A federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging 30 members of the violent gang ‘Los Elite’ with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, possession and distribution of controlled substances, and firearms violations, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.
The indictment alleges that from 2012 to the date of the indictment, ‘Los Elite’ distributed heroin, cocaine base, cocaine, marijuana, fentanyl, Tramadol, and Clonazepam within 1,000 feet of several public housing projects in San Juan, Trujillo Alto, Aibonito, and Loíza, for significant financial gain and profit.
The goal of ‘Los Elite’ was to control all drug trafficking activities within the municipalities of San Juan, Trujillo Alto, Aibonito, and Loíza, using force, threats, violence, and intimidation. In preserving power and protecting territory, the members of ‘Los Elite’ profited from the illegal distribution of narcotics, including transportation to and distribution of kilogram quantities of cocaine in the continental United States.
The investigation revealed that during the conspiracy, the defendants and their co-conspirators participated in acts of violence and shootings to secure their drug trafficking operations. The defendants and their co-conspirators would sometimes use bulletproof vests to protect themselves when they participated in acts of violence, and modified firearms to convert them to automatic weapons.
The defendants acted in different roles to further the goals of the drug trafficking conspiracy, including as leaders, suppliers, drug point owners, enforcers, runners, sellers, lookouts, and facilitators. The defendants would communicate using cell phones, often via messaging apps and social media, including WhatsApp and Instagram.
“By arresting and prosecuting these defendants, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and its law enforcement partners are working to uphold the rule of law and bring to justice violent offenders who terrorize our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Muldrow. “The Department of Justice is committed to dismantling violent criminal organizations, holding gang members accountable, and pursuing justice for victims.”
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Key Facts
- State: Puerto Rico
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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