Members Of California-To-Florida Drug Trafficking Organizaiton Charged In Conspiracy

Orlando, FL – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Rodolfo Quiles (33, Tampa), Melissa Vasquez (28, Tampa), Alejandro Ortiz-Mendez, a/k/a “Andrew,” (43, Tampa), Gil William Garcia-Libran, a/k/a “Giwi,” (48, San Diego, CA), Stephen Johnson (25, San Diego, CA), Mauricio Ojeda, a/k/a “Pariente,” (39, San Diego, CA), Eduardo Trujillo, a/k/a/ “B.E.T.,” (38, Chula Vista, CA), and Melissa Day Swycaffer (22, National City, CA) with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, including heroin. If convicted, they face penalties from 40 years to life in federal prison. 

According to court documents, the defendants were part of a drug-trafficking organization that shipped kilogram-quantities of heroin, fentanyl, and other controlled substances from California to Florida and other east coast destinations for distribution. During the investigation, agents seized multiple kilograms of drugs that were destined for central Florida. 

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. 

This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, the U.S. Postal Service, the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the San Diego Police Department, the El Cajon Police Department, the La Mesa Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Tampa Police Department, and the Massachusetts State Police. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Embry J. Kidd.