United States Attorney Rosa E. Rodriguez-Velez
District of Puerto Rico

20 INDIVIDUALS FROM THE COVADONGA DRUG TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATION INDICTED AND ARRESTED

$3,000,000 in forfeiture allegations

SAN JUAN, P.R. - On October 8, a federal Grand Jury issued a seven-count indictment, charging 20 defendants with federal drug trafficking, firearms offenses and one narcotics forfeiture allegation for three million dollars ($3,000,000), announced United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) conducted the investigation.

Since November 2007, this violent drug trafficking organization was lead by co-defendant Ismael Rosa-Pagán, aka “Pito Pelu,” who also was an enforcer, a seller and a cocaine drug point owner. Prior to that period of time, Jesús Iglesias-Viera, aka “Beethoven”, was the leader after Arturo Rojas de La Cruz, aka “Tamarindo” and José R. Torres-Rivera, aka “Nandito”, died on June 22, 2007. On November 15, 2007, Iglesias-Viera and other co-defendants delegated the drug trafficking organization to Rosa-Pagán because they could no longer continue in Covdonga; they were indicted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and eventually prosecuted.

“On November of 2007, Strike Force teams went into Covadonga and executed 59 arrest warrants. 58 defendants pled guilty and a few are pending sentences, one case was dismissed” said United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. “Our team work efforts continue to give great results in our ongoing war against drug trafficking in Puerto Rico.”

“ATF is committed to reduce gun violence in our island. As long as gangs in Puerto Rico use firearms to protect and enforce their trade, ATF will be there to enforce the Federal firearm laws,” said Marcial O. Felix, ATF Resident Agent in Charge, Puerto Rico and USVI. “Today, the Public Housing Project Covadonga is a safer place thanks to the hard work of the Carolina Strike Force, ATF Task Force Agents from the Police of Puerto Rico, the San Juan Police Department, the Bayamón Police Department and the ATF agents that participated in this investigation.”

This drug trafficking organization operated during almost two years and continued with the same modus operandi from the prior leaders. Many of the members of the organization had various tasks: four leaders, three enforcers, two runners, nine sellers, two look-outs, drug processors and facilitators.

During this conspiracy, the organization would rent drug points to other members of the organization. Most of the co-conspirators would routinely possess, carry, brandish and use firearms at all hours of the day in order to protect themselves and the drug trafficking organization. They would store weapons in various apartments in Covadonga and would park cars in parking spaces within the housing project in order to stash controlled substances, paraphernalia and weapons. As part of the means of intimidation and use of force, the members of the organization would regulate who entered Covadonga.

The penalties for the offense alleged in count one of the indictment is a minimum term of ten (10) years and up to life in prison, followed by a term of supervised release of up to five (5) years, and fines of up to four million dollars ($4,000,000).

This investigation was completed thoroughly thanks to the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms and the Puerto Rico Police, working together as members of the Carolina Strike Force. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant US Attorney Alberto López and Assistant United States Attorney Ernesto López-Soltero.

Criminal indictments are only charges and not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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