JOINT
FEDERAL AND STATE OPERATION RESULTS IN INDICTMENT AND ARRESTS OF KILLER
BEES GANG MEMBERS FOR CONSPIRACY TO DISTRIBUTE DRUGS IN THE MUNICIPALITY
OF GUAYAMA
SAN JUAN, P.R. –
Rosa Emilia Rodriguez-Vélez, United States Attorney for the District
of Puerto Rico, Luis S. Fraticelli, Special Agent in Charge, San Juan
Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)), Pedro Toledo,
Superintendent, Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD), and José
Rafael Torres Súarez, Commissioner for the Municipal Police Department,
Guayama Municipality, today announced the indictment of 42 individuals
and the arrests of 38 members of the Killer Bees Gang , pursuant to an
Indictment charging them for their participation in a Drug Conspiracy
in the municipality of Guayama. Four of defendants remain fugitives.
On March 19, 2007,
a Grand Jury returned an Indictment against forty two (42) defendants
charging violations of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841, 846
and 860, that includes a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute
fifty (50) grams or more of cocaine base, five (5) kilograms or more of
cocaine, (1) kilogram or more of heroin, and one hundred (100) kilograms
or more of marihuana, all at the Borinquen Ward, Luis Pales Matos Public
Housing Project and Jardines de Guamani Public Housing Project, located
in the municipality of Guayama from on or about the year 2003 up until
the present date.
Nine (9) Habeas Corpus
Ad Prosequendum orders for individuals currently incarcerated at the state
level were issued. Thirteen defendants are currently facing murder charges
at the state level, six of which are alleged as overt acts of the conspiracy
charged. At least eight (8) defendants have been identified so far as
having a tattoo, as part of their membership in the organization, depicting
a bee (avispa) on their bodies. The organization was seeking to expand
to other areas, surrounding municipalities, and was engaged in a "drug
war" with rival gangs in the area of Guayama.
Approximately fourteen
(14) defendants are, or have been on bail for some time awaiting state
court proceedings, however they are still active in the drug distributing
organization. Approximately ten (10) defendants qualify for an enhanced
penalty under Title 18, United States Code, Section 521 (Criminal Street
Gangs) which would increase by up to ten (10) years their terms of imprisonment.
In addition, multiple defendants also qualify for sentencing enhancements
under Title 21, United States Code, Section 851.
The defendants in this case operated multiple drug points within the Municipality
of Guayama. They would use residences and other locations to store, prepare,
cook, and package cocaine base, heroin, cocaine and marihuana. The defendants
would kill and attempt to kill members of the organization and members
of rival drug organization in order to intimidate them and to maintain
and further their control over drug distribution points.
These arrests are another achievement of the Project Safe Neighborhood,
the FBI Safe Streets and in support of the efforts of the Ponce Strike
Force, which is working daily to significantly reduce drug and violent
crimes in the Ponce area. The Ponce Strike Force along with the Fajardo
and San Juan Metro Strike Force will continue to target drug trafficking
and violent organizations that continue to threaten our communities. Our
goal through the Project Safe Neighborhoods and the task forces initiatives
is to dismantle these violent groups to provide a better quality of life
for our children and our law abiding citizens who all deserve to live
free of the fear of violence.
Penalties for the
narcotics offenses alleged in the indictment range from ten (10) years
to life imprisonment and fines of up to four million dollars ($4,000,000.00).
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is
not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled
to a fair trial and the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond
a reasonable doubt.
This indictment is the result of a joint investigation conducted by the
FBI, members of the Ponce Strike Force and the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney José Capó-Iliarte.
|
