Four individuals have been indicted for their alleged involvement in a massive cocaine trafficking operation in Puerto Rico. Ramón Antonio Vega-Ortiz, Osvaldo Calderín-Pascual, Luis Almonte-Cruz, and Reinaldo Feliciano-Troche were arrested on October 12 and 13, 2021, and are facing charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.
According to the indictment, the defendants conspired to coordinate and facilitate the maritime importation of hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from outside the United States, including from Colombia and the Dominican Republic, into Puerto Rico, for profit. The defendants employed a network of international cocaine suppliers, boat captains and crew members, recruiters, coordinators, facilitators, and loading and unloading crews to obtain, transport, and distribute cocaine.
The criminal enterprise used two primary methods to obtain the cocaine shipments. First, the drug organization recruited and paid boat captains to conduct at sea transfers of the narcotics with boats arriving from outside of the United States. Second, the organization coordinated and paid unloading or receiving crews to transport narcotics that were smuggled into Puerto Rico.
Three of the defendants also conspired to launder monetary instruments to legitimize and disguise the true nature, location, source, ownership, and control of illicit proceeds derived from their drug trafficking activities. For example, the defendants laundered drug proceeds by purchasing winning lottery tickets, real estate, vehicles, and boats.
“Ramón Antonio Vega-Ortiz, designated as a priority target by our OCDETF program, and his organization imported large quantities of cocaine into the United States,” said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow. “These arrests demonstrate the collaboration and cooperation by the Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners, and our commitment and resolve to combat transnational criminal organizations.”
Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the DEA, Caribbean Division said: “The DEA and our law enforcement partners will keep working non-stop until we find and disrupt these Transnational Criminal Organizations. Know this, you may run, but you can’t hide, we will find you!”
If found guilty, the defendants are facing narcotics and money laundering forfeiture allegations to include the forfeiture of the following real and personal property: Property located at Urbanization Extensión La Rambla in Ponce; Property located at Urbanization Estancias del Golf Club in Ponce; Solar property in Cabo Rojo; One 2014 Porsche, 911 Turbo; One 2015 Acura, TLX; One 2015 BMW, M4; One 2021 Lamborghini, Huracan Evo; One 2016 Dodge, Ram 1500; One 2016 Dodge, Ram 2500; One 2017 Ford, F-150; One Avanti, Center Console, 25 foot boat; One Sea Star, Center Console 24 foot boat; All assets held in two bank accounts.
Related Federal Cases
- Luciano Mendoza-Garcia, Drug Trafficking, Puerto Rico 2016 · Puerto Rico
- Miosotis Ribot-Figueroa, Bank Wire Fraud, Puerto Rico 2014 · Puerto Rico
- Puerto Rico Disability Benefit Scam, 7 Indicted, 2016 · Puerto Rico
- Hector Jomar Ponce-Rijos, Child Pornography, Puerto Rico 2024 · Puerto Rico
- Ivan Zayd Guillama-Rosario, Threatening to Use Explosives, Puerto Rico · Puerto Rico
Key Facts
- State: Puerto Rico
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News