SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On September 25, 2019, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment against 50 defendants charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distribution of, controlled substances, announced Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD), Ponce Strike Force, were in charge of the investigation, with the collaboration of the US Marshals Service.

The indictment alleges that since the year 2013, the drug trafficking organization distributed heroin, crack, cocaine, and marihuana, within 1,000 feet of the real property comprising the José N. Gándara, and the Hogares de Portugués Public Housing Projects located in the Municipality of Ponce, and other areas in the southern part of Puerto Rico, all for financial gain and profit.

The 50 defendants acted in different roles in order to further the goals of their organization, to wit: leaders, drug point owners, enforcers, runners, and sellers. Sixteen defendants are also charged with possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

As part of the conspiracy, the members of the drug trafficking gang conducted meetings to discuss the activities of the organization. The defendants had access to different vehicles in order to transport money, narcotics, and firearms. The leaders had final approval authority as to disciplinary action to be imposed upon residents of the José N. Gándara Public Housing Project; the Hogares de Portugués Public Housing Project, and/or the members of the conspiracy should they disobey the rules imposed by the drug trafficking organization.

The drug distribution points were located at the staircases of the public housing project buildings, among other locations. The gates of the buildings would be locked to prevent law enforcement personnel’s access to the drug points, thereby avoiding detection. The gang also used homemade buckets, similar to a “weapon unloading station,” to test fire their firearms while concealing the sound of the shot. These buckets were located within different areas in the José N. Gándara Public Housing Project. Members of the conspiracy would create labels to identify controlled substances as “prescribed” in order to mislead law enforcement agents into believing that the controlled substance was authorized to treat medical conditions.

The defendants indicted are: Cristopher Román-Medina, a.k.a. “Keke”; Victor Torres Galindo, a.k.a. “Manuel Silva”; Hommy Santiago-Rodríguez, a.k.a. “Hommy/Cacique”; Jonathan Ramos, a.k.a. “Zurdo”; Josué Rosado-Ríos, a.k.a. “Josué”; Juan C. Borrero-Silva, a.k.a. “Mata/Matta”; Emilio J. Alomar-García, a.k.a. “Machua/Macho/Millo”; Alexandro Rivera-Pérez, a.k.a. “El Cojo/Alex El Cojo”; Santiago De Jesús-Martínez, a.k.a. “Junito/Yairan”; Alex Manuel Malavet-Rivera, a.k.a. “Alexito”; Hector Pagán-Vega, a.k.a. “Piky”; Eric Tomás Nazario-Torres, a.k.a. “Eric/Eric Cripy”; Jesús M. Vargas-Vargas, a.k.a. “Bombo/Manuel”; Anthony Nazario-Ortiz, a.k.a. “El Negro”; José Luis Pabón-Custodio, a.k.a. “Joseito”; José A. Cintrón-Ortiz, a.k.a. “Rubia/Colorao/Barbie”; Juan C. Borrero-Ramírez, a.k.a. “Aspirina/Aspi”; Gerardo Rosado, a.k.a. “Gistro/Yistro/El Chacal”; Yalexis Fernández-García, a.k.a. “Lija/Flaco”; Rubén A. Rivera-Soto, a.k.a. “Piño”; Jean C. Velázquez-Cebollero, a.k.a. “Cebollero”; Gilberto Laboy-Nadal, a.k.a. “Papito/Papito Winston”; Randell Soto-Alvarado, a.k.a. “Bambino”; Victor Andrés Segarra-Vega, a.k.a. “Andy/Andie”; Victor Manuel Segarra-Vega, a.k.a. “Ito”; William D. Sanabria-Torres Jr., a.k.a. “W/William”; Anthony Almodovar-Guzmán, a.k.a. “Anthony”; Christopher González-Figueroa, a.k.a. “Offer”; Jonathan González-Figueroa, a.k.a. “Menor/Johnny”; José Manuel López-Velázquez, a.k.a. “Gordo”; Erik Antonio Avilés- Vega, a.k.a. “Eric/Erick/Erikcito/Erik-Chiquito”; Christopher Rosa-Moreno, a.k.a. “Chris”; Joseph Joamil Fontanez-Colón, a.k.a. “Nueva Atenas/Joamil/Cano”; Vilma Janet Vázquez-Vargas, a.k.a. “Janet/La Pata”; José J. Colón-Ramírez, a.k.a. “Yaye”; Arístides Rivera-Alvarado, a.k.a. “Fama”; Alberto Pimentel-Rodríguez, a.k.a. “Alberto”; Alexander Omar González-Morales, a.k.a. “Alexander”; Luis Ángel García-Ríos, a.k.a. “Boxeador”; Wilson Berríos-Flores, a.k.a. “Panda”; Axcel Orlando-Barral, a.k.a. “Axel/Uno-Nene”; Jeisabel Torruella-Almodovar, a.k.a. “Jei”; Freddyson Orengo-Rivera, a.k.a. “Menor”; Kevin Antonio Colón-Meléndez, a.k.a. “Atleta”; Ángel L.  González-Morales, a.k.a. “Anuel”; Javier I. Montes-Medina, a.k.a. “Ivan”; Fernando L. Rivera-Quiñones, a.k.a. “Nandin/Colorao/Nando”; Samuel Jesús Castillo-Santana, a.k.a. “Simbólico”; Pedro Pacheco-Rodríguez, a.k.a. “Pedro”; and Katherine Colón-Negrón, a.k.a. “Katy-Troll”.

“I am grateful for the tireless efforts of the investigators and prosecutors who have dismantled this drug trafficking organization with today’s indictment,” said Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “We will continue to investigate these violent criminal organizations with our law enforcement counterparts, and send a clear message that drugs, firearms, and violence will not be tolerated in our neighborhoods.” 

“The results of this operation show the commitment of HSI, and that of our partners in PRPD and the DEA, to rid our communities of individuals involved in criminal activity,” said Ivan J. Arvelo, special agent in charge for HSI San Juan. “Because of the hard work and efforts of HSI and DEA special agents and PRPD officers, we have 50 fewer alleged criminals in the streets, thus making our neighborhoods safer. This is only the beginning of a series of surges to return our communities to law-abiding citizens from unscrupulous criminals who have no respect for human life and dignity.”

“Today’s operation is a reflection of successful inter-agency cooperation. The dismantlement of violent organizations like this one, takes time. Since 2017, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations, and the Puerto Rico Police Department have been relentless in targeting the criminal elements affecting the citizens of Ponce and surrounding municipalities. Working alongside the United States Attorneys’ Office, today we bettered the lives not only of the residents of these communities, but our quality of life as citizens of Puerto Rico. DEA will stay here, and we will prevail,” stated A.J. Collazo, DEA Caribbean Division Special Agent in Charge.

Assistant U.S. Attorney María L. Montañez-Concepción is in charge of the prosecution of the case. If convicted the defendants face a minimum sentence of 10 years, and up to life in prison. Indictments contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.

This case is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF program operates nationwide and combines the resources and unique expertise of numerous federal agencies in a coordinated attack against major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. All U.S. Attorney’s Offices work in partnership with federal, state, and local law enforcement, as well as the local civilian community, to develop effective, targeted strategies to reduce drugs and drug related violence in the communities. This case is a product of that collaborative effort.

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