25 Charged in Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

GREENSBORO, N.C. - A federal indictment was unsealed yesterday charging 25 defendants in a narcotics trafficking conspiracy, announced Middle District of North Carolina United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston.

The indictment, which followed a two-year investigation, charges the following individuals with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine hydrochloride in the Counties of Guilford, Randolph, Durham, and Montgomery, in the Middle District of North Carolina, and elsewhere:

1. FELIPE AGUILAR-RIOS, also known as “Gallo,”
2. ADOLFO MEDRANO-VARGAS,
3. ALAN CHRISTOPHER LITTLE, also known as “Rick Ross,”
4. ALEX VILLAFUENTE, also known as Alex Villafuerte,
5. TRAVIS LAQUAN HEADEN,
6. ANA OCHOA-IBARRA, also known as Anna Maria Guada Morales-Iriqui,
7. ANGEL YAHIR QUINTERO-ARRENDONDO, also known as Angel Yahir Quintero,
8. ANTHONY JAMES BUTLER, also known as “Ant,”
9. LORETTA MCCOY LITTLE, also known as Arivette Little and Loretta Arivette Little,
10. CAMERINO ATANACIO-HERNANDEZ,
11. CESAR AYON GAMBOA,
12. CESAR NOE LOPEZ,
13. DAMIEN TERRELL CLYBURN, also known as Damian Clyburn and “Rell,”
14. EDUARDO JOSUE HERNANDEZ,
15. JARED MARCUS MOORE,
16. J-KARI CHRISTYLE COLLINS, also known as “J,”
17. MERISSA COLLINS WALL, also known as Merissa Faye Collins, Merissa Faye Wall, and “Rissa,”
18. MICHAEL JAMES BUTLER,
19. NAYELI PEREZ,
20. MARY OJEDA,
21. OMAR MEZA,
22. RASHAD LEQUAN SHIPP, also known as “Green Mile,”
23. RODRICK EUGENE LITTLE, also known as “Fruit,”
24. RONALD LEE JOHNSON, and
25. WESLEY QUEZNEK COLLINS, also known as “Quez.”

Additional counts in the indictment charge some defendants named above with distribution of narcotics, possession with intent to distribute narcotics, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, felon in possession of a firearm, and money laundering.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

If convicted, individual defendants face penalties ranging from up to 20 years, 5 years to 40 years, or 10 years to life, for narcotics conspiracy, distribution, and possession with intent to distribute, depending on the drug amounts involved in the offenses; 5 years to life for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; up to 10 years or up to 15 years for felon in possession of a firearm, depending on the date of the offense; and up to 20 years for money laundering. In the event of conviction, a federal district court judge would determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The United States Postal Inspection Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Marshals Service, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Moore County Sheriff’s Office, and Stanly County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Terry M. Meinecke and Craig M. Principe.

This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

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