2 Arrested in Drug Dealer’s Prison Escape

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of aiding the daring daytime escape of an international drug dealer who was serving a 20-year sentence at Terminal Island Federal Prison, a spokesman for the U.S. marshals office in Los Angeles said Thursday.

Fernando Montes, 32, of Huntington Park was taken into custody at his home Wednesday night and accused of harboring Alberto Montes-Cardena of Venezuela.

Montes-Cardena was freed April 9 by a gunman who leaped from a van in the parking lot of a San Pedro physician’s office to get the drop on two guards who were taking him to a doctor’s appointment.

David Daum, 20, of Wilmington, believed to have been the gunman, was arrested earlier in the week. Both he and Montes are being held without bail pending a scheduled appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Volney V. Brown Jr.

Photograph Found

Witnesses have told investigators that they saw Montes-Cardena at the Montes home (the two are not related) in Huntington Park as recently as a week ago, according to Chief Deputy Marshal Samuel Cicchino.

During a search of the residence Wednesday night, deputy marshals found a photograph of the escaped man, Cicchino said. Several thousand dollars was found on the premises but was not seized, he added.

Montes-Cardena, 25, also known as Tony Campo, was sent to Terminal Island to serve his prison term after being convicted on drug charges in Miami and on weapons violations charges in Arizona.