News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 11, 2009
Contact: SA Waldo Santiago
Public Information Officer
Number: (787) 277-4770

5 Men and 2 Women Indicted for Drug Trafficking

U.S. Secret Service and DEA special agents search for concealed traps and hidden compartments in seized vehicle.
U.S. Secret Service and DEA special agents search for concealed traps and hidden compartments in seized vehicle.
DEA and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) special agents arrest main suspect.
DEA and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) special agents arrest main suspect.
DEA and FBI special agents provide perimeter security at an arrest location.
DEA and FBI special agents provide perimeter security at an arrest location.

MAR 11 -- SAN JUAN, PR – United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez announced today a federal grand jury indicted seven (7) individuals for conspiracy and aiding and abetting to possess with intent to distribute narcotics on March 3.  Agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) were in charge of the investigation and during the arrests were assisted by the U.S. Secret Service (USSS), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the Police of Puerto Rico (PRPD) Carolina Strike Force.

Dimas Gutierrez Rosa, aka “Colo,” was the leader of the drug trafficking organization which was based in the Cataño, San Juan and Carolina areas.  Gutierrez Rosa was the manager of the parking lot located in front of the Federal Courthouse, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  Gutierrez Rosa and defendant Erwins Feliciano Echevarría, aka “Falo,” also face charges of carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.  Both defendants shall forfeit the firearms and specifically, Dimas Gutierrez Rosa shall forfeit $17,688 which is proceeds of his illicit activities, and a white BMW 540 series.

A second indictment charges Dimas Gutierrez Rosa and Oscar Morales Beltrán with conspiracy, aiding and abetting to distribute heroin and one forfeiture allegation. 

“Today’s operation was part of our Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) and contributes to our ongoing battle against the drug trafficking organizations that operate all around Puerto Rico,” said Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.  “We will not rest until every town is safe again, and all our citizens can live in peace.”

“This investigation is another example of DEA’s joint efforts with other federal law enforcement agencies to collaborate with Puerto Rico’s law enforcement authorities in attacking violent drug trafficking organizations endangering the safety of the local communities” said Javier F. Peña, DEA Special Agent in Charge, Caribbean Division.

This OCDETF investigation was led by the DEA High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) San Juan Task Force and received significant collaboration from the USSS, ATF, FBI and the PRPD.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sean Torriente.  If convicted, the defendants face up to 40 years in prison and fines up to two million dollars ($2,000,000).

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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