Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, James P. O’Neill, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), and Keith Kruskall, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), today announced the unsealing of an Indictment and a Complaint charging a total of 11 defendants with committing various narcotics and firearms offenses in the Bronx, New York.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman stated:  “Today’s charges target multiple forms of alleged drug dealing and the gun violence that accompanies the drug trade.  From feeding the opioid crisis through the sale of Oxycodone, to pouring crack into our streets, to possessing and firing guns to secure drug territory, the alleged conduct of these 11 defendants fueled a cycle of addiction and violence.  The joint investigative work of the NYPD and the DEA leading to today’s arrests reflects the ongoing commitment of federal and local authorities to break this cycle.”

DEA Acting Special Agent-In-Charge Keith Kruskall said:  “DEA supports the NYPD in their efforts to protect New Yorkers from drug traffickers and the associated violence.  This investigation identified and arrested crew members who allegedly pushed oxycodone, crack, and marijuana into user’s hands, threatening neighbors with drug addiction and gun violence.”

NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill said:  “The NYPD is relentless in our commitment to fight crime and keep all New Yorkers safe.  By directly answering community concerns and enhancing our solid working relationships with the Southern District and the DEA, we are consistently able to remove drug dealers from our neighborhoods and avert the violence so often associated with their criminal activities.”

As alleged in the Indictment and Complaint unsealed today in Manhattan federal court[1]:

Between 2015 through 2018, JENCY DIAZ, a/k/a “JC,” KEVIN MORA, a/k/a “Jaffy,” CERENE MAYES, a/k/a “Mama,” HOWARD AYLLON, a/k/a “Kapo,” MYRON DECOSTA, and CARLA DECOSTA, conspired to sell Oxycodone.

In 2013 and 2014, KEVIN MORA, ARTURO MORA, a/k/a “Etho,” and WHYKEE JOHNSON, conspired to sell crack cocaine and marijuana and possessed firearms in furtherance of that conspiracy, some of which were brandished and discharged.

Between April 2018 and the present, ALAN ARIAS, WALTHER CASTILLO, a/k/a “Walter,” and RUDY DELGADO, conspired to sell more than 280 grams of crack cocaine in and around the Bronx, New York. 

Seven defendants were taken into federal custody in the Bronx this morning.  Those defendants will be presented in Manhattan federal court today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn.  CARLA DECOSTA was arrested in Delaware this morning and will be presented in federal court there today.  JOHNSON was already in federal custody and will be arraigned at a future date.  Defendants ARTURO MORA and ALAN ARIAS remain at large.

*                      *                     *

Charts containing the names of the defendants who were charged today, and the charges and maximum penalties they face, are attached.  The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencings of the defendants would be determined by the respective judges.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD and the DEA.  Mr. Berman also thanked the Bronx District Attorney’s Office for its assistance in the case.

These cases are being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit and Narcotics Unit.  Assistant United States Attorneys Frank Balsamello, Maurene Comey, and Adam Hobson are in charge of the prosecutions.

The charges contained in the Indictment and Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

 

United States v. Jency Diaz, et al., 18 Cr. 749

United States v. Alan Arias, et al., 18 Mag. 9136

 



CHARGE(S)





DEFENDANT(S)





MAXIMUM PENALTIES





Narcotics conspiracy

(Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute Oxycodone.)





JENCY DIAZ,

    a/k/a “JC” (27 years old)

KEVIN MORA,

    a/k/a “Jaffy” (30 years old)

CERENE MAYES,

    a/k/a “Mama” (59 years old)

HOWARD AYLLON,

    a/k/a “Kapo” (30 years old)

MYRON DECOSTA (39 years old)

CARLA DECOSTA (45 years old)





20 years in prison

 





Narcotics conspiracy

(Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine.)





KEVIN MORA,

    a/k/a “Jaffy”

ARTURO MORA,

    a/k/a “Etho” (29 years old)

WHYKEE JOHNSON





20 years in prison





Possession and discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime





KEVIN MORA,

    a/k/a “Jaffy”

ARTURO MORA,

    a/k/a “Etho”

WHYKEE JOHNSON (32 years old)





Life in prison

 

Mandatory minimum:

ten years in prison, to be imposed consecutively to any other sentence





Narcotics conspiracy

(Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine.)





ALAN ARIAS (25 years old)

WALTHER CASTILLO,

    a/k/a “Walter” (33 years old)

RUDY DELGADO (33 years old)





Life in prison

 

Mandatory minimum:

10 years in prison



 

 



[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the texts of the Indictment and the Complaint, as well as the descriptions of the Indictment and the Complaint set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.