FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC at 410-209-4885
December 12, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
16 DEFENDANTS IN ALLEGED SOUTHEAST BALTIMORE DRUG GANG CHARGED WITH DRUG CONSPIRACY AND CONSPIRACY TO TRANSFER
FALSE IDENTITY DOCUMENTS
Government Seeks Forfeiture of Over $2 Million
Baltimore, Maryland - A federal grand jury indicted the following 15 defendants for conspiracy to distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine and 50 grams or more of cocaine base from November 2005 to December 2006, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein:
Humberto Gasca, of Baltimore;
Josefina Quinonez, of Aurora, Colorado;
Vanessa Ruiz, age 21, of Baltimore;
Juan Arturo Vargas, age 25, of Baltimore;
Enrique Najera Gasca, age 20 of Baltimore;
Jonathan Sanchez, age 33, of Baltimore;
Javier Garcia, age 32, of Baltimore;
Rafael Gasca, age 32, of Baltimore;
Angel Francisco Velasquez, of Baltimore;
Daniel Najera Gasca, age 26, of Baltimore;
Francisco Castro, age 30, of Baltimore;
Jose Ramirez, age 29, of Baltimore;
Rodrigo Ramirez Rojas, age 37, of Baltimore;
Luis Diaz, age 23, of Elkridge, Maryland; and
Patricia Lnu, of Baltimore.
The indictment also seeks forfeiture of $2,080,000 against these 15 defendants, which is based on a minimum of two kilograms of cocaine per week for at least 52 weeks at a minimum value of $20,000 per kilogram. The alleged drug distribution operated primarily in Southeast Baltimore.
Humberto Gasca, Vanessa Ruiz, Enrique Gasca, Javier Garcia, Angel Francisco Velasquez, Rodrigo Ramirez Rojas and Maria Idalia Quinonez, of Baltimore were also charged with conspiracy to transfer false identification documents which were produced without lawful authority from November 2005 to December 2006. The alleged production and transfer of false identification documents took place primarily in Southeast Baltimore and Frederick, Maryland.
The two-count indictment was returned on December 5, 2006 and unsealed today upon the arrests of the defendants.
The maximum sentence for the drug conspiracy is life in prison and a $4 million fine, and the mandatory minimum is 10 years. The maximum sentence for the conspiracy to transfer false identification documents is 15 years in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Initial appearances are scheduled today in Baltimore beginning at 2:15 p.m.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the investigative work performed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore City Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kwame Manley and Stephanie Gallagher, who are prosecuting the case.
This page last modified—December 2006