COMPTON : 6 Plead Not Guilty in Major Drug Case

Six people pleaded not guilty in federal court Monday to charges that they operated a Compton-based organization selling large quantities of drugs in Southern California and other cities.

Investigators say Derrick Bines and his associates sold hundreds of pounds of drugs a month in an operation that served as an intermediary between Mexican drug barons and Compton street gangs.

The drugs were shipped to several American cities by mail, truck and, in at least some cases, allegedly through a Delta Air Lines baggage handler who used his position to circumvent airport security.

Last month, after a two-year investigation, police and FBI agents seized seven homes, a self-service laundry, $13,000 in cash and several vehicles, including a 30-foot motor home.

In addition to Bines, 31, those arraigned Monday included Steven Ruiz, 37, of Compton; Abraham Gutierrez, 18, and Rudolph Mossette, 24, both of Los Angeles, and Terry Pinkney, 31, of Compton. Juan Lovett, 29, of Carson was also arraigned, but he will be tried separately. The trial for the other five was set for Nov. 2.