52 Members of a Violent Drug Trafficking Gang in Caguas, Puerto Rico, Charged in a Superseding Indictment

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A federal grand jury issued a superseding indictment on August 21, 2024, charging 52 violent gang members from the municipality of Caguas with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, possession and distribution of controlled substances, firearms violations, murder, and money laundering, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.

The initial federal indictment charged 38 individuals with drug trafficking, firearms violations, and one murder. The superseding indictment supplants the initial indictment, charges 14 additional defendants, and charges money laundering offenses and four more shootings involving 8 victims -- including the December 7, 2021, shooting in Cidra where five victims were killed.

“A year ago, we announced the arrests of some of the members of this violent gang, but our investigation did not end with those arrests. Today, we announce that through the efforts of our law enforcement partners and prosecutors, additional defendants have been arrested and charged with additional murders,” said United States Attorney Muldrow. “We will continue to hold violent gang members accountable for their crimes. Although the leader of this violent gang remains a fugitive from justice, we will continue to pursue him and his criminal associates, no matter where they hide or how long it takes.”

“Our communities are being torn apart by the devastating impact of drug trafficking. It’s crucial to understand that everyone involved, from the kingpins to those who support their criminal operations, share responsibility for the destruction and violence that follows in their wake. We will not rest until those responsible for perpetuating this cycle of suffering are brought to justice,” said Joseph González, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “In the FBI, we are committed to pursuing every avenue to dismantle this criminal network, which includes seizing and forfeiting all ill-gotten gains and assets acquired through drug trafficking. This will encompass everything from boats and cars to houses and businesses, and even the arrest of those who are making it possible for fugitives of this organization to remain at large. There will be no safe haven for those who profit from this illegal activity.”

The superseding indictment alleges that from 2017 through the present, the drug trafficking organization distributed heroin, cocaine base (commonly known as “crack”), cocaine, marihuana, Fentanyl, Oxycodone (Percocet), and Alprazolam (Xanax) within 1,000 feet of the Brisas del Turabo, the Raúl Castellón, the Turabo Heights, and the Juan Jiménez García Public Housing Projects; and at the Barriada Morales, Barriada La Pajilla, and Bunker Wards in Caguas, and other areas throughout Puerto Rico, all for significant financial gain and profit.

Defendant [1] Nelson Torres-Delgado, the alleged leader of the violent drug trafficking organization charged in this Superseding Indictment, has held power over drug trafficking in the Caguas area since the early 2010s. He has been a federal fugitive since 2017 and has maintained control over the organization as a fugitive through deadly violence and intimidation, and by engaging in violent turf wars against rival drug trafficking organizations. His methods of avoiding capture while controlling his gang include limiting face-to-face contact to only the highest and most trusted leaders in his organization.

The defendants allegedly acted in different roles to further the goals of the drug trafficking conspiracy, to include: leaders, enforcers, runners, sellers, facilitators, and lookouts. The members of the gang allegedly used force, violence, and intimidation to maintain control of the areas in which they operated. The defendants charged in the drug trafficking conspiracy are:

[1] Nelson Torres-Delgado, a.k.a. “El Burro/Burro/

       Father/Nelsito/Cuatro Patas/El Animal/El Animal de Cuatro Patas

[2] Edwin Padilla-López, a.k.a. “Play/NBA/Pliki/Biscochito/Bizcochito/Juga” 

[3] Ronald Aponte-Marquez, a.k.a. “El Enano/Enano/Sepe”

[4] Eroz Rodríguez-Hernández, a.k.a. “Eros/Wason/El Joker”

[5] José Jiménez-Ramos, a.k.a. “El Mono/Mono/Joel El Mono”

[6] Lenne Carrasquillo-Serrano, a.k.a. “Taz/Leny/Lenny/Lenee/La J”

[7] Giovanny Solis-Carrasco, a.k.a. “Blanquito/Jova El Blanco/Joba El Blanco/Jova”

[8] Evaristo González-Vega, a.k.a. “Sonic/Viejo/Eva”

[9] Jariel Figueroa-Maymi, a.k.a. “Moni”

[10] José Torres-Pagán, a.k.a. “Abelino/Ave/Abe”

[11] Carlos De Jesús-García, a.k.a. “Oreja/Orejas”

[12] Gabriel Vázquez-Roldán, a.k.a. “Gordo/Gabby Gordo/Goldo/

        Goldito/Goldo Vázquez”

[13] José Martinez-Galvez, a.k.a. “El Chef/El Che/Chef”

[14] Armando L. Rivera-Rodríguez

[15] Jan Borges De Jesús, a.k.a. “El Man/Jan el Man/Jan El Chulo”

[16] Lester Vélez-Rodríguez, a.k.a. “El Eco/El Feo/Coco”

[17] Vanessa Santiago-Cotto

[18] Diana Mimoso-Figueroa, a.k.a. “La D/Di”

[19] José de la Vega, a.k.a. “Chupi/Pablo/Pablito”

[20] Michael Rodríguez-Flores, a.k.a. “Pinki”

[21] José Gautier-Medina, a.k.a. “Tempo”

[22] Miguel González-Sánchez, a.k.a. “Miky/Mikyy/El Code”

[23] Brian Sierra-Feliciano, a.k.a. “Kobe”

[24] Eric Camacho-Castro, a.k.a. “Pali”

[25] Héctor Torres-Pagán, a.k.a. “Pepo”

[26] Christian Martines-Franco, a.k.a. “El Menor/Menor/El Mynor/

        Mynor/Christian Menor”

[27] Edward Vázquez-Concepción, a.k.a. “Draculín/Drácula/Draco/Bestia Demon”

[28] Juan Acevedo-Ramos, a.k.a. “Tono/Tonito/Pelotero Kuker”

[29] Jean Villanueva-Figueroa, a.k.a. “Mueca/Mueka/Jan Mueca/Jean Mueca”

[30] Waldemar Pedraza-Díaz, a.k.a. “Walde”

[31] Melquiades Santana-Martínez, a.k.a. “Melki/Melqi”

[32] Juan Orellano-Díaz, a.k.a. “El Indio/Indio”

[33] Cesar Acevedo-Adorno

[34] Elimelec García-Escoda, a.k.a. “Flaco/Eli/Elimelek”

[35] Christopher Contreras-Baez, a.k.a. “Chimuelo”

[36] Luis Burgos-Ofarril, a.k.a. “Pájaro” 

[37] Francisco López-Sánchez

[39] José E. Ortiz-Colón, a.k.a. “Enki/Enky”

[40] Jean Carlos Baez-Algarín, a.k.a. “Taxista/Jan El Jincho/Lindo/Jan Buko/Jan”

[41] Juan Manuel González-Cotto, a.k.a. “Juanma”

[42] Carlos Rolón-Pérez

[43] Joel Omar Jiménez-Díaz, a.k.a. “Quiteo/Kuiteo”

[44] Edgard E. González-Vázquez, a.k.a. “Tomate”

[45] Rafael Acosta-Vega, a.k.a. “Gordo Rafa”

[46] Joey Divan Del Valle-Delgado, a.k.a. “Besito/Jowy”

[47] Minerys Burgos-Caez

[48] Glenda Irizarry-Campos

[49] Sebasthian García-Agostini, a.k.a. “Seba”

[50] Jeremy Johan Pérez-Bonilla, a.k.a. “Jere”

[51] Steven Omar Padilla-López,

[52] Wesley Abel Pedraza-Díaz

Thirty-six defendants are charged in Count Seven with possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Count Eight charges 10 defendants with possession of a machinegun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Count Nine charges defendants [15] Jan Borges De Jesús, [20] Michael Rodríguez-Flores, [21] José Gautier-Medina, [22] Miguel González-Sánchez, and [23] Brian Sierra-Feliciano for the murder of M.R.M. on May 15, 2022, in Caguas, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(j). The superseding indictment now also charges those same defendants in Count Sixteen with the same murder in violation of another federal offense -- the drive-by shooting statute (18 U.S.C. § 36).

Count Ten charges [38] Sheila Luyando-Fuentes with wrongful disclosure of individually identifiable health information. According to the indictment, Luyando-Fuentes, who was employed in the health care industry and had access to protected health information, acted as a facilitator and shared protected health information with gang members, including information about rival gang members hospitalized with injuries resulting from gun fights between the gangs, to assist in the gang’s efforts to locate and kill their enemies.

Count Eleven charges [2] Edwin Padilla-López, [37] Francisco López-Sánchez, and [42] Carlos Rolón-Pérez for the murder of R.B.M., using firearms, on June 6, 2020.

Count Twelve charges [1] Nelson Torres-Delgado, [2] Edwin Padilla-López, [4] Eroz Rodríguez-Hernández, and [37] Francisco López-Sánchez for the murder of R.M.O. on July 18, 2021.

Counts Thirteen and Fourteen charge [2] Edwin Padilla-López, [3] Ronald Aponte-Marquez, [4] Eroz Rodríguez-Hernández, and [39] José E. Ortiz-Colón for a massacre that occurred on December 7, 2021, in Cidra, Puerto Rico. These defendants murdered J.O.C., S.F.C., A.B.R., J.D.R., and B.A.C. in a drive-by shooting.

Count Fifteen charges [1] Nelson Torres-Delgado, [3] Ronald Aponte-Marquez, [4] Eroz Rodríguez-Hernández, and [41] Juan Manuel González-Cotto for the murder of G.A.H. on March 19, 2022.

Count 17 charges [49] Sebasthian Agostini-García and Count 18 charges [48] Glenda Irizarry-Campos for harboring and concealing E.P.L., a fugitive.

Count 19 charges [2] Edwin Padilla-López, [5] Jose Jiménez-Ramos, [36] Luis Burgos-Ofarril, [37] Francisco López-Sánchez, [47] Minerys Burgos-Caez, [48] Glenda Irizarry-Campos, [49] Sebasthian Agostini-García, and [51] Steven Omar Padilla-López with conspiracy to commit money laundering. These defendants obtained proceeds from drug trafficking in the continental United States and in Puerto Rico and used businesses like M.O. Service LLC and Gnails Marketplace to launder the proceeds. The defendants opened personal and business bank accounts to invest the proceeds into real estate properties, rental properties, motor vehicles and improvements to residential and commercial real estate.

This investigation was led by the FBI San Juan Violent Gang Safe Streets Task Force, which is comprised of Special Agents and Task Force Officers from the FBI, Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB), San Juan Municipal Police, Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Puerto Rico Treasury Department (Hacienda), United States Department of Housing and Urban Development - Office of the Inspector General (HUD-OIG), Carolina Municipal Police Department, Bayamón Municipal Police Department and the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

The FBI thanks the United States Marshals Service (USMS) for their partnership in this investigation.  The FBI also thanks the Puerto Rico Police Bureau, especially the Caguas Drug Unit, Caguas Intelligence Unit, Caguas Homicide Unit, Guayama Homicide Unit, Special Arrests Unit, and Caguas Strike Force, for their assistance in this investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) and Chief of the Gang Section Alberto López-Rocafort, Deputy Chief of the Gang Section, AUSA Teresa Zapata-Valladares, and AUSAs Héctor Siaca Flores, and R. Vance Eaton are prosecuting the case. If convicted on the drug charges, the defendants face a minimum sentence of 10 years, and up to life in prison. If convicted of both the drug and firearms charges in Count Seven, the defendants face a minimum sentence of 15 years, and up to life in prison. The defendants charged in Count Eight with possession of machineguns in furtherance of drug trafficking face a mandatory consecutive sentence of thirty years in prison. The defendants charged in Counts Nine and Eleven through Sixteen with the firearms-related murders face a potential sentence of life imprisonment and, if authorized by the Attorney General of the United States, the death penalty. The defendant charged in Count Ten faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison. Defendants charged in Counts Seventeen and Eighteen face up to five years in prison. The defendants charged for the money laundering counts face up to 20 years in prison.

All defendants charged in the drug conspiracy are facing a narcotics forfeiture allegation of $132 million and the United States is seeking forfeiture of the following property:

1. Cond. Costamar Beach Village West, Loíza, PR
2. Urb. La Campiña, Las Piedras, PR
3. Urb. Lake View State, Caguas, PR
4. Jardines Palmarejo, Canóvanas, PR
5. Urb. Estancias de Cambalache, Vistas de Río Grande, Canóvanas, PR
6. Yagrumos St. Monteverde Cupey 1, Sand Juan, PR
7. 2024 Lexus TX
8. 2017 Mercedes Benz GLC 300
1. 2020 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
10. $33,470 in cash
11. Fourteen black cell phones cloud Mobile C7 (12 in boxes, 2 without boxes), and eighteen T-Mobile Sim cards.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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