Fourteen individuals have been charged in a massive money laundering and narcotics conspiracy in Puerto Rico.
A federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned a 62-count indictment on March 10, 2023, charging 14 individuals with money laundering and narcotics offenses. The defendants allegedly conspired and agreed with each other to conduct over $5 million in financial transactions involving proceeds from drug trafficking.
The indictment details 51 financial transactions ranging from $16,036.90 to $1,109,960 involving proceeds from drug trafficking. Defendant Carlos Javier Ruiz-Patiño, a/k/a “Hustler Man/Jordan/El Chamo”, is charged with international concealment money laundering. It is alleged that Ruiz-Patiño transferred or transported a total of $964,944.35 from Puerto Rico to Colombia and Canada.
Ruiz-Patiño is an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Regional Priority Organizational Target (RPOT). The RPOT List includes leaders of significant drug trafficking and money laundering organizations that are primarily responsible for a region’s drug threat. Ruiz-Patiño was arrested on March 9, 2023.
The defendants arrested today are: Roberto Brioso-Canario, David Luis Zapata-Félix, Walter Alexis Daynes-Torres, and Jesús Alberto Oriol-Cabán. Defendants Guillermo Andrés Beltrán-Osorio, Enmanuel Matos-Matos, Edgardo Delgado-Carmona, Rafael Cruz-Montalvo, Edgar Omar Báez-Vargas, and Franky Pagán-Mendoza were previously arrested. Authorities are actively working on the arrest of three other defendants who are charged in the conspiracy.
The indictment includes a forfeiture notice regarding the following property: One Cessna Model 310Q Aircraft, PT-JST, its flight and maintenance logs and manuals, together with associated tools and spare parts seized on November 11, 2022. Additionally, $139,940 in U.S. currency seized on June 5, 2020, $179,900 in U.S. currency seized on September 10, 2020, $1,000,130 in U.S. currency seized on September 30, 2020, $1,009,960 in U.S. currency seized on March 7, 2022, and $102,461 in U.S. currency seized on October 19, 2022.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to disrupting and dismantling transnational criminal organizations that distribute contraband, launder illicit proceeds, and attempt to corrupt our society,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.
If convicted of the charged money laundering offenses, the defendants face a maximum term of 20 years in prison. If convicted of the charged narcotics offenses, the defendants face a mandatory minimum term of 10 years and up to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Key Facts
- State: Puerto Rico
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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