New Jersey Pharmacist Admits Attempting to Weaponize Deadly Toxins and Possessing Narcotics Manufacturing Equipment

WASHINGTON—A licensed pharmacist pleaded guilty in federal court today to attempting to develop, produce, and possess the potentially deadly toxins ricin and abrin for use as weapons and to possessing equipment for producing illegal narcotics, New Jersey U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Jordan S. Gonzalez, 34, of New York and formerly of Jersey City, New Jersey, entered his guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Mary L. Cooper in Trenton federal court.

“Jordan Gonzalez admitted today that he worked to manufacture and deploy deadly toxins, stockpiled weapons and body armor, and acquired manuals training him for violent confrontation,” said U.S. Attorney Fishman. “We all have seen the devastation possible when these behaviors go unchecked. With today’s guilty plea, Jordan Gonzalez will face justice and will not be a threat to society.”

“The overriding focus of the FBI’s WMD Directorate and the primary focus of our overall efforts is prevention,” said FBI Newark Division Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford. “To make this happen, we pull together various resources from the FBI and work closely with our law enforcement partners. In this case, the FBI worked swiftly and tirelessly with our partners to prevent and neutralize all threats posed by this defendant.”

Carl J. Kotowski, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division, said, “The men and women of DEA are dedicated to protecting the citizens of this nation. This investigation reveals how DEA and its law enforcement partners worked together to prevent Mr. Gonzalez from doing harm to the citizens of our communities.”

According documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

From September 18, 2011 through March 19, 2013, Gonzalez purchased thousands of seeds containing ricin and abrin and materials to extract and administer those toxins to others, including filtering equipment, respirators, glass vials, a spraying device, and projectile weapons including a crossbow pistol. Gonzalez also purchased materials for making RDX, an explosive compound used in military and commercial demolition applications. Gonzalez made the purchases through an online third-party vendor marketplace, and all the items were delivered to him at his Jersey City apartment.

Gonzalez learned how to extract toxins from the seeds and about deployment methods from manuals he acquired. He also kept manuals teaching how to make improvised explosive devices and synthesize explosive compounds, including RDX.

On November 8, 2013, while living in New York, Gonzalez purchased one kilogram of sodium azide, a toxic, gas-forming compound that can explode at high temperatures and is lethal if ingested or absorbed through the skin. Law enforcement officers intercepted the delivery during the investigation.

On November 14, 2013, Gonzalez was arrested in Jersey City, and search warrants were executed at three locations he used: apartments in Manhattan and Jersey City and a storage unit in Jersey City. Collectively, material collected through the searches included thousands of seeds containing ricin and abrin; explosive precursor chemicals; manuals related to toxins, explosives, and improvised explosive devices; approximately one thousand rounds of ammunition, handguns, components for assault rifles, and high-capacity magazines; a bulletproof vest; and books and documents related to the collapse of social order and techniques for surviving in a lawless environment. Gonzalez has been in custody since his arrest.

Even small doses of ricin and abrin are potentially lethal to humans if ingested, inhaled, or injected—causing death within 36 to 72 hours from the time of exposure.

During his guilty plea, Gonzalez admitted that acquiring this knowledge and these materials were substantial steps toward developing ricin and abrin as weapons and that he acquired all the materials—including the firearms, ammunition, and body armor—in anticipation of using them in confrontations with other people in the future.

Gonzalez also acquired manuals for synthesizing controlled substances, including methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) and methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), also known as Ecstasy. He bought and had delivered to the Jersey City apartment a three-neck round-bottom flask, gel capsules, and an encapsulating machine, as well as precursor chemicals used in the manufacture of MDA and MDMA. Possession of that type of flask is prohibited if intended for use in the manufacturing of controlled substances.

The toxin charge to which Gonzalez pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of any term of years or life in prison and a $250,000 fine. The narcotics charge carries a maximum potential penalty of four years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is currently scheduled for September 17, 2014.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ford in Newark, and the DEA, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Kotowski in New Jersey, with the investigation leading to today’s plea. He also thanked members of FBI Newark’s Joint Terrorism Task Force; FBI’s New York Office and Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate Laboratory Division; DEA’s New York Division; and the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness for their work on the case, as well as the police and fire departments of Jersey City and the city of New York, as well as the New Jersey State Police for their assistance.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney L. Judson Welle of the U.S. Attorney’s Office National Security Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Francisco J. Navarro of the Office’s Criminal Division, both in Newark. Valuable support was provided by attorneys of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division-Counterterrorism Section.

Cambria County Man Sentenced for Narcotics and Firearms Violations

JOHNSTOWN, PA—A resident of Johnstown, Pennsylvania has been sentenced in federal court to 120 months in prison and three years’ supervised release on his conviction of violating federal narcotics and firearms laws, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson imposed the sentence on Gerald P. Carr, 32.
According to information presented to the court, on February 1, 2013, Carr possessed with intent to distribute less than 100 grams of heroin and was found in possession of a Marlin Firearms Co., model 45 Camp Carbine, .45 caliber rifle. On February 19, 2007 , Carr was convicted in Cambria Co., Pennsylvania, of delivery of cocaine, which is a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. Federal law prohibits persons who have been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year from possessing firearms.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Haines prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Mr. Hickton commended the Laurel Highlands Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Johnstown Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Carr.
According to Mr. Hickton, this case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a collaborative effort by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and communities to prevent, deter, and prosecute gun crime.

Hartford Crack Dealer Sentenced to Eight Years in Federal Prison

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that Justin Powell, also known as “Jus,” 32, of Hartford, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 96 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for distributing crack cocaine.
This matter stems from Operation Vinefield, a joint law enforcement investigation headed by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force targeting narcotics trafficking and gang violence in Hartford’s North End. As a result of the nine-month investigation, 38 individuals were charged with various offenses related to the distribution of crack cocaine and the unlawful possession and dealing of firearms in and around Hartford.
According to court documents and statements made in court, one of the main targets of the investigation was Dementrius Nave, a member of the AVE street gang with a lengthy criminal history. Powell, who is not believed to be a member of the AVE, conspired with Nave and others to distribute crack cocaine and other narcotics in Hartford’s Northeast neighborhood. Powell and Nave would pool money to acquire narcotics and would serve customers for each other.
Powell has been detained since his arrest on February 10, 2012. On that date, investigators conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in which Powell was a passenger after they observed what appeared to be a narcotics exchange. Powell was on state parole at the time and was wearing a monitoring bracelet. A subsequent search of Powell’s residence revealed 63 bags of heroin, which were stamped Super Bowl XLVI, and a scale with white-powder residue that tested positive for the presence of cocaine.
On November 4, 2013, Powell pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base (crack cocaine).
Powell’s criminal history includes multiple convictions for sale of narcotics, violation of probation, violation of protective order, and assault.
Nave has pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.
This matter has been investigated by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force, the Connecticut State Police, the Hartford Police Department, and the Connecticut Department of Correction. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Leaming.

Member of Albanian Drug Gang Called the ‘Wolfpack’ Sentenced in Manhattan Federal Court to 135 Months in Prison in Connection with Narcotics and Firearms Offenses

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that Frankie Frokaj, a leader of an Albanian drug gang called the “Wolfpack,” was sentenced today by United States District Judge George B. Daniels to 135 months in prison in connection with his role in the organization. Frokaj pled guilty in April 2013 to one count of conspiring to distribute 1,000 kilograms and more of marijuana. All 13 members and associates of the Wolfpack originally charged in this case in September 2012 have pled guilty, and 10 have now been sentenced to terms ranging from probation to 168 months in prison.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said, “Today, Frankie Frokaj became the latest member of the Wolfpack organization to be punished for his role in this Bronx-based narcotics trafficking crew, whose members also illegally carried and sold dangerous firearms. All 13 defendants charged in this case have been convicted, several have been sentenced to significant prison time, and the Bronx neighborhood streets are safer as a result.”
According to the Indictment, other documents filed in Manhattan federal court, and statements made at various proceedings in this case:
The Wolfpack was a criminal organization composed primarily of individuals of Albanian descent that operated from at least 2008 until August 2012 in the Bronx, New York. The group planned and committed a variety of criminal acts as opportunities arose, including narcotics distribution and weapons possession. For example, the group maintained dedicated phones over which customers could order cocaine and marijuana and coordinated the use of cars to deliver cocaine and marijuana to its customers. Members and associates of the Wolfpack used these “drug routes” to distribute at least 1,000 kilograms of marijuana and 500 grams of cocaine. The group also distributed prescription pills containing oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance.
Wolfpack members, including Christopher Nrecaj, David Nrecaj, Joseph Camaj, and Frokaj, carried firearms in furtherance of their narcotics crimes and engaged in the sale of firearms. To date, the government has recovered eight firearms and ammunition from members of the Wolfpack through sales involving a confidential informant and during their arrests, including:

• a Sig Sauer nine millimeter handgun, a Bushmaster rifle, a Mac 11 machine pistol, and ammunition purchased by the CI from David Nrecaj;
• a Taurus PT99 AF nine-millimeter handgun and ammunition purchased by the CI from David Nrecaj and Corry Lombardi;
• two nine-millimeter handguns and a pump action shotgun recovered during the course of Christopher and David Nrecaj’s arrests; and
• a .22 caliber handgun recovered during the course of Driton Haxhijaj’s arrest. Haxhijaj was found hiding in a closet, and the handgun and roughly one pound of marijuana were found in the same closet.

The government has further recovered a bullet-proof vest, quantities of cocaine and marijuana, drug ledgers, digital scales, and other drug paraphernalia from various members and associates of the Wolfpack.

* * *

In addition to the prison term, Frokaj, 29 of the Bronx, New York, was also sentenced to five years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit $3,000,000.
The earlier sentencings of Wolfpack members and associates included the following:

• On December 3, 2013, Christopher Nrecaj was sentenced to 168 months in prison on narcotics and firearms charges.
• On December 3, 2013, Corry Lombardi was sentenced to 70 months in prison on narcotics charges.
• On December 3, 2013, Driton Haxhijaj was sentenced to 60 months in prison on narcotics charges.
• On August 7, 2013, Joseph Camaj was sentenced to 70 months in prison on narcotics charges.
• On August 3, 2013, Deda Frokaj was sentenced to 63 months in prison on narcotics charges.
• On April 18, 2013, George Cekaj was sentenced to 151 months in prison on narcotics charges.

The three remaining defendants are scheduled for sentencing in January and February 2014.
Mr. Bharara praised the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York City Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter M. Skinner and Rebecca G. Mermelstein are in charge of the prosecution.

Brooklyn Man Who Broke into Pharmacy Sentenced to 65 Months in Prison for Conspiracy to Sell Stolen Oxycodone

TRENTON, NJ—A Brooklyn, New York man was sentenced today to 65 months in prison for his involvement in a plot to burglarize a pharmacy in Marlboro Township, New Jersey, and sell the stolen narcotics for cash, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
David Mordukhaev, 22, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Freda L. Wolfson to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone. Judge Wolfson imposed the sentence today in Trenton federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
The Union Hill-Supremo Pharmacy in Marlboro Township was burglarized shortly after 4:00 a.m. on June 17, 2012. Mordukhaev and his fellow conspirators filled 17 garbage bags and two cardboard boxes with merchandise from the pharmacy, including 1,988 dosage units of methylphenidate, 500 dosage units of hydromorphone, 300 dosage units of Opana (a trade name for oxymorphone), and 3,800 dosage units of oxycodone—all Schedule II controlled substances.
The stock lost by the pharmacy was valued at approximately $335,000.
Mordukhaev admitted that he stole the drugs and that he did so knowing they would be sold for profit.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Wolfson sentenced Mordukhaev to three years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $334,722 in restitution.
Two of Mordukhaev’s conspirators, James Zarbailov, 23, and Dzheykhun Avshalumov, 24, both of Brooklyn, have previously pleaded guilty to the same charge. Zarbailov was sentenced to 63 months’ imprisonment on November 18, 2013. Avshalumov’s sentencing is scheduled for December 19, 2013.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI’s Red Bank Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford in Newark, and law enforcement officers from the Marlboro Township Police Department, under the direction of Police Chief Bruce E. Hall, for the investigation leading to today’s sentence.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney John E. Clabby of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Trenton.

Federal Charges Brought Against Eight Accused of Dealing Narcotics in Chicago

CHICAGO—A federal investigation targeting narcotics trafficking on the west and south sides of Chicago has resulted in charges against eight alleged members of the Black Disciples street gang. The charges are contained in eight separate criminal complaints filed earlier this week in U.S. District Court in Chicago and unsealed following the arrests of six of the defendants. The charges were announced by Robert J. Shields, Jr., Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.
Each of the defendants faces one count of distribution of a controlled substance, either cocaine or heroin. One of the charged individuals was arrested in Peoria on Tuesday, and five others were arrested Tuesday and Wednesday at various locations in and around Chicago by members of the FBI’s Safe Streets Gang Task Force. One defendant avoided capture and is considered a fugitive.
Those charged with distributing heroin are identified as John Smith, aka “Dope Boy,” 34, of 3050 Bella Court, Lisle, Illinois; Randy Porter, 37, of 1329 N. Stever Avenue, Peoria; Nigel Webb, aka “Niger,” 36, of 3101 West Monroe Street, Chicago; Sylvester Hudson, aka “Cool J,” 39, of 2001 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago; and Jethro Lacking, 37, of 7148 South Green Street, Chicago.
Those facing cocaine distribution charges are identified as Tavares Garrett, aka “Toot,” 34, of 545 North Monticello Avenue, Chicago; Gerard M. Liles, aka “Keppis,” 30, of 2930 West Harrison Street, Chicago; and Darnell McMiller, aka “Murder,” 28, of 1615 West 78th Street, Chicago.
The investigation that led to the charges began in 2010 and is part of the ongoing coordinated efforts by federal, state, and local agencies and departments to dismantle drug trafficking organizations operating in and around the Chicago metropolitan area. Agents and officers employed the use of sophisticated surveillance techniques and the controlled purchases of narcotics. According to the complaints, each defendant engaged in the sale of narcotics with individuals who were cooperating in the investigation. To date, the investigation has resulted in the recovery of one handgun and the seizure of approximately seven kilograms of powder cocaine, 1.3 kilograms of crack cocaine, 3.5 kilograms of heroin, one vehicle, and over $28,000.
Those taken into custody this week appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judges in Chicago and Peoria, and all were ordered held pending their next scheduled court appearances. The defendants face maximum penalties of 20, 30, or 40 years or life in prison. Depending on the charged offense, some may also face a mandatory minimum sentence of either five years or 10 years. The defendants also face maximum fines ranging from $1 million to $10 million.
Defendant Gerard M. Liles remains a fugitive and is the subject of a nationwide manhunt.
The Chicago FBI’s Safe Streets Gangs Joint Task Force is comprised of FBI special agents and officers from the Chicago Police Department.
The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt and that all defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Twelve Charged with Conspiring to Distribute Street Drugs

PITTSBURGH—Eleven Pennsylvania residents and a resident of Brooklyn, New York, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh for violating federal narcotics trafficking and firearm laws, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
The five-count indictment, returned on October 15, 2013, and unsealed today charges:

• Neil Thomas, 29, of Imperial, Pennsylvania
• Marcus Battles, 27, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Luis Colon, 30, of Brooklyn, New York
• Gabriel Garcia, 24, of Carnegie, Pennsylvania
• Christopher Greene, 30, of Leetsdale, Pennsylvania
• Stephanie Goehring, 26, of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania
• Ryan Hutchinson, 28, of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania
• William Krszal, 22, of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania
• Phillip Lacher, 25, of Conway, Pennsylvania
• Colin Mitchell, 28, of Sewickley, Pennsylvania
• Dustin Petry, 26, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Kailen Young, 28, of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania

According to the indictment, between January 2013 and October 2013, the defendants (except for Krszal and Lacher) conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin; Garcia and Petry possessed firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and distributed heroin or possessed heroin with intent to distribute it; and Thomas, Greene, Krszal, and Lacher conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (also known as MDMA or “molly”) and methamphetamine. The indictment seeks forfeiture of the proceeds of the crimes as well as property acquired with the proceeds and property used to commit the crimes, including Thomas’s 2008 Can Am motorcycle and Goehring’s 2008 Pontiac car.
The law provides for maximum total sentences ranging from up to 20 years to up to life in prison, as well as mandatory minimum sentences starting at five years in prison. Fines ranging from $1,000,000 to up to $8,000,000 may also be imposed. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentences imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal histories, if any, of the defendants.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office led the multi-agency investigation of this case that also included the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Moon Township Police Department; the North Fayette Police Department; the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police; the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office; the Pennsylvania State Police; the McKees Rocks Police Department; the Cranberry Township Police Department; the McKeesport Police Department; and the Wilkinsburg Police Department.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Mercer County Man Sentenced to Four Years for His Role in Trenton Narcotics Ring

TRENTON, NJ—A Mercer County, New Jersey man was sentenced today to 48 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute oxycodone pain pills, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Giuseppe A. Scordato, 48, of Hamilton, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp in Trenton federal court to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Between November 2011 and July 2012, Scordato obtained oxycodone-based prescription pain pills from Joseph A. “JoJo” Giorgianni, Mary Manfredo, and Charles Hall, III. Scordato obtained the pills from two locations: Giorgianni’s business—JoJo’s Steakhouse—and Giordianni’s Clubhouse, which was located next to the steakhouse. Scordato would sell those pills and remit the proceeds to Giorgianni and Manfredo at JoJo’s Steakhouse in exchange for a portion of the proceeds from those sales.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Walls sentenced Scordato to serve three years of supervised release and fined him $2,000.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI’s Trenton Resident Agency, Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford, for the investigation leading to today’s guilty pleas.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric W. Moran and Matthew J. Skahill of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Special Prosecutions Division in Trenton and Camden, respectively

Dozens of Members of Violent Street Gang Charged with Narcotics and Weapons Violation Following Joint Investigation Known as Operation Thumbs Down

LOS ANGELES—Over 800 hundred law enforcement officers and agents served dozens of arrest and search warrants this morning in Operation Thumbs Down, an 18-month investigation that targeted members and associates of the Rollin’ 30s Harlem Crips, a South Los Angeles street gang that ranks among the Los Angeles Police Department’s top targeted street gangs, announced André Birotte Jr., the United States Attorney in Los Angeles; Bill Lewis, the Assistant Director in Charge of FBI in Los Angeles; Charlie Beck, the Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department; and Mike Feuer, the City Attorney in Los Angeles.
Thirty-five defendants currently charged with federal and state violations are in custody following this morning’s Operation Thumbs Down, an investigation initiated in 2012 to identify and target high-level members of the Rollin 30s Harlem Crips, a gang known for violence in the community it claims as its territory. Several remaining defendants charged at either the state or federal level were already in custody on unrelated charges or are considered fugitives currently being sought by task force members. The investigation was dubbed Thumbs Down by the task force in reference to hand gestures used by this gang, including two thumbs pointed upward, representing the “H” in the word “Harlem.”
The Rollin 30s Crips is a known multi-generational violent gang that operates primarily in South Los Angeles and has ties to other gangs with whom they are known to have violent disputes. The Rollin’ 30s is composed of three factions, known as “cliques” or “sets,” identified as The Avenues, Denker Park, and 39th Street. Each clique claims different geographical territories within the gang’s overall claimed territory, and has its own respective leaders or "shotcallers," who direct the gang’s criminal activity. Law enforcement estimates there are between 700 and 1,000 Rollin 30s gang members. During Operations Thumbs Down, task force members targeted these “shotcallers” within the Rollin’ 30s’ criminal enterprise.
Twenty-one defendants were named in federal indictments returned by a grand jury in United States District Court in Los Angeles. The federal indictments charge the defendants with a variety of narcotics and weapons violations, including: possession of cocaine base (“crack”) with intent to distribute; conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base (“crack”); felon in possession of a firearm; maintaining drug-involved premises; and unlicensed dealing in firearms.
Those charged federally are listed below:

• Stephen Bayliss, aka “Iceberg”—30, currently in federal custody
• Michael Byars, aka “Wanetti”—55, Inglewood
• Jesus De La Hoya, aka “Jesse”—40, Mira Loma
• Anthoney Edwards, aka “Three Leaf”—23, currently in state custody
• Frank Fisher, aka “Boons”—23, Los Angeles
• Rayeisha Glenn, aka “Ray Ray”—35, Los Angeles
• Kenneth Green, aka “Gin”—36, Los Angeles
• Kevin Green, aka “Young Watt”—31, Los Angeles
• Jovan Harris, aka “Headache”—34, Los Angeles
• Clavern Luckett, aka “Uncle D”—38, Los Angeles
• Gary Luckett, aka “Uncle Gary”—39, Los Angeles
• Kelly Martin, aka “Cartoon”—43, Compton
• Don Mosley, aka “Whino”—34, currently in state custody
• Edward Norwood, aka “Polo”—33, Los Angeles
• Brandon Robertson, aka “BK”—31, Los Angeles
• Alan Ross, aka “Big Choo”—37, Los Angeles
• Darlene Sebatta—38, Los Angeles
• Ernest Sluch, aka “E-Rocc”—47, Los Angeles
• Jason Thurton, aka “CT”—35, Long Beach
• Emerie Tims, aka “Mac”—34, Long Beach
• Moses Williams, aka “Termite”—34, Los Angeles

Several additional cases were filed with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, many of whom are in custody following this morning’s operation. In addition to the arrests made this morning, task force members also served 34 federal search warrants and seized a variety of firearms and quantities of narcotics. During the investigation, the task force augmented its suppression efforts by partnering with agencies in order to address long-term community stability. The Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office is pursuing civil actions to include property abatement, evictions, and case conferences for gang-controlled locations. In addition, the Office of the Inspector General for the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD-OIG) is addressing violations related to Section 8 Housing, which will include the removal of tenants.
Crime statistics indicate there have been 29 homicides within the past five years in the gang’s territory, which incorporates the neighborhood between Jefferson Avenue, Martin Luther King Avenue, Normandie Avenue, and Crenshaw Avenue. In addition, approximately 1100 robberies and 1075 assaults have been reported in the 1.5 square mile area that comprises the gang’s claimed territory. The Rollin 30s Harlem Crips is also suspected of committing a series of residential or “knock-knock” burglaries, referred to by the gang as “floccin.” Police departments in multiple counties throughout Southern California are investigating members of the Rollin 30s Harlem Crips in connection with these robberies.
Throughout the investigation and prior to today, task force members arrested 60 Rollin’ 30s gang members and associates for state violations, seized 32 firearms, and seized in excess of 10 kilograms of rock cocaine.
Nineteen of the 21 federal defendants are in custody and two are considered fugitives. Three of the federal defendants were already incarcerated on unrelated charges and are expected to be transferred to federal custody.
Many of the federal defendants face mandatory-minimum prison terms ranging from five to 10 years, depending on the quantities of narcotics alleged and individual criminal histories, and maximum penalties of 20 or 30 years in federal prison. Federal defendants arrested today will make an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles this afternoon.
This case is the result of an investigation by members of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Task Force on Violent Gangs, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Los Angeles Police Department; the United States Attorney’s Office; and the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office.
Multiple agencies assisted the task force during this investigation and today’s operation, including the United States Secret Service; the Department of Child and Family Services; the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development-Office of Inspector General; the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department; the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the Los Angeles County Department of Probation; and agencies that participate on the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Agency (HIDTA).
The federal defendants will be prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office. The defendants arrested for violations of California state law will be prosecuted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Additional information about violent street gangs across America can be found at http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/2011-national-gang-threat-assessment
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in court.
Media Contacts:

• Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Pelham: 213 894-0610
• FBI Press Relations: 310 996-3343

Fifteen Members of Alleged Drug Ring Arrested

NEWARK, NJ—Two members of an alleged drug trafficking ring based in Elizabeth, New Jersey and operating throughout the Northeast and Puerto Rico made their initial court appearances today, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Nelson Yordan, a/k/a Carlos, 27, of Waterbury, Connecticut, and Michael Rosario, 28, of Hagerstown, Maryland, were both charged by complaint with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. They made their initial appearances today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Falk in Newark federal court.
Yordan and Rosario are among 15 people arrested over the past three weeks by FBI agents and local police in connection with a drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing cocaine and heroin in the Elizabeth, New Jersey; Allentown, Pennsylvania; Hartford, Connecticut; and Hagersville, Maryland areas.
Also charged by complaint in connection with the alleged drug operation are: Roberto Rentas Negron, a/k/a El Duro; Kelmit Velazquez; Antonio Vazquez, a/k/a Panta; Fernando Duarte Castro; Julio Martinez Jr., 43, of Elizabeth; Lorenzo Carballo, 28, of Elizabeth; Hector Espinoza, a/k/a Will, 27, of Elizabeth; William Crespo, a/k/a Negro, 33, of Allentown, Pennsylvania; Melvin Gerena, a/k/a Flaco, 29, of Elizabeth; Marco Rodriguez, 26, of Elizabeth; Jerel Evans, a/k/a Gigante, 25, of Elizabeth; Robert Evans, a/k/a Gigante’s Brother; and Christian Reyes, a/k/a Enano. Each defendant is charged with one count of conspiring to distribute controlled substances.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Three of the defendants—Negron, Velazquez, and Vazquez—were arrested November 30, 2012, after FBI agents learned that Negron and Velazquez were plotting to murder a rival drug dealer who had reportedly stolen one kilogram of heroin from the organization. They made their initial court appearances before Judge Falk on December 3, 2012 and were ordered detained pending trial. After their arrests, many of their co-conspirators reportedly took measures to evade law enforcement, including changing cell phones and fleeing to other states.
As part of a coordinated operation, federal, and local law enforcement authorities subsequently located and arrested: Duarte Castro on December 3, 2012 in Newark; Carballo and Espinoza on December 13, 2012 in Elizabeth; Crespo in Allentown; Yordan in Hartford; and Rosario in Hagersville; on December 14, 2012. After fleeing to Puerto Rico, Rodriguez turned himself in to the FBI in San Juan on December 19, 2012.
Martinez and Gerena were previously arrested by the Elizabeth Police Department on unrelated charges and remain in state custody pending their transfer to face the federal charge. The other three defendants remain at large.
Between November 2011 and November 30, 2012, law enforcement was involved in an investigation into a drug trafficking organization (DTO) operating in the Elizabeth and Newark areas. The organization had people in Puerto Rico and elsewhere coordinating shipments of cocaine and heroin through the U.S. mails to New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. The narcotics would be concealed in items such as candles and children’s toys. Individuals in New Jersey would coordinate these shipments, process or “cut” the narcotics, and distribute the narcotics to locations in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Maryland, and other locations.
Law enforcement in New Jersey identified Rentas Negron as the person who coordinated the acquisition of the drugs, the processing and packaging of the cocaine and heroin, the resale of the narcotics, and the distribution of the proceeds from drug sales. Vazquez frequently supplied narcotics to Rentas Negron. Reyes coordinated shipments of narcotics from Puerto Rico. The other members of the DTO cut, processed, packaged, stored, and distributed the narcotics and occasionally traveled to Florida, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Maryland, and other states in order to obtain cocaine to distribute in the Elizabeth area.
The counts with which Yordan, Rosario, Negron, Velazquez, Martinez, Carballo, Espinoza, Crespo, Jerel Evans, Robert Evans, Gerena, and Rodriguez are charged carry a minimum potential penalty of five years in prison and a maximum of 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine. The counts with which Vazquez and Reyes are charged carry a minimum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison and a $10 million fine. The count with which Duarte Castro is charged carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in charge Michael B. Ward; U.S. Postal Inspectors, under the direction of Phillip R. Bartlett; law enforcement officers from the New Jersey National Guard Counter Drug Task Force, under the direction of the Adjutant General, Brig. Gen. Michael L. Cunniff; the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Theodore J. Romanko; and the Elizabeth Police Department, under the direction of Police Director James Cosgrove, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam N. Subervi and David Eskew of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaints are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.