13 indicted on drug charges

The conspiracy has been ongoing since as early as 2018 and was orchestrated from within the Tennessee State Prison system by Humberto Morales, aka Pelon, 29, of Columbia, Tennessee, who has been incarcerated since 2014. RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-229_Aranda-Ramon, et al. Counts 2 to 52 of the indictment detail 51 financial transactions ranging from $16,036.90 to $1,109,960 involving proceeds from drug trafficking. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Thirteen alleged members of a Tucson-area drug trafficking organization were indicted by a federal grand jury last month on drug distribution and money laundering charges. According to court documents, beginning no later than March 2020, the defendants conspired and agreed with each other to conduct over $5 million in financial transactions involving proceeds from drug trafficking. Counts 53 to 59 charge defendant Carlos Javier Ruiz-Patio, a/k/a "Hustler Man/Jordan/El Chamo", of international concealment money laundering. The crash, which involved a male cyclist and a San Carlos EMS ambulance, happened at the 2600 block of North Craycroft Road. TOP (Left to right): Travon Hard, Destiny Jones, Thomas Mauney and Shakeem Hunt MIDDLE (Left to right): Richard . On that same day, though, authorities seized 20 kilograms of heroin in Northlake. The wide-ranging case comes as the U.S. remains in the grip of a devastating overdose crisis largely by fentanyl poisonings. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The men were accused Friday by Justice Department officials of torturing their enemies by electrocuting them, waterboarding them and feeding them alive to tigers. The indictment alleges that the organization utilized commercial trucking and airplanes to facilitate the shipment of tractor-trailer loads of marijuana to warehouses and other commercial locations in various states, including Indiana. "It's bringing happy tears to my soul," Earling said, "because this is such a big step.". It is alleged that the defendant transferred or transported a total of $964,944.35 from Puerto Rico to Colombia and Canada. According to Cook County Medical Examiner's office data analyzed by the CBS 2 Investigators, the number of fentanyl-related overdose deaths in Cook County has skyrocketed in recent years - from 652 deaths in 2017 to more than 1,800 deaths last year. Three members of the suspected conspiracy had been arrested as part of the investigation in September, and one member was previously arrested in a separate case. The next day, a complaint was authorized that charges Andrew Grijalva, 19; Rodrigo Lopez-Lozoya, 36; and Jesus Ramon Lozoya-Portillo, 41, with drug trafficking, the news release said. In the federal jurisdiction of the Northern District of Illinois, narcotics, money laundering, and firearms charges were unsealed against four of the "Chapitos.". Both elements must be satisfied to commit the offense of "possession with the . Police said they found Damien Stafford at his Weathervane Lane apartment wearing latex gloves and a mask and foundmultiple bags of drugsthat were later confirmed to contain fentanyl on the bathroom floor and inside the toilet. Official websites use .gov If convicted, most defendants face a minimum of 10 years in prison and many face up to life in prison. I would like to thank the Cuyahoga County Sheriffs Department for their vigilance in this matter which prevented methamphetamine from entering the county jail, said OMalley. The number of its processing labs has exploded, including some that are literally underground, authorities say. In outlining the charges Friday, Garland described the violence of the Sinaloa cartel and how its members have tortured perceived enemies, including Mexican law enforcement officials. Published: Apr. Federal officials announced a flurry of charges on Friday against the four sons of the notorious Mexican drug lord known as El Chapo, saying the men were leading . Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. A conviction for Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments, as charged in the indictment, carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater, or both imprisonment and a fine, and up to three years of post-conviction supervision. The remaining four defendants names are presently under seal by court order. Over the past seven days, authorities have arrested ten of the defendants, executed search warrants at twenty-three different locations in three states, and executed seizure warrants on over a dozen bank accounts and a trove of high-end jewelry. Four Sons of El Chapo Face Sweeping New Charges in Fentanyl Indictments, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/14/us/politics/el-chapo-sons-fentanyl-charges.html. Of the 13 defendants, eight are charged in an indictment detailing conspiracies to commit healthcare fraud, money laundering, bribery, and obstruction, making false statements to federal authorities, and aggravated identity theft. . Nashville, Tennessee 37203, Telephone: 615-736-5151 This time Mexico successfully got Guzmn out of Culiacan. For $800, the cartel can buy a kilogram of chemicals to make 415,000 pills, which are sold wholesale in the United States for as low as 50 cents a pill. U.S. government officials are pressing Chinese officials to do more to stem the shipment of those chemicals. The RPOT List includes leaders of significant drug trafficking and money laundering organizations that are primarily responsible for a region's drug threat. Norton is scheduled to return to court on May 2. The torture involved ripping the officers muscles from his arm and stuffing chili peppers into the wounds and his nose, authorities say. 13, 2023 at 6:31 PM CDT . A lock ( BOSTON - Thirteen men were indicted on Dec. 4, 2019, and charged in federal court in Boston with various drug trafficking offenses and money laundering. according to the indictment. A Franklin County grand jury charged Cheyenne M. Avery, 21, of New York City and Anthony C. Ellis, 52, of Wilton with felony aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs, namely fentanyl powder, and felony unlawful trafficking in a . "From Drug Traffickers to money launderers, the DEA will bring all it has to bear to make our communities safer and healthier, and to reverse the devastating trends of drug-related violence and overdoses plaguing our Communities.". Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said at a news conference in Washington that in addition to the four sons collectively known as Los Chapitos federal indictments in Manhattan, Chicago and Washington had charged more than two dozen other people in what he described as a global fentanyl manufacturing and distribution operation run by the Sinaloa drug cartel. INDIANAPOLISA federal grand jury has indicted fifteen people on drug trafficking and money laundering charges. The Justice Department is attacking every aspect of the cartels operations, Mr. Garland said. Two days later, on Nov. 15, 2008, Pedro Flores and El Chapo spoke on the phone and discussed the price of a drug shipment. "I would like to recognize the extraordinary efforts of our federal law enforcement partners for taking down a criminal organization that laundered drug proceeds for drug cartels. A Cuyahoga County Sheriffs deputy noticed the unusual behavior, walked into the restroom and found the bag of drugs, said OMalley. Defendants Guillermo Andrs Beltrn-Osorio, Enmanuel Matos-Matos, Edgardo Delgado-Carmona, Rafael Cruz-Montalvo, Edgar Omar Bez-Vargas, and Franky Pagn-Mendoza were previously arrested. 13Lackawanna County detectives arrested a Pittston woman Wednesday, accusing her of selling crack to a confidential informant. An official website of the United States government. The indictment also charges Morales and Kim Birdsong, 49, of Nashville, with using facilities of interstate commerce (cellular telephones and encrypted messaging services) in an effort to murder a person known as Pancho/Mekaniko, and that cash, drugs, and the cancellation of a pre-existing drug-related debt were to be provided as payment for that murder. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Sons of drug kingpin "El Chapo" indicted in fentanyl trafficking investigation. Henry Murphy Jr., 35, was charged with . Counts 53 to 59 charge defendant Carlos . According to the Fayette County Sheriff's Office jail log, Jawru Sumbundu, 17, of Fayetteville was arrested April 11 shortly before noon at Sandy Creek High School. With Washington-Beijing relations strained, the Biden administration says it has looked to allies in Europe, the Middle East and elsewhere to make clear to China that the issue is a global problem, according to senior Biden administration officials who briefed reporters following the announcement of the indictment. Drug proceeds were also used to pay co-conspirators, to pay for drug shipment expenses, bail and legal services, and to purchase firearms. They made it more ruthless, more violent, more deadly and they used it to spread a new poison, fentanyl, Ms. Milgram said. Ivan and Jesus Guzman Salazar kept the animals on their ranches as pets, authorities say. He is charged with possession . Known collectively as "the Chapitos," they are accused of taking over control of the Sinaloa cartel after their father was arrested in January 2016 and extradited to the U.S. one year later. Here, we do not produce fentanyl, he said. (Hamilton County Sheriff's Office . CHICAGO (CBS/AP) The sons of convicted drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera are among 28 members of Mexico's powerful Sinaloa cartel who have been indicted in Chicago, as part of a sweeping fentanyl trafficking investigation. Montejo was arrested at a Nashville bus station as she returned from California after travelling to Los Angeles days earlier. Under federal law, the possession of a controlled substance with the intent to sell or distribute it is a serious offense. ET. The City of Raleigh has agreed to a $2 million settlement to be split between more than a dozen Black men wrongfully arrested and jailed on drug charges. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle P. Brady, who is prosecuting the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Rota, who is handling asset forfeiture in this case. After Stevens made arrangements to meet the confidential informant at a South . On Thursday, April 13, the Houston Chronicle reported that four-star sophomore safety Jacoby Mathews was arrested by . An official website of the United States Government. 719 Church St., Suite 3300 Lock The 376-count indictment charges the defendants with various counts of criminal sale and criminal possession of a controlled substance and conspiracy in the second degree, which are all. The names of the other four defendants are under seal by court order. Main Office: Guzman Loera, who infamously escaped prison twice in Mexico, is now serving a life sentence in federal prison in the U.S., after he was convicted in 2019 of all 10 counts he faced, including engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, as well as drug trafficking and firearms charges. Others are suspected of running drug labs in Mexico or accused of providing security, weapons, and illicit financing for the drug trafficking operation. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Many of the defendants were charged by criminal complaint as the investigation progressed and have been in custody awaiting indictment. WEBSTER CO., Ky. (WFIE) - Two people have been arrested after deputies attempted to serve arrest warrants. Anne Milgram, the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration, said at the news conference that the sons had inherited their fathers global drug trafficking empire and transformed it by pioneering a novel product. If convicted of the charged money laundering offenses, the defendants face a maximum term of 20 years in prison. Keep reading with a digital access subscription. Morales used these phones and encrypted communication services such as WhatsApp to orchestrate activities of the drug distribution network, order acts of violence against individuals, and to direct the flow of cash from drug sales between middle Tennessee and Mexico. The complaint alleges that, beginning in September 2021, Grijalva, Lopez-Lozoya, and Lozoya-Portillo conspired to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, or 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. Margarito Flores and Pedro Flores, Chicago twin brothers who were among El Chapos biggest customers, were cooperating with the feds at the time. Seven people were arrested in a suspected drug trafficking ring in Southern Oklahoma. Edwin Lopez, 21, of Riverside, was arrested this morning on a grand jury indictment that charges him with one count related to a May 17, 2020, transaction in which he allegedly sold counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl to a 20-year-old Fontana man who suffered a fatal overdose two days later. Megan Hickey is a member of the 2 Investigator team, focusing on topical investigative stories. The protection was needed because, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration,as little as 2 milligrams of fentanyl can kill a person and the man was busy trying to flush evidence down a toilet, police said. The U.S. government is offering rewards for several others charged in the case, including up to $10 million for Guzman's other two sons. Ivn was already facing charges filed in 2014 in San Diego, and Jess Alfredo had been charged in 2015 in Chicago. Norton allegedly entered the mens restroom in the lobby of the Cuyahoga County Justice Center, discarded the bag and exited the restroom. - Yuen Liu-Torres, a/k/a "Chino," 36, of New Bedford, was charged with conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, and . Copyright 2023 WOIO. They include Chinese and Guatemalan citizens accused of supplying precursor chemicals required to make fentanyl. Nashville, Tenn. - March 30, 2021 - A federal indictment unsealed Friday charged 27 individuals with a host of federal crimes relating to a large scale conspiracy to distribute heroin, methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Mary Jane Stewart for the Middle District of Tennessee. HAZARD, Ky. (WYMT) - Two men are facing charges for their role in a Central Kentucky drug investigation. Nominate Someone for a FOX 13 Dream Team Surprise. Jesus Alfredo Guzman-Salazar, one of the Chapitos. Here are some main dishes and sides to try. Counts 60 to 62 include Narcotics Importation Conspiracy, aiding and abetting, and Narcotics Conspiracy. The indictment says they shipped 20 kilograms of heroin to Chicago on Nov. 13, 2008, but doesn't provide details. Eight others were charged in separate indictments last week and two other individuals had previously been charged. DEA Administrator Anne Milgram said the men took their fathers cartel and made it more ruthless, more violent, more deadly. This incident was recorded on video and sent via encrypted communication on a cell phone. Contact her via e-mail at jdonnelly@tucson.com. That has included people fed to tigers owned by Guzman's sons, sometimes while the victims were still alive, Garland said. CONCORD, N.H. (AP) Thirteen people have been arrested on drug charges in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine as the result of a multi-month drug trafficking investigation among. Several New York indictments unsealed Friday said the brothers are also fentanyl traffickers. April 13, 2023 On March 10 . The indictments also said that assassins loyal to the sons had gone to great lengths to prevent their arrests, including drawing the Mexican military into gunfights, killing soldiers, and burning vehicles to create roadblocks.. According to the indictment, from 2016 until this year, Adediran and the drug trafficking organization he led used commercial-level logistics and warehousing to distribute large quantities of marijuana throughout the United States and collect millions of dollars in cash proceeds. While they will not be euthanized immediately, the dogs will be euthanized if the shelters capacity problems are not reduced over the next few days. 19) Kendon "Keno" DaWayne Baker, 34, of Stephenville, Texas. The defendants arrested today are: Roberto Brioso-Canario, David Luis Zapata-Flix, Walter Alexis Daynes-Torres, and Jess Alberto Oriol-Cabn. "You know, the fact that they're finally doing something bigger - and they're hearing our voices," Earling said. Searches yield cash, drugs: Akron police raid two homes, seizing a pound of cocaine and more than $87,000 cash. Follow him on Twitter @MarottaEric. SALT LAKE CITY A federal grand jury in Utah indicted two foreign nationals Wednesday on charges of possession and distribution of narcotics. Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( "You know, she thought she was purchasing heroin - and it turned out to be laced with lethal dose of fentanyl.". Jones Public Information Officer Sgt. Published: Apr. The defendants span a broad swath of a complex manufacturing and supply network. According to the Steuben County Sheriff's Office, Justin L. Furney, 35, out of Painted Post, was arrested on Thursday, April 13, on the charges of: Burglary in the Third Degree, a class D. And we will never stop working to hold them accountable for their crimes in the United States.". Finally, the indictment alleges that Ruiz also was involved in a conspiracy to launder monetary instruments and that he engaged in money laundering. Federal authorities are offering rewards of up to $10 million for information leading to the arrests and convictions of the Chapitos, whose father is serving a life sentence in Colorado after his 2019 conviction in federal court in Brooklyn. Ovidio Guzmn, nicknamed the Mouse, had not been one of El Chapo's better-known sons until an aborted operation to capture him three years earlier. serving life in prison in the United States, the growing footprint of the countrys armed forces, investigating the fire as a homicide case, vulnerable to a toxic metal that poses severe health risks, conviction in Federal District Court in Brooklyn. San Juan, PR On March 10, 2023, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned a 62-count indictment charging 14 individuals with money laundering and narcotics offenses. New York indictments unsealed Friday said the men took their fathers cartel and made more... 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13 indicted on drug charges 2023