer, one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and three counts of domestic violence. The Chula Vista police were confronted by nearly a dozen victims that say they were detained by a police imposter. Kenniston allegedly pulled over 11 people within a 10-month period pretending to be a police officer. Victims reported that the defendant carried a 0.9 mm gun in a police-issue holster.

Deputy District Attorney William La Fond told the court that “the defendant is a threat to the community” and asked Judge Stephanie Sontag to raise the bail from $300,000 to $1 million. La Fond told the court that in 2006 Kenniston was under surveillance, where he tried to arrest the undercover officer when he got into a fender bender. The officer arrested Kenniston for violating his parole.

Kenniston’ San Diego criminal attorney, Marc Carlos, told the judge that a $1 million dollar bail is extreme due to the fact that the defendant is the owner of a licensed business and the vehicle he drives has his funeral escort business logo clearly advertised on it. Carlos added that Kenniston no longer possesses any police cars or motorcycles and made it a point to say “He’s trying to make something of his life”. La fond said that “it’s unacceptable behavior” in regard to Kenniston impersonating a police officer. Judge Sontag set Kenniston’s bail at $500,000 where he was then handcuffed and taken to jail.

Man Accused Of Posing As Officer Pleads Not Guilty, 10news.com, April 12, 2011

Arrest made in fake cop case, fox5sandiego.com, April 5, 2011

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San Diego man charged with murder faces the possibility of life in prison without parole or the death penalty.

60 year old Kent Keigwin’s trial date has been set for the murder of a La Jolla investor and transferring $7.5 million out of the victim’s investment account. The date is set for Wednesday October 18. Keigwin allegedly strangled 65 year old John Watson who was a retired biotech executive and a member of an investment group. According to Prosecutor Sharla Evert, Keigwin and Watson were acquaintances. The incident occurred on June 8th where the defendant tasered and strangled Watson in his home.

The following day Keigwin opened a new investment account under the victim’s name where he transferred $7.5 million dollars. The San Diego Criminal also put his passport, Social Security card and transfer codes in a safety deposit box. The defendant came back to the victim’s house three days after the murder using Watsons keys. Keigwin, carrying an empty backpack and dressed in black, was arrested by homicide detectives who were investigating Watson’s death.

Keigwin faces multiple charges such as forgery, burglary, grand theft, and identity theft. District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis has yet to consider what Kiegwin’s sentence he will face if he is found guilty. If convicted, the San Diego Criminal has the possibility of facing life in prison without parole or even the death penalty.

Trial Set For Man Accused Of Strangling Millionaire, 10news.com, April 3, 2011

Trial date set for man accused of strangling La Jolla investor, transferring millions to new account, cbs8.com, January 3, 2011

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