3 guilty in federal cocaine operation run from car stereo shop

By Marcus K. Garner

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A federal jury found three Gwinnett County gang members guilty of cocaine trafficking from a car audio business in Lawrenceville, federal court officials said.

Ricardo Larios-Trujillo, 34, Homer Larios, 34, and Ramon Cortez, 21, were convicted Tuesday of conspiracy with intent to distribute cocaine in U.S. District Court in Atlanta.

Larios-Trujillo and Larios also were convicted of attempted cocaine possession with intent to distribute, following a seven-day trial and two hours of deliberation, court officials said.

From 2007 to 2008, the trio -- all members of the street gang called "South Side Myfas" -- and others used "Monster Car Audio" at 134 South Clayton Street to sell cocaine.

Following a lengthy investigation, FBI and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents conducted a joint sting, catching a co-defendant trying to buy five kilograms of cocaine from an undercover agent.

On Nov. 3, 2008, agents arrested the men at the audio store and seized approximately $130,000 in cash.

The operation, court officials said, moved drugs from California to Massachusetts to Georgia while it was going.

Each of the men face life prison sentences with maximum fines of up to $8 million.

A sentencing date has yet to be set, officials said.