SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On September 12, 2019, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an eight-count indictment charging Bryan Gilbert Díaz-De Jesús, a.k.a. “Bryan Gilbert De Jesús,” with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances,  possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, introduction of misbranded drugs into interstate commerce, and use of a communication facility, announced Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and US Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) are in charge of the investigation in collaboration with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

The indictment alleges that from May 2019 until August 2019, Díaz-De Jesús, conspired with others to knowingly possess with intent to distribute and to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin. The defendant introduced and caused the introduction into interstate commerce, and with the intent to defraud and mislead, a “drug” as defined under Title 21, United States Code, Section 321(g)(1) – specifically, N-phenyl-N-[1(2-phenylethyl)-4-piperindinyl] propenamide, commonly known as fentanyl, that was misbranded, in that the drug’s labeling failed to bear adequate directions for use.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 80-100 times stronger than morphine. Pharmaceutical fentanyl was developed for pain management treatment of cancer patients, applied in a patch on the skin. Because of its powerful opioid properties, Fentanyl is also diverted for abuse by drug users. Fentanyl is often added to heroin by criminal drug distributors to increase the heroin’s potency in order to produce a stronger effect on the structure/function of the bodies of drug users. Many users believe that they are purchasing heroin and are unaware that they are, in fact, purchasing fentanyl. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, just two (2) milligrams of fentanyl is a lethal dose for most people.

As part of the conspiracy the defendant used a communication facility, a postal station, in facilitating the commission the drug trafficking.

“Arrests like these are saving lives,” said Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “Fentanyl is the number one threat in the opioid epidemic in the United States, and we are seeing an increase in the presence of fentanyl laced with other drugs in Puerto Rico. We are working tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to get drug traffickers off the streets where they can no longer push these lethal drugs into our communities. This investigation continues.”

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alberto López-Rocafort, Deputy Chief, Gang Unit, and María L. Montañez-Concepción are in charge of the prosecution of the case. If convicted the defendant faces a minimum term of imprisonment of 5 years and up to 40 years in prison. Indictments contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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