News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 11, 2005

OCDETF Operation Countryside
DEA HIDTA San Juan Investigation Targeting Members of a Drug Trafficking Organization Engaged in the Laundering of Monetary Instruments Produces $642,018.00 Dollars in Seizures

H.S. GARCIA, the United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, JEROME HARRIS, the Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), LUIS S. FRATICELLI., the Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), BRIAN WIMPLING, the Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service- Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), LYDIA ST.JOHN-MELLADO, the Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), JOSE R. LOSADA-MEDINA, the Director of the Bureau of Special Investigations (NIE), and PEDRO TOLEDO, the Superintendent of the Police of Puerto Rico, announced that on December 21, 2005, a Federal Grand Jury returned a six (6) count indictment charging JORGE GRANVIELL-RAMOS, ORLANDO PEREIRA-RIVERA, MILTON PEREIRA-COLON, ALEJANDRO MIRANDA-MATOS, and JEANNETTE RIVERA-DIAZ, with one (1) count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments; and four (4) counts of aiding and abetting in the transportation or transfer of laundered monetary instruments. Money laundering forfeiture allegations were also filed in the indictment up to the amount of six-hundred forty-two thousand and eighteen dollars ($642,018.00) against any real or personal property related to the commission of the offenses alleged in the indictment. The defendants have been charged with violations of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2, 1956 (a)(1)(B)(i), 1956(a)(2)(B)(i), and 1956(h).

The indictment alleges that the defendants arranged for and coordinated the delivery or transfer of sums of narcotics proceeds in the form of United States currency in Puerto Rico, so that they could be transmitted and/or transferred to the owners of the proceeds. The defendants also delivered large amounts of US currency which constituted proceeds from the sale of narcotics, so that they could be transmitted and/or transferred to the owners of the proceeds. Bank accounts and instructions for the wire transfer of the drug proceeds were provided by the defendants to the owners of the proceeds.

Penalties for the money laundering offense alleged in the indictment range from a fine of not more than five-hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00), or twice the value of the property or the monetary instrument involved in the transaction, whichever is greater, or imprisonment for not more than twenty (20) years, or both.

The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial and the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Internal Revenue Service- Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Bureau of Special Investigations (NIE), and the Police of Puerto Rico jointly with the DEA High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) San Juan Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Mosley.

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