10 Defendants Charged In Heroin Trafficking Ring

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
PHONE:         (716) 843-5817
FAX:            (716) 551-3051
 
BUFFALO, N.Y.-The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced today that 10 individuals are charged by criminal complaint with operating a heroin trafficking ring on the West Side of Buffalo. The defendants are charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distribution of, heroin. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40, and a $5,000,000 fine.

Charged in the complaint are:

• Hector Carattini
• Michael Perez
• Juan Oliverias-Arbelo
• Mark Gonzelez
• Adalberto Cruz
• Maikel Gonzelez
• Alberto Fernandez
• Raymond DeJesus
• Hector Huertas
• Kristie Boncore

All the defendants, except for Kristie Boncore, are also charged with possession with the intent to distribute, and distribution of heroin which also carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40, and a $5,000,000 fine. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney George C. Burgasser, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, between the fall of 2013 and June 15, 2015, the defendants conspired to distribute heroin on the West Side of Buffalo. The investigation utilized court ordered wiretaps as well as undercover purchases conducted by the New York State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET) and the Buffalo Police Department.

According to the complaint, these 10 defendants were street-level distributors or “runners” in a heroin trafficking ring operated by Daniel Molina-Rios who was arrested in June 2015 along with Orlando Rios, Luis Montanez, and Jose Andujar. The organization acquired heroin from the New York City area for distribution in Buffalo but also had an alternate heroin source locally.

DEA Special Agent in Charge James Hunt stated, “Heroin is the archenemy of public health in Buffalo.  And this investigation is a reminder to the public that DEA and our law enforcement partners are putting everything on the line to identify those responsible for supplying our city with heroin, like the Molinas-Rio trafficking organization.” SAC Hunt commends the men and women of DEA Buffalo Resident Office, the New York State Police, the Buffalo Police Department and the US Attorney’s Office, Western District of New York, for their tenacious efforts throughout this investigation.

Seven of the 10 defendants were taken into custody and made initial appearances today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy. The seven defendants are being held pending detention hearings.

The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division, the New York State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET), under the direction of Major David Krause and Lieutenant Kevin Reyes, CNET West Commander, and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda.  

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.