63
MEMBERS OF THE DRUG TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATION "LOS DEMENTES"
INDICTED
Another conspiracy disarticulated as a result of the joint efforts
of the San Juan Strike Force
SAN JUAN, Puerto
Rico - On October 25, 2007, a federal Grand Jury in the District of Puerto
Rico issued a seven- count indictment, charging 63 defendants with federal
drug trafficking and firearms offenses. This morning 45 members of the
drug trafficking organization known as "Los Dementes", established
since January 1998 at the Public Housing Project Juana Matos in Cataño,
were arrested. Twelve leaders of the organization also managed several
drug points at the Matienzo Cintrón and El Coqui Public Housing
Projects, the Vietnam Ward in Cataño and the Amelia Ward in Guaynabo,
Puerto Rico.
The members of the
drug trafficking organization are charged with violations of the Federal
Controlled Substances Act, specifically: conspiracy to distribute heroin,
marihuana, cocaine, crack, Xanax, and Percocet in the Juana Matos Public
Housing Project, in Cataño, Matienzo Cintrón and El Coqui
Public Housing Projects, the Vietnam Ward in Cataño and the Amelia
Ward in Guaynabo, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections
841(a)(1), 846, 853 and 860, and the firearms violations: Title 18, United
States Code, Sections 924(c)(1) and 2. The indictment also contains narcotics
forfeiture allegations for undisclosed amount of dollars, pursuant to
Title 21, United States Code, Section 853. The arrest operation is still
ongoing.
"We are methodically
eliminating the most active and violent drug trafficking organizations
in the San Juan Metro area," said US Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez.
"Through the joint efforts between the federal and state law enforcement
agencies, we will continue to eradicate violent crime from our communities."
The leaders of the
drug trafficking organization would maintain a group of co-defendants
managing the drug distribution activities at the numerous drug points
under their control. The leaders of this organization would divide amongst
themselves and their subordinates the proceeds of the drug trafficking
sales. The following are the group leaders: CARLOS CRUZ-MOJICA, a/k/a
"Hueso", a/k/a "Flaco"; PEDRO J. RAMOS-RAMOS, a/k/a
"Pedrito"; JUAN A. RIVERA-GOMEZ, a/k/a "Pito Baja Panties"ANDERSON
CRUZ-MALDONADO, a/k/a "Pito Cura"; LUIS CRUZ-VALCARCEL, a/k/a
"Luis Pitillo"; CARLOS QUINTANA-RIVERA, a/k/a "Chivo";
ÁNGEL GONZÁLEZ-MÉNDEZ, a/k/a "Pito Chévere";
JOSÉ NEGRÓN-CARDONA, a/k/a "Angie"; LUIS MARTÍNEZ-SERRANO,
a/k/a "Luis Caqui"; PABLO ÁLVAREZ-ORTEGA, a/k/a "Pablo
Dientes"; HÉCTOR NOEL CINTRÓN-GONZÁLEZ, a/k/a
"Noel" and JULIO ROSARIO-OTERO, a/k/a "Julio Hotdog".
The co-conspirators
operated in different roles, in order to further the goals of the conspiracy,
to wit: leaders, enforcers, runners, sellers, drug processors and facilitators.
"Los Dementes, Inc." was led by the principal defendant of this
conspiracy, Carlos Cruz-Mojica. The leader would travel to Florida to
purchase weapons and controlled substances and ship them to Puerto Rico.
These firearms were used to protect the drug distribution business. Cruz-Mojica
would also lease firearms to other members of the conspiracy. The associates
of the organization would use violence, force and intimidation in order
to gain or maintain control of the drug trafficking operations, and to
discipline its members.
The defendants and
their co-conspirators would purchase wholesale quantities of heroin, cocaine,
and marijuana, and distribute the same in street quantities to the owners
of the different drug points in the Municipalities of Cataño and
Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.
The investigation
was part of the joint efforts of the San Juan Metro Strike Force Team
led by Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, United States Attorney
for the District of Puerto Rico and coordinated by SAUSA Guillermo Gil-Bonar;
working in conjunction with Luis Fraticelli, Special Agent in Charge,
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), San Juan Division, Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Pedro Toledo, Superintendent, Police
of Puerto Rico (PRPD). This Strike Force has incorporated prosecutors
from the Commonwealth Department of Justice, as special assistants, working
together with federal prosecutors and integrated Strike Force members
to combat violent crime organizations.
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 defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled
to a fair trial. The U.S. government has the burden of proving guilt beyond
a reasonable doubt.
The case is being
prosecuted by San Juan Metro Strike Force Assistant United States Attorney
Geroge Massucco-LaTaif and Special Assistant US Attorney Olga Castellón
under the supervision of Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Guillermo Gil-Bonar.
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