United States Drug Enforcement Administration

ORLANDO, Fla. - Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement (DEA), Miami Field Division; Robert E. O’Neill, United States  (U.S.) Attorney for the Middle District of Florida;  Carmen M. Ortiz, United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts; Pam Bondi, Attorney General of Florida; and Palm Bay Police (PBPD), Chief Doug Muldoon, announce the unsealing of a federal criminal complaint charging numerous individuals with conspiracy to distribute oxycodone.  If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. 

“This drug trafficking organization is a perfect example of how the diversion of powerful pharmaceutical drugs is still big business in Florida and what length these drug dealers will go through to supply the demand,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Mark R. Trouville.  “The success of this investigation is a direct result of the hard work and dedication of federal, state and local agents and officers working together to investigate and prosecute these individuals.”

“Thanks to a strong partnership among federal, state and local agencies, we have brought down an oxycodone ring that distributed drugs from Massachusetts to Puerto Rico,” stated Attorney General Pam Bondi.

“Florida has shed the notorious title of “pill mill capital,” and anyone who engages in prescription drug trafficking in our state will be arrested.”

The following individuals were charged in the federal criminal complaint out the Middle District of Florida and all charged with conspiracy to distribute oxycodone:  
Edwin Morales, a.k.a. "Mikey" (51, Palm Bay, FL)
Rafael Rivera, a.k.a. "Chapo" (39, Palm Bay, FL)
Juan Luis Collazo-Pinto, a.k.a. "Pacho" (28, Holyoke, MA)
Carlos Alberto Cotto-Lopez, a.k.a. "Papito" (24, Holyoke, MA)
Jose Manuel Garcia-Santiago, a.k.a. "Cenizo" (28, Puerto Rico, Holyoke, MA)
Edwin Miguel (26, Holyoke, MA)
Heriberto Morales-(44, Holyoke, MA)
Isaac Matta-(54, Miami, FL)
Jose Antonio Ortiz-Gonzalez, a.k.a. "Chelo" (49, Puerto Rico)
Francisca Maria (27, Kissimmee, FL)

The following individuals were charged in the federal criminal complaint out the District of Massachusetts and all charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance: 
Angel Luis Medina, a.k.a. “Junito” (32, Palm Bay, FL)
Luz Eneida Morales, a.k.a. “Mama” (Holyoke, MA)
Doel (Holyoke, MA) 

The following individuals were all charged with: Count 1: Conspiracy to Traffic in Oxycodone over 28grams, a first degree felony mandating a 25 year minimum mandatory period of incarceration, in violation of sections 893.(1)(c)1, and 893.135(5), Florida Statutes.  State Defendants:

Alberto (61, Palm Bay)
Alex (35, Palm Bay)
Santiago (69, Palm Bay)
Maria L. Collazo-(58, Palm Bay)
Rafael Angel Rivera-(25, Palm Bay)
Jason Francisco (29, Palm Bay)
Maricelis (26, Melborne)
Roberto Alvarado-(64, Palm Bay)
Miguel Angel (72, Kissimmee)
Sammy O. Pinto-(37, Palm Bay)
Lizbeth Marie Pinto-(30, Palm Bay)
Miguel (52, Palm Bay)
Jose Anibal Alvarado-(33, Palm Bay)
Jose Roberto Alvarado-(33, Palm Bay)
Angel Manuel Alvarado-(41, Palm Bay)
Rafael Antonio Torres (47, Palm Bay)
Idalia (54, Palm Bay)
Rayan Hebel Montes (34, Melbourne)
Israel Medina (48, Melbourne)
Santos A. (42, Palm Bay)
Jose Luis Ferrer-Ruiz, a.k.a. (43, Palm Bay)
Virginia Gambaro (60, Melbourne)
Hector (68, Melbourne)

According to the complaint, Edwin Morales and Rafael Rivera managed a Drug Trafficking Organization that operated in Florida, Puerto Rico, and Massachusetts.  The conspirators fraudulently obtained prescriptions for various controlled substances, mostly oxycodone.  Members of the DTO traveled to Florida from Puerto Rico and Massachusetts, and posed as patients at various pain management clinics.  These “clinic patients” would obtain prescriptions for oxycodone and provide them to Edwin Morales or Rafael Rivera.  Morales and Rivera then filled the prescriptions at pharmacies in the Middle District of Florida.  On a number of occasions, Edwin Morales and Rafael Rivera mailed the oxycodone to co-conspirators in Holyoke, Massachusetts.  After the oxycodone was sold in Massachusetts, the drug proceeds were deposited at local banks and later withdrawn from bank branches in the Palm Bay area.

A criminal complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of the federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This ten month investigation was conducted by the DEA Orlando TDS and Palm Bay Police Department with the assistance of the DEA Springfield Resident Office, the DEA Ponce Resident Office, the Internal Revenue Services, the U.S. Postal Services, and the Florida Department of Health.  The Orlando TDS consists of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, Oviedo Police Department, Orlando Police Department, Winter Park Police Department, Winter Springs Police Department, Altamonte Springs Police Department, Casselberry Police Department, Maitland Police.  This investigation is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, and the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution.