Supermarket mogul convicted in huge fraud case [UPDATED]

A jury today convicted supermarket mogul George Torres on federal racketeering charges.

During a three-week trial, prosecutors alleged that Torres was a ruthless entrepreneur who made millions in the grocery business by hiring illegal workers, failing to pay taxes, bribing a public official and arranging to have people killed when they crossed him.

Torres, wearing a dark suit, showed no emotion as the verdict was read. His relatives wept outside the courtroom. Defense attorneys had disputed the allegations, saying Torres was a hard-working businessman who was targeted by an overzealous Los Angeles Police Department detective and lying informants who were enticed with promises of cash and early release from prison in exchange for their testimony.

The most sensational allegations against Torres were that he orchestrated the slayings of two men. The jury found Torres guilty of one of those slayings. Prosecutors charged Torres with racketeering under the theory that he ran a "shadow organization" to promote the success of his supermarket chain.

The allegations relied heavily on the testimony of two witnesses, Raul Del Real and Derrick Smith. Both men were associates of Torres, and both are serving lengthy prison sentences for distributing cocaine.

-- Scott Glover

Updated at 3:05 p.m.:Torres owns the Numero Uno grocery chain, which has stores in some of Los Angeles County's poorest areas.

Related coverage

Two portraits of supermarket magnate emerge at L.A. trial

Supermarket mogul convicted in huge fraud case

Case against supermarket mogul goes to jury

Comments

[lisa]

It might be more informative if you actually mentioned the name of the supermarket chain.

[southoc]

Make him pay ALL the back taxes he should have paid. + interest. Have all of his assests been confiscated? I hope.

[Rich]

So what supermarkets does he own? remember journalism 101? some basic info missing here Scott.

[Michael Hersey]

What supermarket?

[What is the chain's name?]

Why did the author of this article not mention the name of the chain? I'm curious and I think others are, too.

[Big Jim Slade]

We got some sort of problem writing NUMERO UNO Supermarket in this article?

Who, what, when, where, why, and how. Journalism 101.

[Joe Shea]

No offense, but how can you write a story like this and not tell us what supermarket chain was involved?

[Kevin]

The name of the supermarket chain is "Numero Uno." See the linked article for more details.

[Bernadette]

You forgot to mention the supermarket chain that Mr. Torres owns.

[Manuel Medina]

The name of the store not mention is El Numero Uno Market. All of these markets are mainly located in the los angeles area.

[Kevin]

The supermarkets Mr. Torres owns are called Numero Uno.

[Rich]

Please let us know the supermarket - why was it not mentioned?

[Robert]

Half the juror's were asleep during trial, incompetent jurors, should be a law against incompetency. The real criminals are the prosecuters

[joe]

how much jail time does he face?

[Liza]

I drive by one of his markets everyday and had no clue this was all going on. I did hear about the killing of "Shorty" but wasn't aware that George was linked to this murder. I live in the area. It is sad when you have someone so young and ambitious that will not let anyone stand in their way. I am glad that justice was served but sad for his family. How disgraceful!!

For those of you who just read this today...the market chain was mentioned several days ago. This was just a follow-up!!!

[Bid Jim Slade]

I'm assuming NUMERO UNO advertises fairly extensive in the Times.

[Dan]

The real story is Torres's Business Partner Vignali. He gave money to The US Attorney in LA, Sheriff Baca, Villagrosa and Cardinal Mahoney. All who begged Clinton to pardon Vignali's multi-kilo cocaine dealing son. Guess what? Clinton pardoned him right out of federal prison. Drug dealers and organized crime directly influencing all these politicians. Remind you of anywhere? Try Mexico.

[Cindy Davis]

What is in store for Steve Carmona? He's the LA Planning Commissioner that is involved in this case. When exactly is his trial and what are the chances that he eill do some time? And how much if convicted?

[ERIC]

It is actually a sad fact that this type of behavior is not that shocking to people in L.A. that know what is really going on in the Southern California Latino world. The gangs are controlled by the Mexican Mafia, the streets are controlled by the gangs, the people pay "rent" to the gangs, which includes businesses, street vendors, etc. The money is all collected to give/send to the mob, moslty in prison. That is the sad fact. Since the store chain owner was in the mix, his greed (as usual) got the best of him.

[Mr Frost]

Mr Glover's work surely rates with some of the finest pieces I have read in recent memory-Well done???

[JJ]

According to the article it talk about "bribing a public official ," I wonder that the public official got his sentence too. Numbero Uno I have only seemed them in LA City not in any other cities. What is his sentence?

[Shag]

Give the writer a little slack. It may have been assumed that everyone was following the story like I have been, and knew the market is Numero Uno. The Sopranos is in reruns, so I gotta go with the real gangsters.

[Bob]

I absolutely HATE it when a reporter writes a story like this but doesn't put in HOW MANY YEARS IN JAIL the culprit will get.

Sheeez!

HOW MANY YEARS WILL HE GET IN JAIL????

[fightforthetruth]

if any of your realized that all this case was based on information based on prosecuted convicts you would think otherwise. This is a generous man with great ambition that helped thousands. This case was treated unfairly and so was he. Jurors basing a decision on convicts is not the way our system should work. His poor family must now deal with this backlash. Regardless of assets this is not for us to decide. I am sure he would pay any back taxes in a heartbeat with interest, but who are you to judge someone you do not know? Who are you to dictate lies and false statements about someone you do not know. He was a righteous man who has a family and God. They can judge him, but not you worthless readers who only listen to what they hear and should search into the truth and get to know the facts behind the person you are judging. A man of stature and respect. A man that I will forever respect and thank.

[I knew him]

I was under the impression that he was coming home today. Mr. Torres has Steve Madison as his attorney ans spent over a million dollars to defend himself. I know there is an appeal to be filed soon. Hopefully he uses the right attorney becasue Madison aint' all that. Madison should give Mr. Torres a refund. If Madison was a good attorney he would of told Mr. Torres to hold off a year on trial or cut a good plea deal. This is the FEDS, not the state of California.

[Mark]

Contrary to the TImes' headline, this isn't a huge fraud case or any kind of a fraud case. I'm not sure why it's being represented this way.

[Louweegie272]

How can you not report his alleged involvement in narcotics trafficking? Is it any surprise people call the Times the "Dog Trainer"?

[the prosecutors are heroes]

The prosecutors are heroes here for taking on a dangerous case such as this. Note how the prosecutors are called names even in this blog. Big time racketeers have powerful friends and lots of relationships, and it takes guts to face them down. A job well done. Hopefully this criminal enterprise will crumble and all those who have benefitted from it as well.

[john Smith]

Well I guess the chain will be renamed to Numero Zero.

Burn in hell where he belongs.

Frank

[NACHO]

GOOD. JUSTICE HAS BEEN SERVED, THIS CRIMINAL IS NOW GOING TO PAY WHAT HE OWES IN LIFE.

[Ricardo]

George Torres does not own Numero Uno no longer. It was bought by the company that use to run Boys Markets a couple of years back.

[realative]

Its very sad to see that law enforcement will do anything to get thier informants or anyone else that is stupid enough to go along with their lies, to help make thier lies appear so real, and then the court thats defends them, its really sad.but i just want to say that no one but god has the right to judge anyone else, so all the comments that are made about george especially if you dont know him are meaningless and shallow like the person making them. i hope god doesnt punish you for act of kindness towards mankind, and that you get a life so you dont spend your time making comments like an idiot talking out thier backside.

[Unknown]

HAHAHAH!!!!

A second judge dropped the 2 murder charges a few weeks ago.

He's out!!!