Judge David O. Carter of the Central District of California is presiding over the trial, which is expected to be concluded on Friday.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric O’Malley, the prosecutor, and court-appointed defense attorney David Banes delivered their opening statements yesterday afternoon, shortly after the jury selection was completed.
“Show me the money!” Banes said, quoting a famous line from a Tom Cruise movie, in response to O’Malley’s opening statement.
Banes said the prosecution will not be able to present the money allegedly extorted nor bank statements that prove extortion money were put in Leon Guerrero’s account.
Banes said there’s no evidence that Leon Guerrero acknowledged receiving the money as alleged by the prosecution.
O’Malley said the prosecution has two cooperating witnesses and recordings, on top of other government witnesses to prove their case against Leon Guerrero.
“We trust them. It hurts us all,” O’Malley told the jurors, referring to police officers who are sworn to enforce the law and maintain its integrity.
The prosecution then called its witnesses: William Hocog, supervisor for records and firearms of the Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles; as well as Traffic Officers Joseph Tarimai and Sandy Hambros.
Hocog testified there were records of two reports on illegal taxicabs whose status were left “blank.” These were handled by Leon Guerrero.
Tarimai testified that he was requested by Leon Guerrero to assist in pulling over an illegal taxicab on the night of June 9, 2009.
Hambros said he, together with another officer, arrested an illegal taxicab driver on the night of Sept. 13, 2009.
Two vehicles were later impounded at the DPS compound, the two witnesses said.
During cross-examination, the officers said they would not have had updates if Leon Guerrero was handling an organization of illegal taxicabs.
As of press time, Officer Maverick Saures was about to take the witness stand.
Leon Guerrero was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation last November on charges of extorting money from illegal taxicab drivers in exchange for dropping the criminal charges against them.
Currently released on bail and to his wife as third party custodian, Leon Guerrero has denied the charges.
