Related Federal Cases
Feds Bust Cocaine Ring in Georgia
Twelve members of a national cocaine trafficking organization have been charged in a large-scale investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation code-named ‘Operation Holy Trap.’
According to the charges, Edwin Rivera, a/k/a Neno, a/k/a Nano, a 43-year-old Boston-based drug dealer, oversaw the organization, which had ties to Georgia, Florida, Massachusetts, Texas, and Louisiana.
The group allegedly used vehicles outfitted with hydraulic concealed compartments to smuggle multiple kilograms of cocaine throughout the United States.
Edwin Rivera, a/k/a Neno, a/k/a Nano, faces charges in a five-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Atlanta on July 9, 2013.
The charges include conspiring to traffic over five kilograms of cocaine and substantive drug trafficking charges.
Other members of the organization charged include Maximo Stiven Bernabel Pena, a/k/a Pablo, 23, of Roxbury, Mass.; Juan Manuel Santana Baez, a/k/a Robin, 38, of Duluth, Ga.; Glenny Difo, 37, of Orlando, Fla.; Militza Negron; Jose Ramon Medina Bravo, a/k/a Lynx; Jose M. Vellon Rios, a/k/a Javier Luis R Mercado; Jennifer Medina; Alex Jonathan Tejada Avelino, a/k/a Jonathan; Maximo Stiven Bernabel Pena, a/k/a Pablo; Freddy Pena; Pedro Angel Morales, a/k/a Tito; and Hector Ramon DeJesus.
According to United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates, the charges, and other information presented in court, for over 18 months, the FBI has been investigating a drug trafficking organization with ties to Georgia, Florida, Massachusetts, Texas, and Louisiana.
The organization is alleged to have been overseen by Edwin Rivera, a/k/a Neno, a/k/a Nano, a Boston-based drug dealer, who used vehicles outfitted with hydraulic concealed compartments to smuggle multiple kilograms of cocaine and hundreds of thousands of dollars throughout the United States.
Rivera employed Hector Ramon DeJesus, who operated a seemingly legitimate auto shop in Atlanta, to install the traps in the load vehicles.
Juan Manuel Santana Baez, a/k/a Robin, worked with and for DeJesus in the trap business, including on vehicles used by Rivera.
Rivera is alleged to have used a syndicate of couriers to transport the organization’s drugs and drug proceeds, including Pedro Angel Morales, a/k/a Tito; Glenny Difo; Militza Negron; Jose Ramon Medina Bravo, a/k/a Lynx; Jose M. Vellon Rios, a/k/a Javier Luis R Mercado; Jennifer Medina; Alex Jonathan Tejada Avelino, a/k/a Jonathan; Maximo Stiven Bernabel Pena, a/k/a Pablo; and Freddy Pena.
To date, investigators have seized over 70 kilograms of cocaine and approximately $1,000,000 in drug proceeds.
Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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