San Juan, PR – On March 7, 2013, a federal grand jury indicted 31 individuals as a result of an investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD), announced today United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez.
The defendants are charged in a five-count indictment with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances within 1,000 feet of the real property comprising a public or private school and/or playground. The object of the conspiracy was to distribute “crack” (cocaine base), cocaine and marihuana at the San Isidro Ward, including but not limited to the drug points located at Monte Verde, Villa Hugo and Las Casitas sectors, and in other areas nearby within the Municipality of Canovanas, Puerto Rico, for significant financial gain and profit.
According to the indictment, from on or about the year 2007, the defendants conspired to purchase wholesale quantities of cocaine and marihuana in order to distribute the same in street quantity amounts in different areas of the Municipality of Canovanas. The main leader of the organization was Miguel Canales-Villalongo, aka “Buby,” “El Boss.”
The indictment alleges that, as part of the manner and means of the conspiracy, the co-conspirators would commit home invasions, robberies and other violent acts against residents of the San Isidro Ward in order to intimidate and make them abandon their homes. Afterwards, they would invade and take over those properties in order to use them for their drug trafficking activities.
“The efforts of the federal and state law enforcement agencies resulted in the dismantling of a violent criminal organization which held various communities hostage through its drug trafficking activities,” said Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “These arrests validate the Justice Department’s commitment to hold ruthless drug traffickers responsible for selling narcotics and promoting the rampant violence we are seeing in our communities.”
If convicted, the defendants face a minimum of ten (10) years imprisonment and a maximum of life imprisonment, with fines of up to $10 million. The indictment also alleges that 12 members of the drug trafficking organization are facing one count for using and carrying firearms during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alberto López-Rocafort. The indictment alleges that the 31 co-conspirators had many roles, in order to further the goals of the conspiracy. These were: six leaders; one enforcer; three runners; 21 sellers; drug processors, look-outs and facilitators.
Defendant(s): Miguel Canales-Villalongo
Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances
City and State: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Exact Date: March 7, 2013
Sentence or Outcome: Indicted
Dollar Amounts: $1 million in narcotics forfeiture
Related Federal Cases
- Marcos Pagán-Rodríguez, Drug Trafficking, Puerto Rico 2022 · Puerto Rico
- Alexis Candelario Santana, 40 Counts of Drug Trafficking, 9 Murders, and 19 Attempted Murders, Puerto Rico 2023 · New Hampshire
- Arcadia Zorrilla Hernández, Smuggling Contraband, Puerto Rico 2019 · Puerto Rico
- Luis D. Baez-Sierra, Drug Trafficking, Pennsylvania 2022 · Puerto Rico
- Carlos Javier Figueroa, Murder, Drug Trafficking, New York 2023 · New Hampshire
Key Facts
- State: Puerto Rico
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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