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L.A. Grocer Convicted of Racketeering

The owner of Numero Uno, a chain of 11 grocery stores serving low-income sections of the city here, has been convicted of racketeering, bribery and other crimes following a trial in U.S. District Court here, according to published reports. George Torres faces life imprisonment.

Elliot Zwiebach

April 22, 2009

1 Min Read
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ELLIOT ZWIEBACH

LOS ANGELES — The owner of Numero Uno, a chain of 11 grocery stores serving low-income sections of the city here, has been convicted of racketeering, bribery and other crimes following a trial in U.S. District Court here, according to published reports.

George Torres faces life imprisonment after a jury found him guilty of bribing members of a regional planning commission in return for their efforts to grant him permission to sell alcohol at one of his stores; using drug dealers to make threats or commit violence on his behalf; and paying employees, including many illegal immigrants, under the table, without withholding any taxes.

He was acquitted on charges of ordering the murder of a business associate.

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