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Press Release

23 Members of a Violent Gang in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, Charged with Drug Trafficking and Firearms Offenses

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On September 28, 2024, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging 23 violent gang members from the municipality of Aguadilla with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, possession and distribution of controlled substances, and firearms violations, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB) Aguadilla Strike Force were in charge of the investigation of the case. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Response Team (SRT) and Guaynabo Municipal Police SRT collaborated during the arrests.

“Criminal organizations like the one we dismantled today harm the community with drug trafficking and acts of violence,” said U.S. Attorney Muldrow. “Federal and state authorities will continue to focus our resources to remove violent gang members from the community so law abiding citizens can live in peace.”

“Our successful operation and the indictment of over 20 individuals in this case stand as a resolute testament to the unwavering commitment of our office to combat drug trafficking organizations across our entire area of responsibility,” said Joseph González, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “We know our work is not completed when it comes to the fight against violent gangs and the scourge of illegal drugs, but the public can be assured that we will continue to relentlessly pursue and bring to justice those who seek to profit from the suffering of others.”

The indictment alleges that from 2015 through the present, the drug trafficking organization distributed cocaine base (commonly known as “crack”), cocaine, and marihuana within 1,000 feet of La Montaña Public Housing Project, and other areas nearby the municipality of Aguadilla, all for significant financial gain and profit.

As part of the conspiracy, the defendants established a drug distribution point that would move within different areas inside the public housing project, in order to avoid police detection. While selling narcotics at the drug point, the co‑conspirators used face masks to avoid identification by law enforcement officers and asked potential buyers for a government identification prior to selling the narcotics to detect government agents.

The defendants acted in different roles to further the goals of the drug trafficking conspiracy, to include: leaders, enforcers, runners, sellers, and facilitators. The members of the gang used force, violence, and intimidation to intimidate rival drug trafficking organizations, and to discipline members of their own organization. The defendants charged in the drug trafficking conspiracy are:

[1] Efraín Pellot-Guerra, a.k.a “Fri Fri”

[2] Marcelino Nieves-Flores, a.k.a “Boster”

[3] Luis Abraham Berdecía, a.k.a “Luisito”

[4] Caleb John Arocho-Quiñones, a.k.a “Caleb/John El Vizco/El Gordo”

[5] Rolando Martell-Bartolomey, a.k.a “Chava”

[6] Jose Pellot- Avilés, a.k.a “Carimarcao”

[7] Jesús Manuel Lorenzo, a.k.a “Chino/Gordo”

[8] Mason Maisonet-Cruz

[9] Bryan Snaidel Rodríguez-Nieves

[10] Giordanny Levi González-Molina

[11] Jeremy Khalil Arvelo-Cruz

[12] Héctor Rosado Álvarez, a.k.a “Onix”

[13] Dwight Arvelo-Sánchez

[14] Marc Anthony Rodríguez-Cestero

[15] Carlos Morales-Malavé, a.k.a “Gonzalo”

[16] Santos López-Nieves, a.k.a “Choki”

[17] Julio Valentín-García, a.k.a “Melaza”

[18] Elian Jafred Quiles-Vega, a.k.a “Keko”

[19] Gianny Kid Vega-Molina, a.k.a “Anthony”

[20] Félix Pardo-Hernández

[21] Kevin Vargas-Vega, a.k.a “Flow”

[22] Juan Seín-González

[23] Carlos Manuel Vega-Román

Eight defendants are charged in Count Five with possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

The FBI thanks the PRPB Aguadilla Strike Force for their assistance in this investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) and Chief of the Gang Section Alberto López-Rocafort, Deputy Chief of the Gang Section, AUSA Teresa Zapata-Valladares, and AUSAs Pedro R. Casablanca, and Héctor Siaca Flores are prosecuting the case. If convicted on the drug charges, the defendants face a minimum sentence of 10 years, and up to life in prison. If convicted of both the drug and firearms charges in Count Five, the defendants face a minimum sentence of 15 years, and up to life in prison. All defendants charged in the drug conspiracy are facing a narcotics forfeiture allegation of $6,897,500.

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

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Updated October 10, 2024

Topics
Drug Trafficking
Firearms Offenses
Press Release Number: 2024-060