PHILADELPHIA – In a groundbreaking move against the gritty underworld of Kensington, United States Attorney David Metcalf today announced the arrest of 33 alleged members of the Weymouth Street Drug Trafficking Organization (Weymouth DTO) on charges that include conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and a litany of related offenses.
The indicted individuals, led by Jose Antonio Morales Nieves, alias ‘Flaco,’ and Ramon Roman-Montanez, alias ‘Viejo,’ are accused of operating an open-air drug market in the heart of Philadelphia, where they distributed fentanyl, heroin, crack cocaine, and cocaine from 2016 to 2025. Their activities extended beyond the 3100 block of Weymouth Street, reaching other corners of Kensington.
Morales Nieves, 45, of Luquillo, Puerto Rico, allegedly heads the DTO, authorizing drug sales on his block and protecting members through threats of violence against competitors. Roman-Montanez, 40, of Philadelphia, manages street-level operations, including drug shift schedules and proceeds management.
The indictment also implicates Nancy Rios-Valentin, 33, another Philadelphia resident who is responsible for organizing the drug shift schedule and overseeing profits. Today’s coordinated operation resulted in the arrest of 24 defendants, with eight already in custody and one at large.
“Drug traffickers who poison our communities and enforce their territory through violence will face the full force of federal law,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The Department of Justice is committed to dismantling these criminal networks and restoring safety to neighborhoods that have suffered for too long.”
This historic indictment, which includes 41 counts, represents the largest federal case of this century prosecuted by Metcalf’s office and is a direct strike against the opioid crisis in Kensington. “We are committed to reclaiming these neighborhoods from drug dealers who profit from others’ suffering,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf.
Related Federal Cases
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- Puerto Rican Men Face Life for Drug Smuggling in Buffalo · Puerto Rico
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- Pittsburgh Heroin Dealer Clinton Robinson Gets 8 Years · Puerto Rico
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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