Juan O. Vélez-Miranda, Drug Trafficking, Puerto Rico 2012

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Table of Contents

Drug Trafficking Ring Busted in Puerto Rico

Thirteen individuals have been charged with drug trafficking in Puerto Rico, announced Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The indictment alleges that the organization distributed heroin, cocaine, crack, and marihuana in the municipality of San Sebastián, PR, for significant financial gain and profit.

The FBI and the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD), Aguadilla Strike Force Unit, are in charge of the investigation. The indictment alleges that the organization distributed the controlled substances at the San Andrés Public Housing Project in San Sebastián, beginning in or about June 2012.

The thirteen defendants acted in different roles to further the goals of their organization, with seven facing one charge of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The defendants are:

Juan O. Vélez-Miranda, a.k.a. “Coski”
José Moreno-Díaz, a.k.a “Sicario”
Michael Rojas-Montalvo, a.k.a. “Fora”
Gabriel A. Ramos-Alers, a.k.a. “Gallo”
Alberto Cabrero-Cabrera
Jean Pierre De La Rosa-Pratts, a.k.a. “Jampi”
Ángel Rivera-Rivera, a.k.a. “Tato El Gordo”
Abisael Rivera-Rivera, a.k.a. “Avispa”
Gustavo A. Méndez-Báez, a.k.a. “Tavo”
Pablo E. Ríos-Cruz, a.k.a. “Kike”
Juan C. Arvelo-López, a.k.a. “Choky”
Kevin Molina-Noriega, a.k.a. “Baby Love”
Carlos Bayrón-Ramos, a.k.a. “Harry”

“Drug trafficking organizations must be aggressively attacked and dismantled at every level,” said Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “The result of this operation is nothing short of significant and it underscores law enforcement’s main goal: to keep drugs out of our neighborhoods.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Vanessa Bonhomme is in charge of the prosecution of the case. If convicted, the defendants face a minimum sentence of 10 years, and up to life in prison. Indictments contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.