A violent gang operating in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico, has been charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, as well as firearms violations.
The indictment, returned on March 3, 2022, alleges that the drug trafficking organization distributed cocaine base, heroin, cocaine, marijuana, Oxycodone, and Alprazolam within 1,000 feet of public housing projects and a school in Vega Alta.
The 20 defendants acted in different roles to further the goals of their organization, including as leaders, enforcers, runners, sellers, lookouts, and facilitators. Eight of the defendants are facing one charge of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
All the defendants are facing a narcotics forfeiture allegation of $6,451,375.
The defendants are accused of importing wholesale quantities of narcotics from the Dominican Republic and other places, and distributing them in street-quantity amounts at their drug distribution points.
Members of the organization used force, violence, and intimidation to maintain control of the areas in which they operated, and some members of the organization belonged to a musical group called ‘Los Piratas.’
The defendants are:
- Marcos Pagán-Rodríguez, a.k.a. ‘Papin’
- Miguel Santana-Avilés, a.k.a. ‘Macho/Machito’
- John Morales-Rodríguez, a.k.a. ‘Gordo’
- Michael Nieves-Lacend, a.k.a. ‘Pinto’
- Christian Sifonte-Ramos, a.k.a. ‘Peluche’
- Joseph Israel-Ramos, a.k.a. ‘Mena’
- Alex Jomar Negrón-García
- Said David Adorno-Martínez, a.k.a. ‘Saiid’
- Raymond Santana-Avilés
- William Rodríguez-Reyes, a.k.a. ‘Willy’
- Juan Lozada-González, a.k.a. ‘Picu’
- Luis Alfonso-Cabrera, a.k.a. ‘Javi’
- José Rosado-Vega, a.k.a.
- José Rosado-Vega, a.k.a.
- Carlos Maldonado-Llerandi
- José Luis Vélez-Ramos, a.k.a.
- Carlos Ríos-Ramos
- Ismael Pagán-Cruz
- Oscar Pagán-Cruz
- Carlos Pagán-Cruz
The indictment alleges that the defendants and their co-conspirators established a drug distribution point that would move within different areas inside the public housing projects to avoid police detection.
The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB), Bayamón Strike Force, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow said, ‘Today’s arrests reflect the unwavering commitment of the U.S. government and its law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those who fuel violence in our streets through their illegal drug trafficking activities.’
Related Federal Cases
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- Luis D. Baez-Sierra, Drug Trafficking, Pennsylvania 2022 · Puerto Rico
- Carlos Javier Figueroa, Murder, Drug Trafficking, New York 2023 · Puerto Rico
- Luis Lopez, Puerto Rico Drug Pipeline Operation, Fall River MA, 2023 · Puerto Rico
Key Facts
- State: Puerto Rico
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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