News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 10, 2010
Contact: Special Agent Waldo Santiago
Public Information Officer
(787) 277-4700

70 Individuals Indicted For Drug Trafficking As A Result Of Joint DEA-ATF OCDETF Operation Tower Kings
$65,000,000 In Forfeiture Allegations

MAY 11 -- (SAN JUAN, PR) – On May 5, 2010, a federal grand jury indicted seventy (70) individuals as a result of a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) – Organized Crime Drug Enforce Task Force (OCDETF) investigation conducted jointly by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with the assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD) Carolina Strike Force Unit, announced today DEA Special Agent in Charge Javier F. Peña, Caribbean Division and United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, District of Puerto Rico. Thirty-nine (39) defendants were arrested today. The defendants are charged in a six-count indictment with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin, crack, cocaine, marijuana, Oxycodone, better known as Percocet and Alprazolam, (Xanax). All defendants are charged with conspiracy to possess and use firearms during and in relation to a narcotics trafficking offense. The forfeiture allegations total sixty five million dollars ($65,000,000).

PRPD and DEA Agent escort defendant to holding site. DEA SAC Javier Peña, ATF RAC Marcial Felix, Governor Luis Fortuño, PRPD Superintendent Jose Figueroa and DEA ASAC Pedro Janer supervise operation.

PRPD and DEA Agent escort defendant to holding site.

DEA SAC Javier Peña, ATF RAC Marcial Felix, Governor Luis Fortuño, PRPD Superintendent Jose Figueroa and DEA ASAC Pedro Janer supervise operation.

The drug trafficking organization, led by Harold Figueroa Sánchez, aka “Casco,” aka “Gordo,” aka “Cabeza,” was operating in the Torres de Sabana Housing Project, since 2002. At that time, José López Rosario, aka “Coquito,” had control of a drug trafficking distribution point located at Torres de Sabana. Upon Coquito’s death, on July 28, 2006, Figueroa Sánchez became the main leader of the drug trafficking organization. Figueroa-Sánchez controlled, through co-defendants also acting as leaders, the drug distribution points located at Torres de Sabana, as well as other areas in the municipalities of Carolina and Loíza, Puerto Rico.

DEA special agents provide perimeter security. DEA and PRPD agents restrain defendant who attempted to flee from arrest.

DEA special agents provide perimeter security.

DEA and PRPD agents restrain defendant who attempted to flee from arrest.

The seventy (70) co-conspirators had many roles, in order to further the goals of the conspiracy, including: six (6) leaders, two (2) suppliers, four (4) enforcers, four (4) runners, fifty (50) sellers, drug processors, look-outs, and four (4) facilitators. They would use the main lobby area of Building A, where there is also a “head start,” at the the Public Housing Project as their drug distribution point.

As alleged in the indictment, it was part of the manner and means of the conspiracy that some of the defendants and their co-conspirators would use apartments located at Torres de Sabana to store and prepare the narcotics and to store firearms and ammunition. The apartment was referred to as “the freezer,” because it was equipped with a high capacity air conditioning unit. The defendants also had another apartment, referred to as “the other freezer,” which was used to discuss their drug trafficking activities and as their leisure and entertainment center. This apartment was equipped with air conditioning, large flat screen television system, electronic game consoles, sofa, and lounge chairs, among other amenities.

“DEA unique expertise in fighting drug trafficking organization at all level was the key to success in this OCDETF investigation” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Javier F. Peña “DEA joined forces with ATF in Operation Tower Kings to break the lethal marriage between drugs and guns which was causing the violent crime wave in Torres De Sabana Public Housing Project”

“Today’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCEDTF) operation was very important in our efforts to fight violent drug trafficking organizations in Puerto Rico,” said Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “The residents of Torres de Sabana will once again be able to take their children to the head starts and schools in their neighborhood, without having to worry about the drug points and the violence around them. Our commitment to continue our efforts with our state counterparts remains firm, the US Attorney’s Office will not rest until all our citizens can feel safe again.”

ATF Resident Agent in Charge Marcial O. Felix said: "ATF agents and Task Force Officers worked long hours in partnership with other Federal and State Officers to disarticulate this violent drug trafficking organization and bring safety and Peace to this neighborhood".

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney José Capó Iriarte and Special Assistant US Attorney Alberto López.

If convicted, the defendants face a minimum of ten (10) years imprisonment and a maximum of life imprisonment, with fines of up to $4 million. Criminal indictments are only charges and not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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View the Organizational Chart >>