20 Charged With Drug Trafficking

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASECONTACT: Mary Hatton

www.usdoj.gov/usao/inn/ CELL: (219) 314-9993

mary.hatton@usdoj.gov

Fort Wayne, Indiana — United States Attorney David Capp announced today that a Grand Jury sitting in Fort Wayne returned 14 Indictments on March 28, 2013 charging several conspiracies to distribute narcotics as well as firearm charges.

In March 2011, an investigation by the Fort Wayne Safe Streets Task Force under the direction of the Federal Bureau of Investigation revealed the existence of a large scale narcotics distribution conspiracy operating in northeastern Indiana. The initial stages of the investigation identified Pedro Salud Rubio-Garcia an alleged drug supplier in the Steuben County area, and the subsequent use of several court authorized wiretaps of various telephones identified Manuel Herrera and Armando Herrera-Velasquez and others, as operating an illegal drug supply network in northeast Indiana.The following 20 individuals are named in the 14 Indictments:

#1

Pedro Salud Rubio-Garcia, 25, of Fremont, Indiana is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine and the selling and transfer of a firearm to a known convicted felon.

Jose Noe Perea Casteneda, 40, of Goshen, Indiana, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine.

#2

Armando Herrera-Velasquez, 41, of Fort Wayne, Indiana is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine.

Manuel Herrera, 43, of Fort Wayne, Indiana is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and maintaining a residence for the purpose of distributing cocaine.

Elida Herrera, 51, of Fort Wayne, Indiana is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and maintaining a residence for the purpose of distributing cocaine.

Maria Patricia Herrera, 52, of Fort Wayne, Indiana is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine.

Efren Paniagua-Pizano, 24, of Fort Wayne, Indiana is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine.

Luis Tapia, 42, of Fort Wayne, Indiana is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and maintaining a residence for the purpose of distributing cocaine.

#3

Armando Gonzales-Gutierrez, 43, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and use of a communication facility.

#4

Darwin Altamirano, 29, of Fort Wayne, Indiana is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and use of a communication facility.

#5

Juan Corona, 33, of Fort Wayne, Indiana is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and use of a communication facility.

#6

Damian Dubose, 37, of Fort Wayne, Indiana is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, distribution of cocaine and use of a communication facility.

#7

Leobardo Gaona, 39, of Huntertown, Indiana is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and use of a communication facility.

#8

Gelacio Marintez, 36, of Sturgis, Michigan is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and use of a communication facility.

#9

Gerardo Martinez-Gaston, 42, of Fort Wayne, Indiana is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, distribution of cocaine and use of a communication facility.

#10

Juan Pena, 20, of Sturgis, Michigan is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and use of a communication facility.

#11

Guadalupe C. Luna, of Fremont, Indiana is charged with distribution of cocaine.

#12

Cynthia L. Sanchez, 42, of Fort Wayne, Indiana is charged with distribution of cocaine.

#13

Jerry Sell, 45, of Van Wert, Ohio is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and use of a communication facility.

#14

John Bennett, 35, of Sturgis, Michigan is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and use of a communication facility.

These charges were filed as a result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Fort Wayne Safe Streets Task Force, which is  comprised of FBI agents and officers from the Indiana State Police, Allen County Police Department, and the Fort Wayne Police Department.  The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; United States Marshals Service; Angola City Police Department; Elkhart County Interdiction and Covert Enforcement Unit; IMAGE Drug Task Force; Michigan State Police; New Haven Police Department; South Bend Police Department; and the Steuben County Sheriff's Department assisted with this investigation.

On Thursday May 9, 2013, law enforcement arrested the following individuals in the Fort Wayne area: Efren Paniagua-Pizano, Luis Tapia, Pedro Salud Rubio-Garcia, Guadalupe Carmona Luna, Armando Gonzalez – Gutierrez, Gerardo Martinez – Gaston, Juan Corona, Jose Noe Perea Casteneda, Jerry Sell, Maria Patricia Herrera, Cynthia Lynn Sanchez, Damian Dubose, Juan Pena, and Leobardo Gaona.Arrested in Las Vegas Nevada were Manuel Herreraand Elida Herrera.Arrested in Michigan were Gelacio Martinez and John Bennett.

On that same date, the FBI served search warrants on several residences and seized multiple vehicles to include:

1606 Saint Louis Avenue, Fort Wayne, IN 46819

117 E. DeWald Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46803

3026 Pennsylvania Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46803

1024 East Paulding Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46806

600 West North, Lot 13, Fremont, IN

3009 Oliver Street Fort Wayne, IN

7555 Decatur Road lot 28, Fort Wayne, IN

Blue 2012 Chevrolet Cruze

Silver 2009 Pontiac Vibe

Red 2006 Ford F-150

Black 2007 GMC Yukon

White 2009 Lincoln MKS

Black 2003 GMC Yukon

White 2008 Pontiac G6

United States Court Magistrate Judge Roger B. Cosbey has set initial appearances for the arrested individuals from this area which were held May 9 and to be held on May 10, 2013.The individual defendants have made and will be making their appearances, detention hearings and arraignments in front of Magistrate Judge in the coming days.

These cases have been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United Attorney Lesley Miller Lowery.

The United States Attorney's Office emphasized that an Indictment is merely an allegation and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

If convicted in court, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.