United States Drug Enforcement Administration

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Caribbean Division, in coordination with the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, led by United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow, alongside federal, state, and local partners assigned to the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), announced significant investigative and prosecutorial results stemming from ongoing operations conducted between April 27 through May 3, 2026.

The Homeland Security Task Force is a permanent interagency initiative established under Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, focused on dismantling transnational criminal organizations, violent drug trafficking networks, cartels, and criminal enterprises threatening the security of the United States and the Caribbean region.

During this reporting period, HSTF investigations led to major cocaine trafficking indictments, convictions of violent drug traffickers, and substantial prison sentences tied to narcotics distribution and firearms offenses.

“These results send a clear message to every transnational criminal organization operating in the Caribbean corridor, DEA and our HSTF partners are united, relentless, and committed to dismantling these networks at every level,” said DEA Caribbean Division Special Agent in Charge Michael Mayers. “From multi-hundred-kilogram cocaine seizures to the prosecution of violent armed traffickers, these investigations reflect the power of intelligence-driven operations and historic interagency collaboration. The Caribbean remains a critical frontline in protecting the homeland, and we will continue targeting those responsible for flooding our communities with dangerous drugs and violence.”

INDICTMENTS

On April 30, 2026, a federal grand jury indicted Jhon Dennis Guerrero-Trotman, Jaime José Marval-Gutiérrez, José Gregorio Pereira-Orfila, and Héctor Gregorio Jiménez-Herrera on charges related to conspiracy and importation of cocaine, as well as possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The charges stem from an HSTF maritime interdiction conducted on April 26, 2026, resulting in the seizure of approximately 1,350.2 kilograms of cocaine linked to Venezuela and other foreign sources.

On April 29, 2026, Douglas Antonio Fernández-Rodríguez was indicted on conspiracy and importation charges connected to the seizure of approximately 709.1 kilograms of cocaine intercepted by HSTF partners on March 11, 2026. Fernández-Rodríguez also faces immigration-related charges for unlawful entry into the United States.

Also on April 29, 2026, José Fernando Huggins-Figueroa was indicted for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking activities following an HSTF operation that resulted in the seizure of 20 kilograms of cocaine.

Additionally, Vilorio Camilo Polo-Padilla and Franklin Reyes were indicted on conspiracy and cocaine importation charges tied to the seizure of approximately 124 kilograms of cocaine during an HSTF interdiction operation conducted on April 17, 2026.

CONVICTIONS THROUGH GUILTY PLEAS

Multiple defendants tied to violent drug trafficking organizations operating throughout Puerto Rico entered guilty pleas during the reporting period.

Rosemary Santiago-Serrano pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges involving narcotics distribution activities within public housing projects and surrounding areas in Cayey, Puerto Rico.

Edwin Gabriel Vázquez-Colón, also known as “Cuco,” pleaded guilty to participating in a violent drug trafficking organization operating within the Jardines de Selles Public Housing Project in San Juan while armed with a machinegun.

Christian Maldonado-López, known as “Ninja,” and César Tyron Villegas-Cintrón each pleaded guilty to participating in a violent drug trafficking organization operating in Manatí, Puerto Rico, including firearms offenses connected to the conspiracy.

Roberto Rodríguez-Payano pleaded guilty to international cocaine trafficking conspiracy charges involving the manufacture and distribution of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine intended for unlawful importation into the United States. Rodríguez-Payano was extradited from the Dominican Republic in August 2025 as part of ongoing international enforcement efforts coordinated by DEA Caribbean Division and foreign counterparts.

SENTENCINGS

Federal judges in the District of Puerto Rico imposed sentences in several HSTF-related prosecutions, including narcotics trafficking, firearms offenses, currency reporting violations, and immigration-related crimes.

Among those sentenced:

• Luis Laboy-Nadal received 10 years' imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

• Ilia Martínez-Pagán received five years imprisonment for cocaine trafficking conspiracy charges.

• Miguel Ángel Pastrana-Ríos was sentenced to 135 months imprisonment and five years' supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.

• Jey Xander Omar González-Díaz was sentenced to a two-year term of probation for failing to report transportation of more than $10,000 into the United States.

• Daniel Rivera-Molina was sentenced to time served followed by supervised release for unlawful reentry into the United States following a prior aggravated felony conviction.

• Jayson Camacho-Rodriguez was sentenced to time served for conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

The DEA Caribbean Division continues working closely with the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico and all HSTF partner agencies to investigate and prosecute transnational criminal organizations responsible for narcotics trafficking, violence, firearms offenses, money laundering, and related criminal activity throughout Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Caribbean region.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders.