United States Drug Enforcement Administration

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - On September 23, 2015, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned a six-count indictment against 15 defendants charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distribution of, controlled substances, announced Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The Drug Enforcement (DEA) and the Puerto Rico Police (PRPD), Bayamón Strike Force, are in charge of the investigation.

The indictment alleges that beginning in 2009, the organization distributed heroin, crack, cocaine, marihuana, (commonly known as Percocet), and (commonly known as Xanax) within 1,000 feet of a real property comprising Los Laureles Public Housing Project and other areas nearby and within the Municipality of Bayamón, Puerto Rico, all for financial gain and profit.

The 15 defendants are: Otoniel Ortiz-Acevedo, aka “Otto;” Roberto Cañon-Guzmán, aka “Claudio;” Luis Iván Vicente-Ocasio, aka “Lento;” Anthony Lee Vicente-Ocasio, aka  “Pelú;” Fernando Olivo-Martis, aka “Gordo;” Darwin Pagán-Soto, aka “Darwin;” Michael Ortiz-Maysonet, aka “Bimbo;” Orlanto Rivera-Fernández, aka “Kiki;” Jesús M. Pizarro-Rojas, aka “Chocky;” Christian Oquendo-Álvarez, aka “Fresita;” Enrique Fernández-Riera, aka “Kike;” Geovanni Torres-Santana, aka “Geova;” Elías A. Meléndez-Esquilin, aka “Calvo;” Orlando Rodríguez-Lara; and Marta J. Rivera-Lara.

The 15 co-conspirators had many roles in order to further the goals of the conspiracy.  The following are the roles as alleged in the indictment: one leader; five managers/drug owners; one drug processor; two runners; five sellers; one facilitator; enforcers and lookouts. Nine of the defendants are facing one count of possession of firearms of different brands and calibers in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes.

The indictment alleges that, as part of the manner and means of the conspiracy, some of the defendants and their co-conspirators would evict residents from their apartments by force to use those apartments for other co-conspirators. The defendants would conduct drug transactions in the presence of minors and would use and employ them to distribute narcotics at the drug distribution points.

Assistant U.S. Attorney César Rivera-Giraud is in charge of the prosecution of the case.  If convicted the defendants face a minimum sentence of 10 years, and up to life in prison. Indictments contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.