By Debbi Farr Baker

UNION-TRIBUNE BREAKING NEWS TEAM

SAN DIEGO – Twenty-three people have been indicted on charges ranging from auto theft to drug and weapon sales in connection with what officials called a major car-theft ring operating in La Mesa.

Authorities seized 42 vehicles worth $422,000, 16 firearms and several thousand dollars worth of illegal drugs, the District Attorney's office announced Monday. Six children were taken into protective custody.

The arrests came as a result of a months-long undercover operation dubbed "Operation Deep Impact," which was conducted by the Regional Auto Theft Task Force, a combined effort of several law enforcement agencies including La Mesa and El Cajon police, the California Highway Patrol, the San Diego Sheriff's Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

"A lot of dangerous people are off the streets today due to this coordinated law enforcement effort," said District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis.

Dumanis made the announcement at her office flanked by Sheriff Bill Kolender, San Diego Police Chief William Lansdowne and 14 other law enforcement officials.

She said the operation started in June when members of the task force set up a house in La Mesa and used it as a front to buy stolen cars.

"Some of the cars would be stolen at 5 p.m. and brought to the house to be sold by 11 that night," said Deputy District Attorney Mary Ellen Barrett, who is prosecuting the cases.

Those transactions frequently led to additional illegal sales of drugs and guns, Barrett said.

Twenty-two of the 20 men and three women indicted were arrested Friday in an early morning sweep. Sixteen of them are convicted felons and several are second-strikers, Barrett said. One of those indicted has not yet been arrested.

They face charges of auto theft, possession of firearms, sales of controlled substances and burglary, with eighteen of them scheduled to be arraigned Monday afternoon.

They could be sentenced to terms ranging from 16 months to 20 years, Dumanis said.