50 Members of La Asociacion Ñeta Prison Gang Indicted for Violating the RICO Act in Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A federal indictment was unsealed today in the District of Puerto Rico charging fifty (50) members of La Asociación ÑETA with racketeering, drug trafficking, and murder, announced Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The defendants include the leadership of the enterprise, its drug trafficking network, and members who perpetrated murders in furtherance of the enterprise. This prosecution is the product of an FBI investigation into the drug trafficking and violent activities perpetrated by members of the gang known as La Asociación ÑETA.

Pursuant to the indictment, the defendants are charged with being part of La Asociación ÑETA, a prison gang that operates in the prisons of the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (“PRDCR”).  La Asociación ÑETA is a criminal organization that engages in drug trafficking and murder. The main purpose of the organization is to make money. Inmates originally formed La Asociación ÑETA as a means to advocate for their rights within the PRDCR. The enterprise, however, evolved into a criminal organization that engaged in drug trafficking and murder within the prisons of the PRDCR. The enterprise makes money by introducing multi-kilogram quantities of drugs into the PRDCR prisons for profit, and by engaging in murders for hire.

The indictment alleges that members and associates of La Asociación ÑETA introduced and distributed multi-kilograms of cocaine, marijuana, and heroin into the prisons of the PRDCR. They were able to introduce this contraband into the prisons with the help of corrupt PRDCR Correctional Officers, civilians who worked inside of the prison system, people who visited inmates, and persons who - from outside the prisons - threw drugs into the facilities (known as “pitcheos”), which were caught by members of the enterprise. Members of the enterprise and their associates also introduced cellular telephones into the prisons and charged a fee to other inmates for using the same. Members of the enterprise would use cellular phones to engage in drug trafficking and murder.

Specifically, the indictment alleges that people who were not incarcerated would hire La Asociación ÑETA to kill persons who were serving time in the prisons of the PRDCR. La Asociación ÑETA participated in the murders for pecuniary gain. Murders perpetrated by the organization include those of Mario Montañez-Gómez, a/k/a “Emme” on August 27, 2014, and Alexis Rodríguez-Rodríguez, a/k/a “Alexis El Loco,” on November 6, 2014.

The defendants are: Avelino Millán-Machuca, a.k.a. “Papito Machuca/El Fuerte/Viejo/Gordo;” Fernando García-Marquez, a.k.a. “Fernan Sandwich/Emparedado/ Fernan/Carlos Vega;” Cynthia González-Landrau, a.k.a. “La Cana/La Princesa/La Presidenta;” Rolando Millán-Machuca, a.k.a. “Rolo;” Alex Piñero-Sotomayor, a.k.a. “Cigüeña/Pájaro;”   Miguel Rivera-Calcaño, a.k.a. “Guelo/ Kikirimiau;” Roberto Casado-Berríos, a.k.a. “Bobe/Bobel;” Iván Ayala-Hernández, a.k.a. “Bambani/Bambo;” Giordano Santana-Meléndez, a.k.a. “Viejo Ten;” Carlos Báez-Figueroa, a.k.a. “Carlitos Guaynabo;” José Trinidad-Jorge, a.k.a. “Trini;” Ángel Bermúdez-Cartagena, a.k.a. “Apache/El Doctor;” José Cintrón-Mojica, a.k.a. “Jowito;” Victor Solano-Moreta, a.k.a. “Caballo;” José Castoire-Sánchez; Luis Ayuso-Walker, a.k.a. “Buringo;” Juan Lozada-Delgado, a.k.a. “Chino San Lorenzo;” Aníbal Miranda-Montañez, a.k.a. “Jowy;” Freddie Sánchez-Martínez, a.k.a. “Casco;” Ángel Cruz-Barrientos, a.k.a. “Diego/Cloche;” Alex Miguel Cruz-Santos, a.k.a. “Alex Cuquito;” José J. Folch-Colón, a.k.a. “Joel Folch/Gordo Folch;” Billy Andino-De Jesús, a.k.a. “Billy Cupey/Billy El Calvo;” Luis Rojas-Llanos, a.k.a. “Cachorro/Kchorro;” Juan J. Claudio-Morales, a.k.a. “Claudio Canales/Claudio El Gordo;” Eduardo Rosario-Orangel, a.k.a. “Barba/Cholón;” George Torres-Rodríguez, a.k.a. “Gordo Comerio;” Luis H. Quiñonez-Santiago, a.k.a. “Hiram;” Augusto Christopher-Lind, a.k.a. “Bengie Loiza;” José L. Nieves-Torres; Luis D. Ramos-Báez, a.k.a. “Danny Power;” Orlando Ruiz-Acevedo, a.k.a. “Gordo Ponce;” Raul D. Rosario-Maldonado, a.k.a. “Davi/Davo;” Juan R. Cruz-Santana, a.k.a. “Roldán;” José Marrero-Figueroa, a.k.a. “Tito San José;” Ramón Morales-Sáez, a.k.a. “Moncho/Monchi;” Carlos Santiago-Rivera, a.k.a. “Black/Blacky/El Negro;” David González-De León, a.k.a. “Bebe Cupey;” José Díaz-López, a.k.a. “Culo De Pollo;” Osvaldo Torres-Santiago, a.k.a. “Bombilla/Baldo/Baldito;” José Velázquez-Maldonado, a.k.a. “Batata;” Roberto Martínez-Rivera, a.k.a. “Matatan;” José Sánchez-Laureano, a.k.a. “Veterano;” José González-Gerena, a.k.a. “Perpetua;” Francisco Torres-Rodríguez, a.k.a. “Kino;” Andrés Del Valle-Ortega, a.k.a. “Randy/Andy Caimito;” José R. Andino-Morales, a.k.a. “Gladiola;” Jesús P. O’neill-Gómez, a.k.a. “Pastor;” Ángel I. Díaz-Santiago; and Pedro Fontanez-Pérez.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor O. Acevedo-Hernández is in charge of the prosecution of the case. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections collaborated during the investigation.

“I want to acknowledge the dedication and commitment of the FBI and the Department of Corrections agents and officials who participated in this substantial investigation which resulted in today’s arrests,” said Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.  “This success of this operation shows the continued teamwork of federal law enforcement and our state and local partners to reduce gang violence inside the prisons in Puerto Rico. The United States Attorney’s Office will zealously prosecute these defendants and bring them to justice.”

 “Even prison walls were not enough to stop the brazen acts of this violent gang,” said Douglas A. Leff, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI, San Juan Division. “In reality, their conduct is more accurately described as that of an international mafia than a prison gang. Their network reached throughout Puerto Rico and the continental United States. This enabled them to order hits on rival gang members, corrupt two sworn officers, and to move large quantities of drugs and other contraband, effectively turning their prison into a gang-controlled housing project. The dismantlement of this criminal enterprise was achieved through the tireless investigation of our case agents and partners with the United States Attorney’s Office, United States Marshals Service, Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the Police of  Puerto Rico.”

If convicted, the defendants face 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.