Informants Named Vignali's Father

"For whatever reason, George Torres' name appears in reports," said the attorney, Richard Hirsch. "There has been no evidence that has led law enforcement to charge him with any crimes other than the minor ones to which he has pled in the past. Therefore, there is no substance to anything which appears in the House report [or the other reports]. . . . They are simply based on information obtained from informants that has never been corroborated in any way. . . . Informants say a lot of things to help themselves and more often than not this information turns out not to be true."

The earliest reference to Vignali cited by the House committee involves a DEA account of Vignali's own reported admission to undercover law enforcement officers.

"In November, 1975," the DEA said, "he negotiated with ATF [the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms] Agents to sell a machine gun and stated to them that he also smuggled heroin into the United States utilizing automobiles."

More than 20 years later, as Vignali was lobbying the Clinton White House, internal DEA reports mentioned unconfirmed suspicions that he and Torres were involved in large-scale cocaine trafficking, according to the committee report.

"To date, the investigation shows that the Torres organization is involved in the importation and distribution of drugs throughout the United States," said a 1998 DEA report quoted by the committee. "Latest intelligence reveals that this group is distributing approximately one hundred (100) kilograms of cocaine per month. . . . George Torres is the head of this organization. . . . Vignali's role in the organization is relatively unknown at this time. It is believed that Vignali functions as a financial partner in the organization. Vignali has been involved in organizing meetings between Torres and individuals with extensive criminal backgrounds."

The 1998 DEA report continued: "The Torres organization has used its profits from drug trafficking to purchase legitimate businesses and properties throughout the Southern California area. . . . Investigators believe that Torres uses these businesses . . . to launder his drug profits. Members of the Torres organization have been involved in various acts of violence."

It is not clear how Torres, who owns the Numero Uno supermarket chain, met Vignali, who until recently owned the C&H Auto Body Shop and custom car dealership. But public records show they have been partners in various real estate deals and business investments, including a swap meet and toy and general merchandise importing businesses.