13 People Under Federal Arrest In Major Heroin And Gun Bust With Links To Philadelphia; Police Continue To Search For An Additional Defendant

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
PHONE:         (716) 843-5817
FAX:            (716) 551-3051
 
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced today 13 defendants have been arrested and charged by criminal complaint in a major heroin trafficking operation with links to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During the execution of search warrants following the arrests, law enforcement officers seized 22,713 decks of heroin, $93,399.00 in cash and nine firearms.

Under arrest:
• Damon Montgomery;
• Herbert Montgomery;
• Paris Montgomery;
• Frank Figueroa;
• James Washington;
• Jonathan Figueroa;
• Johnnie Balkman;
• Robert Cochran;
• Laron Perkins; and
• DeShawnra Williams, all of Rochester, NY.

Also under arrest are Jerome Randolph, aka “May,” David Haynes and Edwin Rodriguez, all of Philadelphia, PA.

Law enforcement officers are continuing to search for a 14th suspect, Omar Latson.

“The seizures of heroin made in connection with this law enforcement operation represent some of the largest in recent memory,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul. “We in law enforcement don’t want further records, we want to save lives. Deaths from heroin and other opiate based substances now constitute the leading cause of death in America. But as a result of these seizures, nearly 23,000 potentially deadly doses will not make it onto the streets of our Rochester community.”

The charges in the complaint include possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, controlled substances, conspiracy and attempt to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, controlled substances, use of a communication facility in furtherance of a controlled substance felony, money laundering and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison, a fine of $10,000,000 or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas E. Gregory, who is handling the case, stated that since October 2015, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Rochester Police Department (RPD) have conducted a multi-agency investigation into a significant Philadelphia based heroin trafficking organization. According to the complaint, the case involves the trafficking of large quantities of heroin from a group of individuals located in Philadelphia, PA to a group of individuals in Rochester. While the methods used by the organizations are not unique, the proceeds generated from the sale of heroin in Rochester over the course of the last several months have climbed well into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The heroin seizures made in this case alone far exceed the total heroin seizures made in all of 2015 in the city of Rochester.

The investigation included the use of court approved eavesdropping warrants (wiretaps) on multiple phones used by the defendants. That investigation revealed that Jerome Randolph is the head of the Philadelphia group, responsible for overseeing the trafficking of heroin between Philadelphia and Rochester. Randolph relies principally on two named defendants, David Haynes and Edwin Rodriguez, who were responsible for the transportation of heroin and drug proceeds between the two cities. The Philadelphia group Supplied large quantities of pre-packaged and pre-stamped heroin, which was transported to Rochester in vehicles with hidden compartments. Once in Rochester, the heroin was distributed by members of the Rochester organization.
 
The Rochester organization had several principle members that deal directly with the members from Philadelphia, including Frank Figueroa, James Washington and Damon Montgomery. These individuals utilized several additional associates who performed various duties for the Rochester organization, including storage, transportation and street level distribution. These individuals were identified as Herbert Montgomery, Paris Montgomery, Johnnie Balkman, Robert Cochran, Jonathan Figueroa, Laron Perkins and LaShawnra Williams. Law enforcement officers estimate the Rochester organization was distributing in excess of $50,000 of heroin a week. 

447 THURSTON ROAD, APT 304

On March 5, 2016, investigators recovered a large quantity of heroin in an abandoned apartment controlled by Damon Montgomery. Specifically, investigators located 7,560 decks, or bags, of heroin weighing approximately 235 grams.

11 KARNES STREET

On March 11, 2016, during a traffic stop of Frank Figueroa, a search of his vehicle revealed a loaded Smith and Wesson revolver, 62 decks of heroin and 4.2 grams of powder cocaine, and $5,257 in cash. 

440 THURSTON ROAD, Apt #108

On March 17, 2016, investigators executed a search warrant at the residence of Paris Montgomery. During the execution of the search warrant, investigators recovered two firearms, including a loaded Smith and Wesson 9mm, semi-automatic handgun and a Taurus, 45 caliber semi-automatic handgun, as well as 520 decks of heroin, numerous new, unused wax envelopes used in packaging heroin and $2,913 in cash. 

909 SAINT BERNARD STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA

On March 22, 2016, a search warrant was executed at the residence of David Haynes. Investigators located approximately $25,000 in United States currency, a loaded Ruger 9mm semi-automatic handgun, scales and 73 grams of heroin. 

304 WEST ERIE AVENUE, PHILADELPHIA, PA

On March 22, 2016, a search warrant was executed at the residence of Edwin Rodriguez. Investigators located two handguns, including a loaded Bushmaster, .223 caliber rifle and a H&K 40 semi-automatic handgun, Ruger, 9mm semi-automatic handgun, approximately $6,000.00 in cash, and assorted ammunition. 

2510 WEST DIAMOND STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA

On March 22, 2016, a search warrant was executed at the residence of Jerome Randolph. Investigators located a large amount of ammunition and several loaded gun clips, scales, a money counter, a police scanner and approximately $3,000.

GOLD HONDA DRIVEN BY HAYNES/MONTGOMERY MEETING IN PA

On March 22, 2016, after intercepting numerous calls indicating a meeting would take place in northern Pennsylvania between two principal members of the organizations, a federal search and seizure warrant was executed on a car used to transport drugs and proceeds between Philadelphia and Rochester. Inside, investigators located two hidden containers (“traps”). The “trap” located under the center console was empty but the ‘trap” located under the rear passenger’s seat contained $46,950.00 cash and 13,440 decks (bags) of heroin. 

89 ANGLE STREET

On March 22, 2016, a search warrant was executed at the residence of Robert Cochran. During the search, investigators located a loaded 410 gauge Mossburg shotgun, 27 decks of heroin, new and unused ziplock narcotics bags, a scale, approximately $2,339 in cash, an empty shoulder holster and assorted 45 caliber ammunition.

447 THURSTON ROAD, Apt #316

On March 22, 2016, a search warrant was executed at the residence of Johnnie Balkman. Investigators recovered 98 decks of heroin, a digital scale, a money counter, and $1,940. 

97 MICHIGAN STREET

On March 22, 2016, a search warrant was executed at the residence of Jonathan Figueroa. Investigators recovered a Smith and Wesson 9mm semi-automatic handgun, a Kimber 45 caliber semi-automatic handgun and a small amount of heroin. 

31 CANARY STREET

On March 22, 2016, a search warrant was executed at the residence of Deshawnra Williams. Investigators recovered nine decks of heroin, a digital scale and an assortment of paperwork. 

Both Jerome Randolph and Edwin Rodriguez were arrested at their residences in Philadelphia, PA and were arraigned in Federal Court in Philadelphia, PA on Wednesday, March 23, 2016. The defendants are being held without bail pending their transfer to the Western District of New York. 

The remaining defendants were arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan W. Feldman. With the exception of DeShawnra Williams, all defendants are being held without bail at this time.

The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Delano A. Reid, New York Field Division, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction Special Agent in Charge Adam S. Cohen, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Unit, under the direction of Brian Manaher, Director, Marine Operations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, under the direction Michael Phillips, Buffalo Field Office Director, U.S. Border Border Patrol, the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Ciminelli, the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of Sandra Doorley, and the Greater Rochester Area Narcotics Enforcement Team (GRANET), and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision in coordination with the Philadelphia ATF and DEA Resident Offices and the Pennsylvania State Police. 

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.