Multi-State Drug Trafficking Organization Indicted Again In Operation Armageddon

BATON ROUGE, LA - United States Attorney Walt Green announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment against 10 defendants in Operation Armageddon, an extensive investigation aimed at a drug trafficking network based in Baton Rouge, with alleged ties to the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico.

The superseding indictment sets forth over 50 pages of allegations, charging defendants with allegedly participating in multi-state conspiracies involving the trafficking of high-potency heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana, as well as money laundering, the use of the mail in aid of racketeering, and the possession and use of firearms, including an AR/15 assault weapon, in furtherance of drug trafficking.   According to the superseding indictment, two of the defendants allegedly discussed how the potency of the heroin was such that it had to be diluted or else the user would be killed.

The superseding indictment adds multiple charges and a defendant to the original indictment.  The following ten (10) defendants are charged in the superseding indictment. If convicted, these defendants face significant terms of imprisonment, fines, and the forfeiture of proceeds from the illegal activity.

• Oscar Machado-Galeana, age 32, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and marijuana; conspiracy to launder monetary instruments; distribution of methamphetamine and heroin; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; unlawful use of the mails in aid of racketeering enterprise; and forfeiture.

• Alexander P. Nava, age 45, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and marijuana; conspiracy to launder monetary instruments; distribution of methamphetamine, heroin, and marijuana; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; unlawful use of the mails in aid of racketeering enterprise; possession of a firearm by person convicted of domestic violence; and forfeiture.

• Lori Lee Landry, age 39, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine and marijuana; and forfeiture.

• Devin Joel Martin, age 25, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine and marijuana; and forfeiture.

• Gregory John Landry, age 39, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine and marijuana; and forfeiture.

• Victor Hugo Quinonez-Sandoval, age 36, of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine and marijuana; and forfeiture.

• Roy Martin Herrera Romero, age 38, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine and marijuana; distribution of methamphetamine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and forfeiture.

• Mervin Ronald Spencer, age 24, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine and marijuana; and forfeiture.

• Marco Antonio Lopez-Sandoval, age 20, of California, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine and marijuana; conspiracy to launder monetary instruments; unlawful use of the mails in aid of racketeering enterprise; and forfeiture.

• Kyle J. Tidwell, age 38, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine and marijuana; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and forfeiture.

U.S. Attorney Green stated:  “As our nation continues to examine ways to tackle the many challenges associated with illegal drugs, we will and must remember this hard reality:  Drug traffickers often use brutal violence in our communities to enforce their market share and to ensure their collection efforts.  Those traffickers will find no safe harbor or relief in this district.  They will instead find a united law enforcement community fully prepared to aggressively investigate and prosecute their wrongdoing. ”

DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Joseph W. Shepherd stated: “DEA-Baton Rouge will continue to purse aggressive and ambitious enforcement efforts to send a message to drug trafficking organizations that we will not tolerate the collateral damage inflicted on our communities as a result of their illicit drug activities.  We will continue to work closely with our federal, state, and local counterparts and community leaders to address this ongoing drug enforcement priority.”

This operation is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Baton Rouge City Police Department, the West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office.  This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert W. Piedrahita and Kevin Sanchez.

The investigation is another effort by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program which was established in 1982 to mount a comprehensive attack against organized drug traffickers.  Today, the OCDETF Program is the centerpiece of the United States Attorney General’s drug strategy to reduce the availability of drugs by disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations and money laundering organizations and related criminal enterprises.  The OCDETF Program operates nationwide and combines the resources and unique expertise of numerous federal, state, and local agencies in a coordinated attack against major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations.

NOTE: An indictment is an accusation by the Grand Jury.  The defendants are presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.