Tag Archive for: SDPD

DA Weekly News with DA Summer Stephan 01-16-26: Grand Jury Indicts 21 in Illegal Street Racing Case

In this week’s DA News, District Attorney Summer Stephan discusses a case where a Grand Jury has indicted 21 defendants in a major crackdown on dangerous street racing across San Diego County. Working alongside SDPD and CHP, law enforcement is holding reckless drivers accountable and taking action to reduce traffic deaths, injuries, and illegal high-speed racing on our roads. Details in the video.

Grand Jury Indicts 21 Defendants for Conspiring to Engage in Highly Dangerous Street Racing

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that 21 people have been indicted by a grand jury for conspiring to engage in exhibitions of speed as well as acts of illegal reckless driving and speed contests on public highways for thrill, competition, bragging rights and purposes of gaining social media fame. The charges come as law enforcement is coordinating efforts to deter and reduce illegal speed and street racing on roadways across the county.

Twenty of the twenty-one defendants were arrested or surrendered on January 6 and arraignments are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on January 12, 13 and 15.

“Racing down our freeways at extremely hazardous speeds with reckless disregard for other drivers and families sharing the roadways is a recipe for a catastrophe,” DA Stephan said. “This indictment is a warning to anyone even thinking of engaging in a speed contest that this illegal behavior will not be tolerated and you will be held accountable.”

The grand jury heard testimony and reviewed evidence over six days before returning the indictments. The street racing conduct occurred in March of 2025 on five separate occasions in various parts of San Diego County. Defendants communicated through social media to make plans to meet at locations where they showcased their high-performance vehicles, participated in donuts and burnouts, and conspired to engage in acts of speed exhibition on freeways.

Many of the vehicles were modified, sometimes illegally, to enhance their racing performance.  Throughout the incidents, members of the conspiracy participated in multiple races on freeways, reaching speeds over 100 miles per hour and, on some occasions, in excess of 150 to 160 miles per hour. The defendants raced through and around traffic without regard for the safety of other vehicles on the roadway. Racing took place on Interstates 8, 805 and 15 as well as SR-94, and on mountain roads winding through Pauma Valley. All members of the conspiracy participated in racing events, which were filmed by various participants and later posted on social media for the purpose of gaining attention.

Illegal speed contests are highly dangerous and have caused six fatalities and numerous injuries over the last four years, underscoring the growing danger these events pose to the public. Recent fatal crashes include:

  • The death of a 17-year-old in Chula Vista after a suspected racer lost control in July 2025.
  • The death of a Point Loma jogger, who was struck by vehicles believed to be racing in December 2024.
  • A fatal Otay Mesa crash in which a Mustang traveling at extreme speed hit and killed a spectator at an illegal drag race in October 2021.
  • The death of a teenager from a Linda Vista collision that left five others seriously injured in March 2021.
  • The death of a grandmother as a result of a Chula Vista crash where a street-racing driver ran a red light, killing the woman and injuring her grandchildren in June 2021.
  • One person was killed and two severely injured after an Oceanside crash in which the drivers were seen racing moments before impact in September 2021.

“Street racing, reckless driving and illegal takeovers put lives at risk, damage our streets, and disrupt our neighborhoods,” San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said. “This Grand Jury indictment reflects the hard work of our investigators and shows that when residents raise concerns, the City and County take action. We are grateful for our partnership with the District Attorney’s Office and our partner agencies to hold these drivers accountable, and we will continue our operations to deter these crimes from happening on our streets.”

Photo of vehicles seized.

Photo of vehicles seized.

During its investigation into the May 2025 incidents, law enforcement seized 16 vehicles, including:

  • Two Dodge Charger SRTs
  • One Dodge Charger R/T
  • One Chevrolet Camaro
  • One Ford Mustang
  • Three Dodge Challenger “Hellcats”
  • One Dodge Charger
  • One BMW 8 Series
  • One Chevrolet Corvette
  • One Honda Civic Type R
  • One Dodge Durango SRT
  • Two Jeep Grand Cherokee “Trackhawks”
  • One McLaren.

“Street racing is illegal, reckless, and deadly, and those who choose to participate or assist should expect to be identified, arrested, and criminally prosecuted,” CHP Chief Anthony Coronado said.  “The California Highway Patrol will aggressively investigate these crimes and hold drivers, organizers, and spectators accountable. Reckless use of a vehicle endangers lives and will not be tolerated.”

The arrests were a coordinated effort that included the cooperation of multiple law enforcement agencies throughout San Diego County, including the San Diego Police Department, California Highway Patrol, the Narcotics Task Force, the Regional Auto Theft Task Force, Chula Vista Police Department, La Mesa Police Department, San Diego Sheriff’s Office, Escondido Police Department, and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. 

This six-month investigation began with San Diego Police Department’s Traffic Special Investigations Unit in conjunction with the California Highway Patrol in response to the string of fatalities in recent years. Collectively, these tragedies highlight the severe consequences of illegal street racing across the region and the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat this reckless and often fatal behavior.

This case is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorneys Evan Andersen, Lauren Hugo, Jacob Carbajal, and Makenzie Harvey.

Police cars with lights on.

Defendant Who Shot Police Officer Sentenced

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said today that a defendant who led police on a high-speed chase and then shot and wounded a San Diego Police Officer has been sentenced to 47 years-to-life in state prison. Andrew Joseph Garcia, 22, was sentenced today by Judge Aaron Katz. On August 12, Garcia pleaded guilty to premeditated and deliberate attempted murder on a peace officer, assault with a semi-automatic firearm on a peace officer, shooting at an inhabited dwelling, unlawful driving of a stolen vehicle, felony reckless evading and felon in possession of a firearm.

“Peace officers have an incredibly difficult job, and this case demonstrates how in an instant their lives can be in danger—in this instance from a suspect wielding a ghost gun,” said DA Stephan. “Our office is dedicated to prosecuting these types of crimes with the focus they deserve and to holding defendants accountable who would seek to harm officers.”

In December of 2022, Garcia was pursued by police for driving a stolen car and led officers on a chase that lasted more than an hour, on and off freeways at speeds of 90 miles per hour. Garcia eventually fled the car and ran into an apartment complex in Mountain View. Officers followed Garcia into the complex and when they rounded a corner, he opened fire with a ghost gun, firing multiple rounds and hitting one of the officers in the chest and arm. The officer crawled to safety and a standoff in a vacant building ensued, during which time Garcia overdosed on drugs. Officers were able to revive him using Narcan and placed him under arrest.

“Police work is extremely dangerous, yet such a necessary function in our society. Being severely or mortally wounded is a constant threat looming in the hearts and minds of all law enforcement.” Said SDPD Chief Scott Wahl. “Every day, San Diego Police Officers take on the challenge of keeping San Diego safe through much adversity and with pride, honor and integrity. The San Diego Police Department thanks the District Attorney’s office for their hard work in prosecuting this suspect and getting justice for the officer involved. This type of violence against law enforcement or any of our community members will not be tolerated in San Diego.”

Garcia’s sentence includes guilty pleas on a separate gang-related case that occurred in April of 2022, in which he got out of a vehicle in broad daylight and shot at two individuals who were eating burritos on the sidewalk because he mistakenly perceived them to be rival gang members. Garcia fled the scene and remained at large. This incident occurred prior to the attempted murder of a police officer. It remained unsolved until District Attorney Investigator Jonah Conley reviewed social media records and discovered additional evidence related to the crime.

According to the National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), 378 peace officers were shot in the line of duty last year, the highest number the FOP has ever recorded.

“While some may look at that data and just see numbers, we must remember that they represent fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters who are committed to protecting our neighborhoods every day,” DA Stephan said.

The cases against Garcia were prosecuted by Deputy District Attorneys Clay Biddle and Mary Naoom.

During a news conference,DA Summer Stephan holds up the Tax Form used by gang members accused of COVID Tax Fraud.

17 Defendants Indicted for Committing $1.7 Million in COVID Tax Fraud

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan today announced a grand jury indictment of 17 defendants who filed illegal tax returns claiming credits for COVID relief totaling more than $2.2 million. The case involves four separate San Diego-based criminal street gangs, including one rival gang, which participated in the tax fraud scheme for an ultimate loss to the IRS of $1,752,788.

[WATCH THE LIVE STREAM OF THE NEWS CONFERENCE, HERE.]

Photo of the Tax Refund confirmation and the jewelry bought by the defendants.

Photo of the tax refund confirmation and the jewelry bought by the defendant.

Defendant Stephen Pittman, Jr., 31, recruited individuals and assisted them in filing their fraudulent tax claims and then took a large percentage of the refund. Between April 2022 and October 2022, multiple known, violent, gang members conspired with one another to commit this scam for personal profit, and to benefit their criminal street gangs. Pittman used some of the money to purchase diamond encrusted Cartier and Rolex watches, three diamond chains, and a diamond encrusted necklace of his gang moniker.

“This case demonstrates the lengths to which streets gangs will go to seek novel ways to fund their violent criminal enterprises and line their pockets, in this case successfully bilking the taxpayers out of nearly two million dollars,” said DA Stephan. “The dedicated investigators and prosecutors handling this case followed the paper trail for months in order to allow us to file charges and hold these individuals responsible for this large-scale scam.”

The scam was simple. 2021 Tax Form 7202 included a line item intended for COVID Relief, entitled “Credits for Sick Leave and Family Leave for Certain Self-Employed Individuals.” The IRS system stated, “Don’t enter more than 60 days” in this field. However, the number was manipulated to increase the fraudulent tax refund. In each of the co-defendants’ cases, more than 60 days were fraudulently inputted: ranging from 790 days to 15,678 days. As a result of the fraudulent entries, the returns garnered payments from the IRS ranging from $97,645 to $229,153 directly into their bank accounts.

The various defendants are charged with 81 felony counts including conspiracy to commit a crime, filing a fraudulent tax return, assisting in the filing of a fraudulent tax, receiving stolen property, and money laundering. Law enforcement arrested 14 of the defendants on Tuesday, two defendants were already in custody and one defendant remains at large. Arraignments for most of the defendants took place today in San Diego Superior Court. If convicted of the charges, the defendants face sentencing ranging from 16 months in jail, to life in state prison.

The fraud was discovered during the course of a homicide investigation when law enforcement found notice of an IRS refund on one of the suspect’s phones. That separate homicide investigation has led to four defendants being charged for the revenge murder of a rival gang member. That case is pending with one of the defendants having been convicted and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The San Diego Police Department’s Financial Crimes Division was the lead investigative agency on the case and prosecutors worked closely with the East County Gangs Task Force.

“This case is a testament to the thoroughness of our investigators, whose diligence not only helped solve a homicide but helped uncover a significant criminal scheme involving a network of street gangs,” said SDPD Chief Scott Wahl. “The funds these suspects siphoned away were meant for the community most deeply touched by the pandemic, and that’s fraud our department won’t stand for.”

The defendants named in the grand jury indictment are Dajon Johnson, 23, Deonte Sherman, 29; Cora Wulff, 25; Roshan McKinney, 29; Shamira Clark, 21; Ashley Davis, 34; Shamar Garcia, 37; Haben Haile, 26; Stephen Pittman, Jr., 31; Jenelle Poutoa, 27; Brandon Scales, 53; Donte Sheffield, 35; Dominik Wells, 47; Gregory Baul, 23; Michael Brooks, 41; Tahamon Brooks, 53; and Michael Bullock, 55.

This case is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorneys Vanessa Gerard and Ted Fiorito.

[WATCH THE LIVE STREAM OF THE NEWS CONFERENCE, HERE.]

Grand Jury Indicts 51 Defendants in East Village Open-Air Drug Market Case

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that 51 defendants have been indicted by a grand jury for their roles in selling cocaine base at an open-air drug market in East Village, an area that over a two-year period received 56,000 calls for police service. [WATCH COMPLETE NEWS CONFERENCE]

After three-and-a-half-weeks of presenting evidence, the grand jury returned indictments on April 24, against 51 defendants on hundreds of felony drug sales charges, drug manufacturing, weapons offenses, child abuse, resisting arrest, and gang allegations. Twenty-seven defendants were arrested during a day-long sweep involving over 100 officers on April 23. The defendants were arraigned in San Diego Superior Court on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. Based on the charges and their criminal records, the defendants are facing prison sentences between one year and life in prison.

“I refuse to allow San Diego streets to turn into open-air drug markets controlled by gangs like you see in other areas of the country,” DA Summer Stephan said. “Our streets and neighborhoods belong to the community and not to criminal organizations that line their pockets from the sale of addictive drugs that result in rampant overdoses and incubate violence and destruction. When a criminal street gang controls an entire neighborhood and specifically a known intersection, every person who drives, walks, does business or runs errands in the area is victimized.”

The calls for service in the East Village area near 16th and K Streets kicked off a large-scale investigation by the San Diego Police Department and the District Attorney’s Gang Unit. Deputy District Attorney Miriam Hemming and Deputy District Attorney Michelle Sellwood worked relentlessly with SDPD and the DEA’s Narcotics Task Force to identify the defendants and convene a grand jury. The one-year operation consisted of undercover officers purchasing drugs directly from dealers, surveillance, and the execution of multiple search warrants.

“The San Diego Police Department is constantly monitoring areas that may become hot spots for crime,” said San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit. “Calls for service and resident complaints in this area showed that something had to be done. This operation represents more than a year of dedicated work by investigators and prosecutors to disrupt the history of drugs and violence that plagued the East Village community. We are grateful to all of our partners for their help in holding these criminals accountable and will keep a close watch on this area to maintain the great progress we’ve made.”

It became clear during the operation that the impetus behind the success of this particular drug market was that it was largely operated and directed by gang members working in concert to benefit from rampant illegal drug sales at all times of day or night. After officers would arrive to arrest suspects on smaller scale offenses to curb the rising crime, the illegal activity would resume as soon as police left the area. In addition, officers discovered that gang members were conducting countersurveillance on law enforcement.

Over a two-year period from April 2021 through April 2023, there were nearly 56,000 calls for service to the San Diego Police Department, of which 6,187 were for violent acts. In addition, there were at least 6,500 arrests in the gang-controlled East Village open air-drug market.

In addition to the 51 indictments, 42 additional defendants have been charged with drug, gun, and violence cases, 16 of which included gang allegations. Law enforcement recovered a significant amount of contraband, including over 30 firearms, 3 pounds of cocaine base, nearly 8 pounds of cocaine powder, 350 grams of methamphetamine, 726 fentanyl pills, and over $79,000 in cash.

The dangers of this open-air drug market were so grave that there were over 1,000 overdose calls to police, multiple shootings, stabbings and assaults. Two of the intended indictees were shot and one of them was killed.

“This indictment is a testament to the cooperation and coordination of our law enforcement partners at SDPD and the Narcotics Task Force, working closely with our Gangs Division, that these defendants were identified and will now face justice,” Stephan said.

[WATCH COMPLETE NEWS CONFERENCE]