Norwalk woman, 17 others accused in alleged jail smuggling operation

Eighteen people, including a Norwalk woman, were indicted for allegedly taking part in a "sophisticated" Mexican Mafia operation to smuggle drugs into county jails.

The indictment stems from a sheriff's department and FBI investigation that began in early 2022 into reports of drugs being smuggled into the county jail system, along with an attack on an inmate.

Among the defendants named in the indictment was sheriff's Deputy Michael Meiser, 39, of Lancaster.

The 51-page indictment details a criminal smuggling operation allegedly orchestrated by an organization controlled by the Mexican Mafia prison gang, and it outlines the alleged actions of the various defendants beginning in early 2022.

Charges in the indictment against various defendants include conspiracy to sell a controlled substance (heroin), participation in a criminal street gang-sale of a controlled substance (heroin), conspiracy to commit extortion, extortion, participation in a criminal street gang, assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, furnishing a controlled substance to a person in custody, possession for sale of a controlled substance, possession of a firearm by a felon, unlawful possession of ammunition,

Meiser is specifically charged with a non-inmate furnishing a controlled substance to a person in custody, attempted non-inmate furnishing a controlled substance to a person in custody, conspiracy to commit non-inmate furnishing a controlled substance to a person in custody, and participation in a criminal street gang.

The indictment describes various security videos allegedly showing Meiser speaking to other defendants in the case, at one point handing a bag to one of the inmates, and in another instance receiving plastic grocery bag from a woman at a Lancaster gas station, containing about one pound of black tar heroin, which he then allegedly carried into the North County Correctional Facility.

Other defendants named in the indictment are:

-- Jose Trancito Martinez, 36, of Long Beach;

-- Daniel Garcia, 28, an inmate;

-- Pharoah Brooks, 45, an inmate;

-- David Fraysure, 27, an inmate;

-- Daniel Arochi Gonzalez, 24, of Carson;

-- Jackie Triplett, 40, an inmate;

-- Jesse Quintero, 44, of Hacienda Heights;

-- Marco Lujan, 47, of Pomona;

-- Andy Dominquez, 30, an inmate;

-- Ariel Pereyra, 28, an inmate;

-- Angel Grajales, 33, of Arleta;

-- Frank Rodriquez, 21, of Los Angeles;

-- Jose Rodriguez, 47, an inmate;

-- Jessie Abdon, 24, an inmate;

-- Arianna Inocente, 22, of Norwalk; and

-- Salma Haro, 24, of Long Beach.

All of the defendants are due back in court March 27 in downtown Los Angeles.

"Corruption and criminal activity will not be tolerated in our justice system -- especially within our jails," District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement. "Ensuring that our correctional facilities remain secure and free of illicit drugs is crucial to public safety. Those entrusted with upholding the law must be held to the highest standards, and we will aggressively prosecute those who betray that trust."