Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Https

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

  • Who We Are
    • About
    • Mission
    • History
    • Divisions
      • Atlanta
        • Atlanta Leadership
        • Atlanta Contacts
      • Caribbean
        • Caribbean Leadership
        • Caribbean Contacts
      • Chicago
        • Chicago Leadership
        • Chicago Contacts
      • Dallas
        • Dallas Leadership
        • Dallas Contacts
      • Detroit
        • Detroit Leadership
        • Detroit Contacts
      • El Paso
        • El Paso Contacts
      • Headquarters
      • Houston
        • Houston Leadership
        • Houston Contacts
      • Los Angeles
        • Los Angeles Leadership
        • Los Angeles Contacts
      • Louisville
        • Louisville Leadership
        • Louisville Contacts
      • Miami
        • Miami Leadership
        • Miami Contacts
      • New England
        • New England Leadership
        • New England Contacts
      • New Jersey
        • New Jersey Contacts
      • New Orleans
        • New Orleans Leadership
        • New Orleans Contacts
      • New York
        • New York Leadership
        • New York Contacts
      • Omaha
        • Omaha Leadership
        • Omaha Contacts
      • Philadelphia
        • Philadelphia Leadership
        • Philadelphia Contacts
      • Phoenix
        • Phoenix Leadership
        • Phoenix Contacts
      • Rocky Mountain
        • Rocky Mountain Leadership
        • Rocky Mountain Contacts
      • San Diego
        • San Diego Leadership
        • San Diego Contacts
      • San Francisco
        • San Francisco Contacts
      • Seattle
        • Seattle Contacts
      • St. Louis
        • St. Louis Leadership
        • St. Louis Contacts
      • Washington, DC
        • Washington Leadership
        • Washington Contacts
    • DEA Museum
    • Foreign Offices
      • Africa
      • Andean
      • Caribbean
      • Europe
      • Far East
      • Middle East
      • North and Central America
      • Southern Cone
    • Operational Divisions
      • Aviation Division
      • Diversion Control Division
    • Wall of Honor
    • Contact Us
      • Submit a Tip
      • Extortion Scam
      • Congressional and Public Affairs
      • Social Media Directory
  • What We Do
    • Law Enforcement
      • DEA Office of Training
        • Office of Training Programs
      • El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC)
        • Leadership
        • Mission
        • Services
        • Contacts
      • Forensic Sciences
        • Computer Forensics Program
        • Environmental Management
        • Laboratories
      • Intelligence
      • Operations
        • Administrative Law Judges
        • DEA Asset Forfeiture
        • Domestic Cannabis Suppression / Eradication Program
        • HIDTA
        • OCDETF
        • State and Local Task Forces
    • Education and Prevention
      • DEA’s Family Summit
      • Operation Engage
      • Community Outreach
      • Red Ribbon
        • Kiki and the History of Red Ribbon Week
        • Red Ribbon Toolkit - Resources For Your Community
      • Just Think Twice
      • Campus Drug Prevention
      • Get Smart About Drugs
      • Operation Prevention
    • Drug Information
      • Drug Policy
      • Drug Scheduling
      • The Controlled Substances Act
    • News
      • Alerts
      • Press Releases
      • Most Wanted Fugitives
        • All Fugitives
      • Stories
      • Events
      • Speeches
      • Testimony
    • Campaigns
      • One Pill Can Kill
        • Partner Toolbox
        • Social Media Campaign
      • DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
  • Careers
    • Special Agent
      • Special Agent FAQs
      • Special Agent Job Announcements
    • Diversion Investigator
      • Diversion Investigator Job Announcment
    • Intelligence Research Specialist
      • Intelligence Research Specialist Job Announcements
      • Intelligence Research Specialists FAQs
      • Schedule A Hiring Authority: Intelligence Research Specialist
    • Forensic Sciences Careers
    • Professional & Administrative Careers
    • Student & Entry Level Careers
    • How to Apply
      • Employment Requirements
      • Equal Opportunity Employer
      • How To Claim Veterans' Preference
      • Priority Consideration
      • Benefits
      • Veterans and People With Disabilities
  • Resources
    • Recovery Resources
    • Data and Statistics
      • Domestic Arrests
      • Staffing and Budget
    • FOIA
      • About FOIA
      • Contact DEA FOIA
      • Make a Request
      • What Happens After Making a Request
      • Requester Categories
      • Fees Charged
      • Fee Waiver
      • FOIA FAQ
      • FOIA Logs and Reports
      • FOIA Library
      • Additional FOIA Links
      • FOIA Exemptions
      • What Are Exclusions?
      • Privacy Act
      • Privacy Act Exemptions
      • Privacy Impact Assessment and Management Information Systems
    • Publications
    • Media Galleries
    • Victim Witness Assistance Program
      • Victim Witness Assistance Program Resources

United States Drug Enforcement Administration

  • Search
  • Full Menu

Main Menu

  • Who We Are
  • What We Do
  • Careers
  • Resources
  • Submit A Tip
  • Get Updates
  • Scam Alert
  • English
  • ES

Drug Enforcement Administration

Frank A. Tarentino III Special Agent in Charge
New York
@DEANewYorkDiv
October 11, 2018
Contact:
Phone Number: (212) 337-3900
For Immediate Release

DEA and FBI offices dismantle drug trafficking organizations in New York and Connecticut

Ten defendants charged in two federal indictments

NEW YORK- Special Agent in Charge James Hunt, New York Division, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the New England Division of the DEA, Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, William F. Sweeney, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Brian C. Turner, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI, New Haven, and Joseph F. Schaller, the Commissioner of the New Rochelle Police Department, announced the results of a coordinated operation earlier today, in which federal, state, and local law enforcement officers arrested six defendants in Westchester County, New York, and three defendants in Fairfield County, Connecticut. 

Ten defendants are charged in two federal indictments, unsealed today.  Seven of the defendants were charged in the Southern District of New York with conspiracy to distribute five kilograms and more of cocaine and 50 grams and more of methamphetamine in and around New Rochelle, New York, since at least April 2018.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut has charged an additional three defendants with narcotics offenses, including conspiracy to distribute 500 grams and more of cocaine.  Those defendants arrested today who are charged in the federal indictment in the Southern District of New York were presented in White Plains federal court today before Magistrate Judge Paul E. Davison. 

“Earlier this year, DEA joined forces with FBI and the New Rochelle Police Department to dismantle a drug trafficking organization operating in Westchester and Fairfield Counties.  By shutting down this family-run methamphetamine operation, lives will be saved, " said DEA New York Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt..  "I applaud the efforts of our law enforcement partners and the US Attorney’s Offices Southern District of New York and District of Connecticut.”

“DEA is committed to investigating and dismantling large-scale poly drug trafficking organizations like this one operating in the Bridgeport, Connecticut, area.  As we all know, drug trafficking, along with the gun and physical violence that often accompanies it, ravages the very foundations of our families and communities," said DEA New England Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle.  "This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative local, state, and federal law enforcement efforts to seek and bring to justice anyone who engages in these crimes.”

“Our Office is committed to ridding New York neighborhoods of highly addictive and extremely dangerous drugs," said Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman.  "And we will continue to help coordinate our efforts with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and local and federal law enforcement agencies.”

“We allege that these individuals were responsible for bringing significant amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine into our state,"  said Connecticut U.S. Attorney John H. Durham.  "I thank our federal, state and local law enforcement partners for their diligent efforts in these cases, and our counterparts in the Southern District on New York for coordinating with us in these investigations and today’s take down of the most significant members of this organization.”

“The distribution of illegal narcotics continues to be a scourge on our communities.  As alleged, these defendants profited from trafficking cocaine and methamphetamines at the expense of those subjected to all the negatives wrought by these substances," said FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office William F. Sweeney.  "Today’s charges should serve as a reminder that the FBI, through our Westchester County Safe Streets task force, will continue to target these offenders and the impact they are having on our communities.”

“Despite the ongoing battle against the opioid crisis in our communities, this indictment should make it abundantly clear that we at the FBI, along with all of our law enforcement partners, have not lost sight of the other illicit drugs and those that traffic them,"  said FBI Special Agent-in-Charge of the New Haven Office Brian C. Turner . "Together we will continue to pursue those that seek to pollute our communities.”                    

“This is another example of the excellent work being performed by the joint federal, state and local drug enforcement task forces operating in Westchester and Fairfield Counties," said FBI Special Agent-in-Charge of the New Haven Office Brian C. Turner.  "The City of New Rochelle and the New Rochelle Police Department thank our law enforcement partners in this operation for their exceptional efforts and invaluable assistance in removing a significant number of dangerous drug traffickers from the streets of our city.”

As alleged in the Indictment unsealed today in White Plains federal court[1]:

From April 2018 up to October 2018, Ulysses Lopez, Valentio Lopez, and Christian Lopez conspired to distribute five kilograms and more of powder cocaine and 50 grams and more of methamphetamine, and Felipe Barajas, aka "Felipe Barajas Gallegos,” Jose Oceguera, aka “Cande,” Felipe Cortes, and Saturnino Oliver Farias, aka “Genaro Robles,” conspired to distribute five kilograms and more of powder cocaine.

As alleged in the Indictment unsealed today in New Haven federal court:

From March 2018 through June 26, 2018, Rafael Lopez-Macias, aka “Rafa,” aka “Martin Sanchez,” Jaime Lopez, aka “Compa,” and Juan Carlos Figueroa, aka “Chaito,” conspired to distribute 500 grams or more of powder cocaine.  In addition, on June 26, 2018, Rafael Lopez-Macias possessed with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine, and on June 7, 2018, Jaime Lopez possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine. 

The defendants charged in White Plains federal court each face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, and a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison.  The defendants charged in New Haven federal court each face a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, and a mandatory minimum term of five years in prison.  The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencings of the defendants would be determined by the respective judges.

Mr. Berman and Mr. Durham praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI, DEA, the Connecticut State Police, and the New Rochelle, Norwalk and Stamford Police Departments.  Mr. Berman also thanked the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations for their assistance and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut for its ongoing coordination in the case.

This case is also the result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force a partnership that brings together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.  The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, dismantle and prosecute high level members of drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations and enterprises.

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Deininger and Celia Cohen of Southern District of New York’s White Plains Division, and by Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony Kaplan and Lauren Clark of the District of Connecticut.

The charges contained in the Indictments are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

 

                                                            ###

 

 

 

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictments and the descriptions of the Indictments set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

Cocaine
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

SAMHSA Behavioral Health Treatment Locator

  • Who We Are
    • About
    • Domestic Divisions
    • Foreign Offices
    • Contact Us
    • DEA Museum
  • What We Do
    • Drug Prevention
    • Law Enforcement
    • Diversion Control Division
    • News
  • Careers
    • Overview
    • Special Agent
    • Diversion Investigator
    • Intelligence Research Specialist
  • Resources
    • Drug Information
    • Employee Assistance Program
    • Equal Opportunity Employer
    • FOIA
    • Publications
    • Media Galleries
    • VWAP
  • Doing Business
    with the DEA
    • Overview
    • Current Vendors
    • Prospective Vendors
    • Security Clauses
    • Security Forms
    • Small Business Program
  • Policies
    • Accessibility, Plug-ins & Policy
    • Legal Policies & Disclaimers
    • No FEAR Act
    • Privacy Policy
    • U.S. Department of Justice EEO Policy
    • USA.gov
    • Whistleblower Protection
Home

United States Drug Enforcement Administration

DEA.gov is an official site of the U.S. Department of Justice
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram

DEA Contact Center

(202) 307-1000 info@dea.gov
Contact the Webmaster