A Los Angeles grocery chain entrepreneur ran a lucrative criminal enterprise, orchestrating murders, bribing city officials, extorting customers and exploiting illegal immigrants, according to a federal racketeering indictment unsealed Wednesday.
George Torres, 50, who owns the Numero Uno grocery stores scattered throughout low-income parts of Los Angeles County, was arrested Tuesday driving away from his home in Arcadia and appeared in federal court Wednesday.
Parts of the 59-count indictment against him read like a Mario Puzo novel: Torres, huddled in a meat locker in a warehouse south of downtown Los Angeles, ordered a hit on a drug dealer who had crossed him. He had his security guards shake down suspected shoplifters for cash. He trafficked in stolen produce and meat -- and a load of Tang, the space-age drink powder.
"He used the drug traffickers as muscle," said Assistant U.S. Atty. Timothy J. Searight. "He would have them do his dirty work."
Torres is charged with racketeering, violence in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to harbor illegal immigrants and tax, wire and mail fraud as part of a criminal scheme that netted an estimated $109 million.
Seven others are named in the conspiracy: his brother Manuel, 53; his son Steven, 26; and two former Los Angeles city area planning commissioners, George Luk, 58, of Beverly Hills, and Steve Carmona, 39, of Pico Rivera.
Authorities seized $1.25 million in bank accounts and 60 cars from Torres' collection at a Los Angeles warehouse. U.S. marshals took over 11 Numero Uno stores in South Los Angeles, San Pedro, Monterey Park and El Monte. Arraignment for the eight is set for next week.
"Mr. Torres will be vigorously contesting these charges," said his criminal defense attorney, Brian Sun. "His grocery store chain has and will continue to provide an important service for the community."
The Numero Uno stores have been commended for serving poor communities, particularly in South Los Angeles, which suffered from businesses fleeing after the 1992 riots. A UC Davis center on nutrition and social marketing issued a report highlighting the chain as a model of an inner-city market, bringing fresh produce to underserved areas by offering shoppers free rides home.
But federal prosecutors say Torres extorted customers and underpaid, intimidated and even beat employees, many of whom were undocumented immigrants.
