United States Drug Enforcement Administration

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. – U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division (NYD), Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan, Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy D. Sini, and Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) Acting Commissioner Stuart Cameron announced today the arrest of 12 individuals, including several MS-13 gang members and associates, for an alleged drug trafficking operation and conspiracy to traffic firearms in Suffolk County, Long Island, New York.

“Gang activity and gang violence almost always involve drug trafficking,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Donovan. “Our investigations have taken us down numerous paths, but none more dangerous than those precipitated by gang-related crime. These arrests demonstrate law enforcement's quick and efficient ability to identify and dismantle this drug trafficking network that is responsible for furthering drug addiction and gun violence in our communities.”

“Our goal is to protect public safety by focusing on preventing violent crimes from occurring, which is why our strategy has been to collect intelligence and act on that information in real time to prevent gun violence and thwart murders, particularly at the hands of MS-13,” District Attorney Sini said. “This investigation had many different arcs, with alleged ties to drug dealing, gun trafficking and a murder conspiracy, but law enforcement painstakingly followed each lead and ultimately took down this criminal network.”

“Our department must continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to ensure that MS-13 cannot reestablish itself in Suffolk County,” Suffolk County Police Acting Commissioner Cameron said. “This investigation is not only critical to combating MS-13, but also in combating illicit drugs and illegal weapons in our communities. I applaud the members of the Suffolk County Police Department, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and all the law enforcement agencies involved in these arrests.”

The DEA, Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and SCPD began an investigation in June 2021 into the alleged sale of narcotics by or to MS-13 gang members. The investigation involved physical and electronic surveillance as well as court-authorized eavesdropping.

The investigation revealed evidence that the defendants would allegedly utilize bars and restaurants in the Brentwood and Central Islip areas of Long Island to conduct drug sales in addition to delivering drugs to users’ houses or conducting deals in commercial parking lots throughout Commack, Hauppauge, Brentwood, Central Islip and Bay Shore. The defendants involved in the drug trafficking operation include Mauricio Velasquez, an alleged drug dealer and narcotics supplier to Leonel Padilla-Hernandez and Jonathan Feliciano-Ramos, who are alleged leaders of the local drug distribution network, as well as Robert Caro, their alleged supplier.

Padilla-Hernandez and Feliciano were allegedly involved in the trafficking of cocaine into Suffolk County from Puerto Rico. On Oct. 14, with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, law enforcement intercepted a package in Suffolk County containing a quarter kilogram of cocaine intended to be delivered to Padilla-Hernandez.

The investigation also revealed that Padilla-Hernandez allegedly offered to sell firearms to other MS-13 gang members in Suffolk County on several occasions, which would be supplied to him by Felipe Garcia-Martin.

Communications intercepted during the early stages of the investigation revealed evidence of an alleged conspiracy by several MS-13 gang members to commit a murder. On Aug. 13, law enforcement arrested Franklin Orellana Garcia, 36, of Hempstead, and Mario Mejia-Say, 42, of Hempstead, in connection with the murder conspiracy. Garcia and Mejia-Say are each charged with Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a class B felony. Garcia is also charged with Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, for allegedly conspiring to purchase a firearm to use in the murder.

In addition, law enforcement arrested Jose Saul Martinez Villalta, aka “Agresor,” 24, of Huntington Station, New York, on June 29 for allegedly illegally possessing a loaded handgun. He is charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class C felony; Criminal Possession of a Firearm, a class E felony; and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony.

Pursuant to the investigation, law enforcement executed search warrants yesterday and today at six locations in Brentwood, Bay Shore and Amityville, as well as on eight vehicles allegedly used to transport narcotics and weapons. The investigation and search warrants resulted in the arrest of 12 individuals and the recovery of more than two kilograms of cocaine; five guns; $25,692 cash; quantities of pills, including methamphetamine and ecstasy; and various drug paraphernalia consistent with sales, including packaging materials, cutting agents and scales.

A search warrant was also executed on Oct. 26 at a room rented by Garcia-Martin at the Hilton Home2 Suites Hotel in New Brunswick, New Jersey, with assistance from the East Brunswick Police Department, New Brunswick Police Department and Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, which resulted in the recovery of a loaded .9 mm pistol. Garcia-Martin was arrested on Oct. 26 while traveling from New Jersey to Suffolk County.

Mauricio Velasquez, 45, of Brentwood, is charged with two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a class B felony; Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a class B felony; and two counts of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony.

Leonel Padilla-Hernandez, aka “Payaso,” 30, of Brentwood, is charged with Attempted Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, a class A-I felony; Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a class B felony; and three counts of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony. Padilla-Hernandez has been identified by law enforcement as a member of the Brentwood Locotes Salvatrucha (“BLS”) clique of MS-13.

Jonathan Feliciano-Ramos, aka “Bori,” 27, of Brentwood, is charged with Attempted Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, a class A-I felony; Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a class B felony; and two counts of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony.

Roberto Caro, 51, of Amityville, is charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, a class A-I felony, Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a class B felony, and two counts of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony.

Felipe Garcia-Martin, 50, of Bay Shore, is charged with two counts of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree, a class D felony and Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony.

The following defendants were also allegedly involved in the sale or possession of narcotics or the possession of weapons in Suffolk County:

Roger Arias-Delcid, 41, of Bay Shore, is charged with Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a class B felony; two counts of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony; and Criminal Facilitation in the Fourth Degree, a class A misdemeanor. Arias-Delcid has been identified by law enforcement as a member of the Stoner clique of MS-13.

Jimmy Flamenco, aka “Smokey,” 38, of Bay Shore is charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class C felony. Flamenco has been identified by law enforcement as a member of the BLS clique of MS-13.

Ever Canales-Cruz, 38, of Bay Shore, is charged with two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a class B felony, and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, a class A misdemeanor.

Junyor Rene Ramirez, 30, of Brentwood, is charged with Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a class B felony; two counts of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony; and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, a class A misdemeanor.

James Gonzalez-Beniquez, 29, of North Amityville, is charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, a class A misdemeanor.

Cenia Velasquez, 24, of Brentwood, is charged with two counts of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, and Criminal Facilitation in the Fourth Degree, a class A misdemeanor.

Ana Cristelia Molina-Villatoro, 40, of Brentwood, is charged with Criminal Facilitation in the Fourth Degree, a class A misdemeanor.

District Attorney Sini also thanked the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, East Brunswick Police Department, New Brunswick Police Department and Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office for their assistance with the investigation.

This case is being prosecuted by Senior Investigative Counsel Christiana McSloy and Assistant District Attorney Melisa Bliss, of the Enhanced Prosecution Bureau.

A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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