ARMED ROBBERS WHO TARGETED DRUG DEALERS ARRESTED

CHULA VISTA, Calif. (AP) -- The targets were drug dealers, the
perpertrators armed robbers.

Men dressed like federal agents with gold badges on their chests went to
the homes of drug dealers and confiscated contraband and money.

``Given the fact that the victims are reluctant to report it, it's a
perfect crime,'' said deputy district attorney Damon Mosler.

But this week, one man was sentenced for his involvement with the ``Strike
Team'' -- what the robbers called themselves.

Shawn Quigley received an eight-year sentence for robbery in a deal he cut
with prosecutors for information that eventually led to four others.

Mosler thinks there may be many more people involved and believes the
ringleaders have not been caught.

``This individual was a cog in the wheel,'' Quigley's attorney, Raymond
Wood, said. ``They were foot soldiers. They are not the ones who are
planning these operations.''

Quigley's arrest followed a home invasion in March in Chula Vista, which is
located between San Diego and the U.S.-Mexico Border. Quigley and another
man held two women, a man and a girl at gunpoint.

One of the women managed to call 911, and after sheriff's deputies showed
up, the robbers bolted.

But in a rental car in the driveway, deputies found Quigley's daytime
planner and his father's phone number.

Quigley, 26, was arrested a week later after deputies got a tip from his wife.

As for the victims, they said they didn't know the robbers. They also said
they didn't know where 24 pounds of marijuana found inside the house came
from. Since then, one of the residents, Alfonso Ayala, 21, has been charged
with felony possession of marijuana for sale.

As for the ``Strike Team,'' police have arrested four others.

Jason Stuertz pleaded guilty to being an accessory but later asked to
withdraw it. Stuertz may be sentenced to prison next week if the judge
denies his request.

Eugene Williams pleaded guilty to robbery and is set to be sentenced June 15.

Jesus Perez pleaded guilty to armed robbery. His wife, Claudia Ortega,
pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana for sale. Both are awaiting
sentencing.

So far, officials have tied the team to three other home invasion robberies
in the past eight months in Chula Vista, Imperial Beach and Palm City.

Checked-by: (Joel W. Johnson)