Leader of Drug Trafficking Gang 65 INC. Found Guilty

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A federal jury convicted Joseph E. Pérez-González, a/k/a “Peca/Stripper” for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and firearms violations. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB), San Juan and Carolina Strike Forces, and the United States Marshals Service investigated the case.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Joseph E. Pérez-González, a/k/a “Peca/Stripper” was the leader of a drug trafficking organization called 65 Inc. which distributed cocaine base (commonly known as “crack”), heroin, cocaine, marihuana, Oxycodone (Percocet), and Alprazolam (Xanax) in the Jardines del Paraíso, Jardines de Monte Hatillo, Las Dalias, Monte Park, Jardines de Campo Rico, San Martín, Jardines de Country Club, Ernesto Ramos Antonini, La Esmeralda, and Nuestra Señora de Covadonga Public Housing Projects, Los Claveles Condominium, and Buen Consejo Ward between the years 2015 to 2021.

65 Inc. used violence (including murders) and intimidation to maintain control of the Public Housing Projects to control the drug trafficking in those areas.  65 Inc. distributed hundreds of kilograms of crack, cocaine, marihuana and heroin during the course of the conspiracy.

Of the 55 co-defendants, 8 remain fugitives, 2 were arrested in May 2023, and the rest pleaded guilty.

U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow of the District of Puerto Rico; and Christopher Robinson, Special Agent in Charge for ATF Miami Field Division made the announcement.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Pedro Casablanca and Joseph Russell prosecuted the case.

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