Jose Rivas, Jose Luis Santiago Almonte, Ryan Espinosa Ogando, Cocaine Conspiracy, New York 2017

State: New York
Category: Drug Trafficking
Source: <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdny/pr/three-men-arrested-and-charged-cocaine-conspiracy" style="color:#cc0000;" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">DOJ Press Release ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Â Ã¢â‚¬â€

Three men from New Jersey have been arrested and charged with cocaine conspiracy in Buffalo, New York.

Jose Rivas, 40, Jose Luis Santiago Almonte, 37, and Ryan Espinosa Ogando, 30, were taken into custody and charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life and a fine of $10,000,000.

According to the complaint, in July 2017, the Drug Enforcement Administration in Gulfport, Mississippi obtained information regarding the drug trafficking activities of defendant Santiago. Specifically, Agents learned that Santiago and co-conspirators were arranging to purchase 50 kilograms of cocaine.

The co-conspirators agreed to provide two vehicles as down payment for the cocaine. Defendants Santiago and Rivas traveled from New York City to Gulfport in order to make the arrangements, and multiple down payments in the form of vehicles or cash, were made.

In September 2017, DEA Agents received information that the defendants planned to travel to the Buffalo area in order to obtain kilograms of cocaine. A sale was arranged in Buffalo during which the defendants provided approximately $20,000 more in order to secure six kilograms of cocaine. All three defendants showed up for the exchange.

During the exchange, defendant Espinosa took possession of a backpack containing sham cocaine, provided by the DEA. The defendants were arrested at that time.

The investigation was conducted by the Buffalo Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of James J. Hunt, Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Field Division, and the DEA Gulfport, Mississippi Resident Office.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.