Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, William F. Sweeney Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and James P. O’Neill, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the unsealing of five Indictments charging 30 defendants with committing various narcotics and firearms offenses in Manhattan and the Bronx.   

As alleged in the Indictments unsealed in Manhattan federal court[1]:

United States v. Neury Abreu, et al., 19 Cr. 821

Between January 2016 and November 2019, NEURY ABREU, 26, ALEXANDER DEJESUS, 27, JOSHUA PEREZ, 27, ALEXANDER BAEZ, 46, IVAN BREA, 28, JOSE CRUZ, 22, LUIS ESPINAL, 30, and ANTHONY MELO, 19, conspired to sell 280 grams or more of crack cocaine, cocaine, Oxycodone, and marijuana.  Members of the conspiracy distributed narcotics in and around the Inwood neighborhood of Manhattan.  

Between January 2016 and November 2019, ABREU, DEJESUS, and PEREZ used and carried firearms during and in relation to, and possessed firearms in furtherance of, the narcotics conspiracy charged in the Indictment.  PEREZ also possessed a firearm on or about July 8, 2019, and on or about July 11, 2019, after having previously been convicted of a felony.  

United States v. Alexander Melo, et al., 19 Cr. 818

Between April 2019 and November 2019, ALEXANDER MELO, 28, JAVIER JANIEL, 23, FRANMY LUNA, 24, and JUAN PERALTA, 25, conspired to sell 280 grams or more of crack cocaine, and cocaine.  Members of the conspiracy distributed narcotics in and around the Inwood neighborhood of Manhattan.  

On or about October 9, 2018, MELO possessed a shotgun after having been convicted of a felony, and having had three convictions for three serious drug offenses, all of which were committed on occasions different from one another, in violation of the Armed Career Criminal Act. 

United States v. Mario Delgado, et al., 19 Cr. 817

Between October 2018 and November 2019, MARIO DELGADO, 32, DANIEL CUEVAS, 27, and EDWARD RODRIGUEZ, 30, conspired to sell 100 grams and more of Acetyl Fentanyl (which is an analogue of Fentanyl), Fentanyl, and Oxycodone.  Members of the conspiracy distributed narcotics in and around the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan.  

United States v. Roberto Sanchez, et al., 19 Cr. 820

Between January 2019 and November 2019, ROBBERTO SANCHEZ, 41, and JULIO ABREU, 28, conspired to sell heroin, cocaine, and marijuana.  Members of the conspiracy distributed narcotics in and around the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan.  

United States v. Alberto Marte, 19 Cr. 795

From at least in or about 2018 through in or about 2019, ALBERTO MARTE, a/k/a “Scotty,” a/k/a “Skylet,” 42, JUNIOR RODRIGUEZ, a/k/a “Skrilla,” 23, ERICK MELENCIANO, a/k/a “Gualey,” 26, NICHOLAS FALU, a/k/a “Nico,” 31, KEVIN ROSADO, a/k/a “Malda,” 26, GUERY CRUZ, a/k/a “Capo,” 24, JONATHAN RODRIGUEZ, a/k/a “Nathan,” 31, OMAR BAEZ, a/k/a “Smokey,” 23, SAMUEL SOSA, a/k/a “Sammy,” 21, YOAN DELACRUZ, a/k/a “Johan,” 29, RAYMER CASILLA, a/k/a “Ray Savage,” 23, KEVIN MELENDEZ, a/k/a “Freaky,” 26, and JOSE BAUTISTA, a/k/a “Nelo,” a/k/a “Echo,” 30, conspired to sell oxycodone and possessed firearms in furtherance of that conspiracy.

*                      *                      *

Thirteen of the 30 defendants were arrested this morning and will be presented later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn in Manhattan federal court.  Twelve of the 30 defendants, charged in connection with United States v. Alberto Marte, were arrested on November 13, 2019, and presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker.  JOSHUA PEREZ was already in federal custody and will be presented at a later date. 

Charts containing the names, charges, and maximum penalties for the defendants are set forth below.  The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI/NYPD Metro Safe Streets Task Force, and he thanked the New York City Department of Investigation for its assistance in the case. 

This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit.  Assistant United States Attorneys Frank Balsamello, Adam Hobson, Jacob Warren, Celia Cohen, and Dominick Gentile are in charge of the prosecutions.

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

 

United States v. Neury Abreu, et al., 19 Cr. 821

 



COUNT





CHARGE





DEFENDANTS





MAX. PENALTIES





1





Narcotics trafficking conspiracy

 

21 U.S.C. § 846





NEURY ABREU,

ALEXANDER DEJESUS, JOSHUA PEREZ,

ALEXANDER BAEZ,

IVAN BREA,

JOSE CRUZ,

LUIS ESPINAL, and

ANTHONY MELO





Life in prison

 

Mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison





2





Using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a narcotics trafficking crime

 

18 U.S.C. § 924(c)





NEURY ABREU,

ALEXANDER DEJESUS, JOSHUA PEREZ

 

 





Life in prison

 

Mandatory minimum of 5 years in prison





3





Felon in possession of a firearm

 

18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)





JOSHUA PEREZ





10 years in prison





4





Felon in possession of a firearm

 

18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)





JOSHUA PEREZ





10 years in prison



 

United States v. Alexander Melo, et al., 19 Cr. 818



COUNT





CHARGE





DEFENDANTS





MAX. PENALTIES





1





Narcotics trafficking conspiracy

 

21 U.S.C. § 846





ALEXANDER MELO,

JAVIER JANIEL,

FRANMY LUNA, and

JUAN PERALTA,





Life in prison

 

Mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison





2





Armed Career Criminal Act

 

18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(e)





ALEXANDER MELO

 

 





Life in prison

 

Mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison



 

United States v. Mario Delgado, et al., 19 Cr. 817



COUNT





CHARGE





DEFENDANTS





MAX. PENALTIES





1





Narcotics trafficking conspiracy

 

21 U.S.C. § 846





MARIO DELGADO,

DANIEL CUEVAS, and EDWARD RODRIGUEZ





Life in prison

 

Mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison



 

United States v. Roberto Sanchez, et al., 19 Cr. 820



COUNT





CHARGE





DEFENDANTS





MAX. PENALTIES





1





Narcotics trafficking conspiracy

 

21 U.S.C. § 846





ROBERTO SANCHEZ, and

JULIO ABREU





20 years in in prison

 



 

United States v. Alberto Marte, 19 Cr. 795



COUNT





CHARGE





DEFENDANTS





MAX. PENALTIES





1





Narcotics trafficking conspiracy

 

21 U.S.C. § 846





ALBERTO MARTE,

JUNIOR RODRIGUEZ,

ERICK MELENCIANO,

NICHOLAS FALU,

KEVIN ROSADO,

GUERY CRUZ,

JONATHAN RODRIGUEZ,

OMAR BAEZ,

SAMUEL SOSA,

YOAN DELACRUZ,

RAYMER CASILLA,

KEVIN MELENDEZ,

JOSE BAUTISTA





20 years in prison

 





2





Using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a narcotics trafficking crime

 

18 U.S.C. § 924(c)





 ALBERTO MARTE,

JUNIOR RODRIGUEZ,

ERICK MELENCIANO,

NICHOLAS FALU,

KEVIN ROSADO,

GUERY CRUZ,

JONATHAN RODRIGUEZ,

OMAR BAEZ,

SAMUEL SOSA,

YOAN DELACRUZ,

RAYMER CASILLA,

KEVIN MELENDEZ,

JOSE BAUTISTA





Life in prison

 

Mandatory minimum of 5 years in prison



 

 



[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the texts of the Indictments constitute only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation.

Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, James G. Hunt, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), and James P. O’Neill, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging seven members of the “MMOB” drug trafficking organization with participating in a narcotics trafficking conspiracy.  The case has been assigned to United States District Judge Paul G. Gardephe.  Six of the defendants are currently in custody, and were presented before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin Nathaniel Fox later this afternoon. 

Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said:  “With today’s indictment of seven alleged members of a drug trafficking organization, we seek to stem the flow of drugs and the havoc they wrought on the Norwood neighborhood of the Bronx. As the Indictment alleges, these defendants trafficked in all types of drugs, including crack cocaine, cocaine, oxycodone and marijuana, and peddled them on the streets, by delivery, and out of apartment buildings in the area. I thank our partners at the NYPD and DEA for their continued commitment to combatting drug trafficking and making our city safer.”  

Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt said:  “Law enforcement’s collaboration since last summer has led to the indictments of members of the MMOB crew on narcotics conspiracy charges. The Norwood section of the Bronx has been plagued by these individuals for some time and today’s efforts are a step in reclaiming this neighborhood for the community. These gang members allegedly trafficked a myriad of drugs to include strong prescription narcotics, which is a focus of our current investigative efforts, as these drugs are causing serious issues for our citizens.”        

Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill said:  “This indictment is another example of the NYPD’s commitment to hold responsible those who distribute narcotics into our communities. I commend the work of the NYPD investigators involved and our federal partners who continue to work tirelessly to protect our communities.”

As alleged in the Indictment and in other court papers[1]: 

The MMOB crew (“Mosholu Money Over Bitches”) is a group of individuals who are engaged in narcotics trafficking in the vicinity of Gates Place, Knox Place, and Mosholu Parkway, in the Norwood neighborhood of the Bronx (the “MMOB DTO”).  From July 2016 up to April 2017, in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, JOSHUA PEREZ a/k/a “Link,” JAVIER COLLAZO, HIRAM COLLAZO, a/k/a “Alex, NATALIE JUSINO, KEVIN MIESES, AMAURY MODESTO, and ANDREW PEREZ conspired to distribute significant amounts of narcotics, including crack cocaine, cocaine, oxycodone, and marijuana, in and around the Norwood neighborhood of the Bronx, on a daily basis.  The MMOB DTO controlled narcotics sales between Gates Place and Knox Place, primarily between Mosholu Parkway and West Gun Hill Road, including by selling on the streets and in and around apartment buildings in that area. 

Each defendant is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute narcotics, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.  The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.  A chart with the defendants’ ages and residences is below.

All of the defendants except for JOSHUA PEREZ, who remains at large, are in custody.    

Mr. Kim thanked the DEA and the NYPD for their work on the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Narcotics Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eli J. Mark and Jilan J. Kamal are in charge of the prosecution. 

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

 



DEFENDANT





AGE





RESIDENCE





JOSHUA PEREZ a/k/a “Link”





30





Bronx, New York





JAVIER COLLAZO





20





Bronx, New York





HIRAM COLLAZO, a/k/a “Alex”





19





Bronx, New York





NATALIE JUSINO, a/k/a “Papo”





34





Bronx, New York





KEVIN MIESES





25





Bronx, New York





AMAURY MODESTO





37





Bronx, New York





ANDREW PEREZ





24





Bronx, New York



 



[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment constitutes only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.