United States Drug Enforcement Administration

NEW YORK) -   - Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, James J. Hunt, Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Division of the DEA, Darcel D. Clark, the Bronx County District Attorney, James O’Neill, the Commissioner of the New York City Police (NYPD), Angel M. Melendez, and Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security (HSI) today announced the unsealing of two indictments charging 49 members of two Bronx-based drug distribution organizations, with various narcotics, robbery, and firearms offenses, including the murder of Jose Morales on December 11, 2016.

Fifteen defendants associated with a drug distribution organization operating primarily on East 175th Street and Monroe Avenue in the Bronx are charged in United States v. James Felton, et al., which has been assigned to U.S. District Judge William H. Pauley. The defendants taken into federal custody today were presented before Magistrate Judges Barbara C. Moses and Henry B. Pitman. Three defendants, James Felton, James Diaz, and Andre Felton, are currently incarcerated in federal custody on related charges and will be arraigned on the indictment before Judge Pauley on March 23, 2017.

Thirty-four defendants associated with a drug distribution organization operating primarily on Weeks Avenue and East 176th Street in the Bronx are charged in United States v. Edwin Romero, et al., which has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Loretta A. Preska. The defendants taken into federal custody today were presented before Magistrate Judges Barbara C. Moses and Henry B. Pitman. 

DEA Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Division James J. Hunt said “Guns, violence and turf wars plague neighborhoods that drug dealers have turned into battlefields. Today, law enforcement has reclaimed the Mount Hope section of the Bronx by arresting dozens of alleged members of two drug trafficking organizations. DEA Agents working with HSI, NYPD, the Bronx District Attorney’s Office and the SDNY U.S. Attorney’s Office identified and dismantled these crews allegedly responsible for fueling drug addiction and drug-related violence.”
                       
Manhattan Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said “Dozens of alleged members of two drug distribution organizations have been charged with peddling potentially lethal drugs. Many are also charged with committing violent crimes, including four who allegedly murdered Jose Morales in furtherance of their drug business. All New Yorkers are entitled to the peaceful enjoyment of their homes, free from the devastating effects of drugs and the violence that can accompany drug trafficking. Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to work to return the neighborhoods of the Bronx to the law-abiding people who live in them.”

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark said “This case crystallizes how drug dealing’s attendant violence devastates our neighborhoods.  These two organizations held the Mount Hope area in a vise grip of numerous street shootings, including at least one murder. In our fight against heroin and other drugs, we must always remain focused on the community residents who are victimized by these vicious traffickers.”

Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill said “Today’s arrests are the latest example of drug dealing that led to violence, including armed robberies and a murder in the Bronx, as alleged. This type of precision policing is leading to further reductions in crime beyond last year’s all-time low. Many thanks to the detectives, agents, and the prosecutors in the Southern District we so often work with and whose diligence resulted in the leveling of these serious drug trafficking charges today.”

HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Angel M. Melendez said “Today the law enforcement community in New York struck a serious blow to violent drug distribution organizations that operate in our city.  Two such organizations allegedly flooded the community of Mount Hope in the Bronx with heroin, crack cocaine, fear and death. This is yet another step in our efforts to bring peace and hope to our communities by removing the alleged leadership and rank-and-file members of these organizations, putting an end to their menacing criminal conduct.”

The indictments arise from a joint investigation by DEA, HSI, and the NYPD into two violent drug trafficking organizations that operated in the 46th Precinct in the Bronx. Members of these drug trafficking organizations sold crack cocaine, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana, and they possessed and used firearms to further their drug trafficking activities.
           
Count One of the Indictment in U.S. v. James Felton, et al., unsealed today in Manhattan federal court, charges James Felton, James Diaz, Andre Felton, Ezekiel Burley, Uriah Brown, Bradford Cannon, Willie Reeves, Harold Fields, Robert Brent, Dashaun Mcdonald, Matthew Torres, Tyrone Turner, Kendrick Mccray, Ginger Diaz, and Jose Sandoval with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana.

Counts Two charges James Felton, Diaz, Andre Felton, and Burley with the murder of Jose Morales, which occurred on December 11, 2016, in the vicinity of East 175th Street and Weeks Avenue, in the course of a narcotics conspiracy.

Count Three charges James Felton, Diaz, Andre Felton, and Burley with using, carrying, possessing, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a narcotics conspiracy, resulting in the death of Jose Morales on December 11, 2016.

Count Four charges James Felton, Diaz, and Burley with using, carrying, possessing, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a narcotics conspiracy on dates other than December 11, 2016.

Count Five charges Brown, Cannon, Reeves, Fields, Brent, McDonald, Torres, Turner, McCray, Diaz, and Sandoval with using, carrying, possessing, brandishing, and discharging firearms during and in relation to a narcotics conspiracy.

Count One of the Indictment in U.S. v. Edwin Romero, et al., unsealed today in Manhattan federal court, charges Edwin Romero, Rafael Romero, Francis Paluzzi, Luis Gonzalez, Anibal Gonzalez, Carlos Mota, Elimanuel Diaz, Pedro Olivo, Adrian Sanchez, Daryl Simon, Jeffrey Fernandez, Juan Valdez, Willie Tucker, Kasan Noble, Damian Saunders, Daniel Jefferson, Dereck Jefferson, Wayne Scott, Eric Rivera, Michael Martinez, Maxamillion Mercado, Kareem Simmonds, Alexander Pena, Anthony Clase, Carlos Acosta, Christopher Rodriguez, Gabriel Gonzalez, Jesus Mata, Nana Owusu, Roberto Ramirez, Wilpher Rodriguez, Yawilis Rodriguez, Jesus Abad, and Angel Guance with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana.

Count Two charges Edwin Romero, Sanchez, Valdez, Tucker, and Yawilis Rodriguez with conspiring to commit robbery.

Count Three charges Edwin Romero, Rafael Romero, Francis Paluzzi, Luis Gonzalez, Anibal Gonzalez, Carlos Mota, Elimanuel Diaz, Pedro Olivo, Adrian Sanchez, Daryl Simon, Jeffrey Fernandez, Juan Valdez, Willie Tucker, Kasan Noble, Damian Saunders, Daniel Jefferson, Dereck Jefferson, Wayne Scott, Eric Rivera, Michael Martinez, Kareem Simmonds, Alexander Pena, Anthony Clase, Carlos Acosta, Christopher Rodriguez, Gabriel Gonzalez, Jesus Mata, Nana Owusu, Roberto Ramirez, Wilpher Rodriguez, Yawilis Rodriguez, Jesus Abad, and Angel Guance with using, carrying, possessing, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a narcotics conspiracy.

Count Four charges Edwin Romero with using, carrying, possessing, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

Charts containing the names, ages, residences, charges, and maximum penalties for the defendants are set forth below.  The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the respective judges.

Mr. Kim praised the outstanding investigative work of the DEA, NYPD, and HSI, and expressed gratitude for the coordinated efforts of the NYPD’s Detective Bureau, including the Bronx Violent Crime Squad, the 46th Precinct Detectives Squad, and the Bronx Homicide Task Force. Mr. Kim also expressed gratitude to the Bronx District Attorney’s Office for its partnership in this investigation. 

This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit.  Assistant United States Attorneys Frank Balsamello, Matthew Laroche, Anden Chow, and Michael Krouse, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew (cross-designated from the Bronx District Attorney’s Office) are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictments are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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United States v. James Felton, et al., S2 17 Cr. (WHP)

United States v. Edwin Romero, et al., S1 17 Cr. (LAP -