17 Individuals Indicted And Arrested On Drug Trafficking And Firearms Offenses

HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a federal grand jury in Harrisburg indicted 17 individuals in two separate indictments on March 13, 2019, for drug trafficking and firearms offenses.   

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the indictment alleges that the drug trafficking conspiracy entailed kilogram quantities of cocaine hydrochloride sent from Puerto Rico through the United States Postal Service to Pennsylvania and being purchased in California and transported to Pennsylvania. The cocaine hydrochloride was then distributed to co-conspirators for distribution to customers in Dauphin, Northumberland, and Union Counties. It is also alleged that heroin and fentanyl were obtained from known and unknown sources and distributed to co-conspirators for distribution. It is further alleged that co-conspirators maintained apartments in Milton, Pennsylvania for the purpose of packaging, storing, and distributing heroin and cocaine hydrochloride.

The first indictment charges the following defendants for offenses that took place between March 1, 2017 and March 13, 2019, in Dauphin and Northumberland Counties:

[1]       Kevin Caban Robles, age 29, of Harrisburg, PA, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride, more than one kilogram of heroin, and more than 40 grams of fentanyl; two counts of distribution of heroin; two counts of attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride, one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine;

[2]        Reymond Nieves Hernandez, age 31, of Milton, PA, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride and more than one kilogram of heroin; two counts of attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride;

[3]        Ricarte Bristol Negron, a/k/a “Cando,” age 46, of Milton, PA, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine hydrochloride and more than 100 grams of heroin; one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride;

[4]        Harold Maysonet Pagan, a/k/a “Chango,” age 25, of Milton, PA, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine hydrochloride and more than 100 grams of heroin;

[5]        Jamie Morales Rivera, age 27, of Wisconson, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine hydrochloride and an unspecified quantity of heroin; one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride;

[6]        Justo Melendez, a/k/a “Lobi,” age 38, of Milton, PA, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute an unspecified quantity of cocaine hydrochloride;

[7]        Bradimir Aviles Hernandez, age 51, of Milton, PA, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute unspecified quantity of cocaine hydrochloride;

[8]        Robert Pacheco, age 38, of Sunbury, PA, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute an unspecified quantity of heroin.

The indictment also seeks forfeiture of approximately $149,990 in U.S. Currency seized from Alejandro Alvarez and Jose Garabito Mejia.

The second indictment charges the following defendants for offenses that took place between October 2016 and March 13, 2019, in Northumberland and Union Counties:

[1]        Jose Miguel Guzman Ruiz, age 36, of Lewisburg, PA, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine hydrochloride and an unspecified quantity of heroin; one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride; one count of distribution of cocaine;                    

[2]        Francisco Javier Ortiz Candelaria, a/k/a “Javi” a/k/a “Guavina,” age 34, of Milton, PA, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine hydrochloride and an unspecified quantity of heroin; one count of distribution of heroin and cocaine; one count of distribution of heroin; one count of felon in possession of firearm; one count possession of firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime;

[3]        Ariel Diaz, a/k/a “A,” age 33, of Williamsport, PA, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine hydrochloride; two counts of attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride;

[4]       Roberto Rodriguez Bristol, age 28, of Milton, PA, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute an unspecified quantity of cocaine; one count of possession of firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; one count of distribution of heroin and cocaine;

[5]        Tony Orlando Garcia a/k/a “Honda,” age 40, of Northumberland, PA, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine hydrochloride; one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride;

[6]        Israel Gonzalez, Jr. a/k/a “Jigilo,” age 37, of Lewisburg, PA, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine hydrochloride and an unspecified quantity of heroin; two counts of attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride; one count of distribution of cocaine;

[7]        Yarelis Seda, age 24, of Lewisburg, PA, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute mor than 500 grams of cocaine hydrochloride and an unspecified quantity of heroin; one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride; one count of distribution of cocaine;

[8]       Kimberly Roman Rivera, age 33, of Lewisburg, PA, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute unspecified quantity of cocaine hydrochloride and heroin;

[9]        Denny Fernandez-Molina, age 44, of Milton, PA, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute unspecified quantity of cocaine hydrochloride and heroin; four counts of distribution of cocaine.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pennsylvania State Police, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Milton Police Department, the Buffalo Valley Regional Police Department, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, the Dauphin, Montour and Northumberland Counties Drug Taskforces, the Office of Attorney General, Bureau of Narcotics Investigations. The U.S. Marshal Service assisted in the arrests of the defendants.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Daryl F. Bloom is prosecuting the case.

This prosecution is part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF).  OCDETF is a joint federal, state, and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

This case was also brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law for defendants range from 20 years to life imprisonment. (see attached) Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs.  For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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