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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: December 12, 2007

121 MEMBERS OF DRUG TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATION INDICTED

At least 63 arrested in San Juan and Aibonito as a result of the joint efforts of the San Juan Metro Strike Force

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Yesterday, December 11, 2007, a federal Grand Jury in the District of Puerto Rico issued an eight - count indictment, charging 121 defendants with federal drug trafficking and firearms offenses. This morning strike force agents arrested 63 members of the drug trafficking organization, which had been established since January 2000 at the Public Housing Project Jardines de Selles. Three leaders of the organization also managed several drug points at the El Prado Housing Project in San Juan , and at Las Flores and Liborio Ortiz Public Housing Projects located in Aibonito, Puerto Rico .

 The members of the drug trafficking organization are charged with violations of the Federal Controlled Substances Act, specifically: conspiracy to distribute heroin, crack, cocaine and marihuana in the San Juan and Aibonito areas. The indictment also contains firearms violation charges and narcotics forfeiture allegations for an undetermined amount of money, pursuant to Title 21, United States Code, Section 853. The arrest operation is still ongoing.

“This is the largest single indictment issued in the history of Federal District Court of Puerto Rico. Once again, the hard work and efforts of state and federal law enforcement agencies, which compose the San Juan Metro Strike Force and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, prove that through collaboration we can and will eliminate all active and violent drug trafficking organizations in the San Juan Metro and central areas,” said US Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez during a press conference today. [“Este es el pliego acusatorio más grande en la historia del Tribunal Federal del Distrito de Puerto Rico. Una vez más, las agencias federales y estatales de la ley y el orden las cuales componen el San Juan Metro Strike Force y el Safe Street Task Force del FBI, demuestran que a través de la colaboración podemos eliminar todas las organizaciones de tráfico de drogas en las áreas de San Juan y centrales de la Isla”, dijo Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, Fiscal Federal del Distrito de Puerto Rico, en conferencia de prensa hoy.]

Alberto Carrillo-Morales, aka “Alfalfa,” became the principal leader of the conspiracy on January 20, 2000 , the same day that, aka “Danny Dientes” was killed by unknown individuals. He came from a different public housing project, San Martin in San Juan , and claimed that he was the new leader of the conspiracy, and whoever disagreed with that, either left the project or could end up like “Danny Dientes.” Carrillo-Morales was in charge of controlling all drug distribution activities, impose discipline to members of the conspiracy as well as to enemies, rivals and suspected police informants, and was also responsible for authorizing members of the conspiracy to posses, carry and/or use firearms. He also owned a heroin drug point at Jardines de Selles and was an enforcer. Gerardo Figueroa-Rosa, aka “El Gordo” was second in command. He used to share responsibilities of maintaining the administration and discipline of the organization, owned a marijuana distribution point at Jardines de Selles, and was an enforcer.

Carlos Rodríguez-Orellana, aka “ Jordan ,” became the on-site leader when on or about May 29, 2007 , “Alfalfa” and “El Gordo” were arrested by the FBI and PR Police at Jardines de Selles. Rodríguez-Orellana also owned a heroin, cocaine and crack distribution point at Jardines de Selles and was an enforcer. The leaders of the drug trafficking organization would oversee 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 co-conspirators operated in different roles, in order to further the goals of the conspiracy, to wit: three (3) leaders; fifteen (15) drug point owners; thirty six (36) enforcers; twelve (12) runners; fifty nine (59) sellers; various drug processors (listed on other roles); eleven (11) look-outs; and four (4) facilitators.

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 San Juan and Aibonito, Puerto Rico . Jardines de Selles served as the headquarters for the drug trafficking and distribution business for the central part of the island.

“With this large law enforcement operation, the FBI is trying to eliminate from its root the crime that permeates in the metropolitan area and deteriorates the quality of life in the country and mountainous regions of Puerto Rico,” said Luis Fraticelli, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), San Juan Division. [“Con este operativo a gran escala, el FBI intenta eliminar la raiz de la criminalidad que emana en el area metropolitana y deteriora la calidad de vida en los campos y las montañas de Puerto Rico”, dijo Luis Fraticelli, Director del FBI en 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 the FBI Safe Streets Task Force led by Luis Fraticelli, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, San Juan Division; Pedro Toledo, Superintendent, Police of Puerto Rico (PRPD) and the Secretary of Justice for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Roberto Sánchez-Ramos.

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 U.S. Attorney Olga Castellón under the supervision of Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Guillermo Gil-Bonar.