Seven Indicted on Drug Conspiracy Charges

Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, today announced the filing of an eleven count federal indictment against Thomas V. Watters, age 35; Timothy M. Watters, age 32; Jose Carrizales, age 29; John L. Cortez, age 37; Samuel D. Ruiz, age 35; Frank R. Yglesias, age 29, all of Toledo, Ohio and Jose Romero, age 28, of Edinburg, Texas. The indictment charges each defendant with conspiring to possess powder cocaine, cocaine base (crack), and marijuana with intent to distribute.

Thomas V. Watters, Timothy M. Watters, Jose Carrizales and John L. Cortez are also charged with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.

In addition, Thomas V. Watters is charged with the unlawful use of a communication facility.

If convicted, the defendants’ sentences will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendants’ prior criminal records, if any, the defendants’ roles in the offenses and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentences will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

The indictment alleges that beginning at least as early as 2002, through the date of the indictment, the defendants were involved in a conspiracy to distribute substantial amounts of powder cocaine in the Toledo, Ohio area. The conspiracy also involved the distribution of crack cocaine and marijuana. Specifically, the indictment alleges that Thomas V. Watters and Timothy M. Watters would obtain substantial quantities of cocaine and marijuana from sources of supply, including Jose G. Romero. The cocaine and marijuana would be transported to the Toledo, Ohio area for distribution by Jose A. Carrizales, John L. Cortez, Samuel D. Ruiz, and other individuals. The indictment further alleges that Frank R. Yglesias and other individuals, would transport and store large quantities of cocaine for Thomas V. Watters and Timothy M. Watters.

The case was accepted and investigated as an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. The OCDETF program divides the country into 13 regions and is designed to insure that the most sophisticated investigative and prosecutive resources are directed against large scale organized drug trafficking ventures.

The indictment culminates a three-year investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Toledo Metro Drug Task Force, Lucas County Sheriff’s Department, Sylvania Township Police Department, and Washington Township Police Department. This Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ava R. Dustin and Joseph R. Wilson, who may be reached at the above telephone number.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The burden of proof is always on the government to prove a defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.