28 Members Of A Violent Gang Charged For Drug Trafficking And Firearms Violations In Guayama, Puerto Rico

 SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On October 7, 2020, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging 28 violent gang members with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and firearms violations, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD), Guayama Strike Force investigated the case.

The indictment alleges that from 2015 to the date of the return of the indictment, the drug trafficking organization distributed heroin, cocaine, cocaine base (commonly known as “crack”), marihuana, and Oxycodone (Percocet) within 1,000 feet of the Luis Pales Matos Public Housing Project and other areas in the municipality of Guayama, all for financial gain and profit. Ten defendants are facing one charge of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

As part of the conspiracy, the members of the drug trafficking gang established a drug point that would move within different areas inside the public housing project in order to avoid police detection. Some co-conspirators would travel to the municipality of Bayamón to pick up the narcotics that they would sell in Guayama and travel back to deliver the proceeds. The defendants had access to different vehicles in order to transport money, narcotics, and firearms. The leaders had final approval authority as to disciplinary action to be imposed upon members of rival drug trafficking gangs, and on the members of the conspiracy should they disobey the rules imposed by the drug trafficking organization. The members of the gang would use force, violence, and intimidation in order to maintain control of the areas in which they operated. The defendants indicted are:

Caleb Josué Toro-Negrón, a/k/a “Calembo”

Martín López-Torres, a/k/a “Barba”

David Nieves-Negrón, a/k/a “Frances”

Reinaldo Pérez-Marrero, a/k/a “Coco”

Luis G. Ortiz-Marrero, a/k/a “Muri”

Jesús E. González-Morales, a/k/a “Chino Monte Hatillo”

Jael G. Rodríguez-Colón

Pedro J. Rivera-Jiménez, a/k/a “Pedrito”

Hiram Pagán-Rabri, a/k/a “Pini”

Anthony O. Ramos-Sanabria, a/k/a “Lucero”

Elisaul Medina-La Santa, a/k/a “Panda”

Josniel M. Pérez-Ayala

Hilda E. Santell-Santiago

Michael A. Gutiérrez-Rodríguez

Ted William Rosario-Delgado

Miguel A. Santana-Negrón, a/k/a “Potro”

Anthony Morales-Vargas, a/k/a “Topo”

Richard Rodríguez-Figueroa, a/k/a “Bakery”

Kevin Contreras, a/k/a “NBA”

Héctor Omar Fontanez-Sanabria, a/k/a “Zombie/Omar”

Carlos J. Rodríguez-Vélez, a/k/a “Carlos Blunt”

Héctor H. Valentín-Pagán, a/k/a “Gaby Tatuaje”

José R. Vargas-Rivera

Angelica M. Santana-Negrón, a/k/a “Angie”

Jacqueline Álvarez-Rodríguez, a/k/a “Jacky”

Sheila Bonilla-Figueroa, a/k/a “La Gringa”

Jadiel Rodríguez-Colón, a/k/a “Checko”

Ángel Sánchez-Morales

“This indictment and arrests today are a reflection of our resolve to combat drug trafficking and violent crime,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “We will continue to investigate these criminal organizations with our state and federal law enforcement partners, and send a clear message that drug trafficking will not be tolerated in our neighborhoods.” 

A.J. Collazo, DEA Caribbean Division Special Agent in Charge, stated that: “The dismantling of this violent organization known as “LOS MENORES,” allows the residents of the Luis Pales Matos Public Housing Project to live in a safe community, especially during these times in which the effects of the ongoing Pandemic have made life challenging and difficult for us all. DEA is certain that with today’s arrests we have saved many lives that would have ended in tragedy. We won’t let our guard down. We will prevail.”

Gang Section Assistant U.S. Attorneys Corinne Cordero Romo and Enrique Silva Avilés are in charge of the prosecution of the case. If convicted the defendants face a minimum sentence of 10 years, and up to life in prison. Indictments contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.