FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                 CONTACT: LYMARIE LLOVET AYALA
FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2008                                                                                       ( PHONE: (787) 766-5656

111 MEMBERS OF A DRUG TRAFFICKING AND FIREARMS ORGANIZATION INDICTED BY
THE PONCE STRIKE FORCE

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO – On May 27, 2008, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned a seven-count indictment, charging 111 defendants with federal drug trafficking and firearms offenses. This morning, strike force agents arrested 65 members of the drug trafficking organization, which had been operating since 2003 at the Ernesto Ramos Antonini Public Housing Project, commonly referred to as “Pámpanos,” El Tuque Ward, Salistral Ward and Rosaly Public Housing Project, all located within the Municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico; and the Kennedy Public Housing Project, located within the Municipality of Juana Díaz, Puerto Rico. The arrest warrants were executed by more than 500 agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Puerto Rico Police Department and the Correction Department.

The indictment charges that since 2003, the members of the drug trafficking organization knowingly and intentionally possessed with intent to distribute and/or distributed controlled substances, within 1,000 feet of a public housing facility. The indictment further alleges that some of the defendants, aiding and abetting each other, in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, unlawfully possessed, used and carried firearms. The indictment also contains narcotics forfeiture allegations.

“This is the second largest 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 agents who participate in the Ponce Strike Force and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force have proven that through collaboration we can and will eliminate violent drug trafficking organizations in the southern part of the island,” said U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez during a press conference today. “We take this opportunity to thank the Administration of Public Housing in Puerto Rico for all their cooperation during this investigation; their assistance contributed to our success today.”

"Five communities in Ponce and Juana Díaz will be safer and their residents will enjoy a better quality of life as a result of this operation,” said Luis S. Fraticelli, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI San Juan Field Office.

The indictment alleges that defendant José Caraballo-Torres, a/k/a “Naito,” became the principal leader of the conspiracy, and he controlled, through co-defendants also acting as leaders, the drug distribution points located at Ernesto Ramos Antonini Public Housing Project, El Tuque Ward, Rosaly Public Housing Project, and Salistral Ward in the Municipality of Ponce, and Kennedy Public Housing Project, in the Municipality of Juana Díaz. He directly supervised the operations at the Ernesto Ramos Antonini Public Housing Project.

According to the indictment, the leaders of the drug trafficking organization would oversee a group of co-defendants managing 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. Some of the co-conspirators would routinely possess, carry, brandish and use firearms to protect themselves and the drug trafficking organization. Some of the co-conspirators would use violence, force and intimidation to gain or maintain control of the drug trafficking operations. The co-conspirators operated in different roles, to further the goals of the conspiracy, to wit: 13 leaders, 20 enforcers, 14 runners, 57 sellers, one supplier, one gunsmith and five drug processors and facilitators.

Penalties for the narcotics offenses alleged in the indictment range from ten years to life imprisonment and fines of up to $4 million.

The investigation was part of the joint efforts of the Ponce Strike Force Team led by U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez and coordinated by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) Guillermo Gil-Bonar; 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.

The case is being prosecuted by Ponce Strike Force Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose Capó-Iriarte and Assistant U.S. Attorney Myriam Fernández under the supervision of SAUSA Gil-Bonar.

Criminal indictments are only charges and not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.