Manhattan U.S. Attorney Charges More Than 30 Members of Hunts Point Criminal Organizations with Distributing "Crack" Cocaine, Powder Cocaine, and Heroin

PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, JANICE K. FEDARCYK, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"), and RAYMOND W. KELLY, the Police Commissioner of the City of New York ("NYPD"), today announced the unsealing of four Indictments and one Complaint charging 33 members of criminal organizations based in the Hunts Point area of the Bronx with conspiracy to distribute "crack" cocaine, powder cocaine, and heroin. In a coordinated operation last night and earlier today, federal, state, and local law enforcement officers arrested 24 defendants in the Bronx. Four of the charged defendants were previously arrested. Five defendants remain at large. Most of the defendants are expected to be presented in Manhattan federal court later today.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney PREET BHARARA stated: "With these arrests, we have shut off yet another distribution channel for the poison that threatens New Yorkers and their communities. It is another example of our commitment to working with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to prosecute and punish those responsible for bringing illegal narcotics onto our streets."

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge JANICE K. FEDARCYK stated: "Today’s arrests demonstrate a significant crackdown on criminal organizations and individuals who harbor the desire to distribute illegal narcotics. The effects of this type of activity are not only dangerous for those involved, but poisonous to society as a whole. Along with our fellow law enforcement partners, the FBI will continue to seek out those responsible for contaminating our streets and threatening the safety of our communities."

NYPD Commissioner RAYMOND W. KELLY said: "I want to commend our undercover officers, in particular, for the often dangerous work they undertake to check the scourge of addictive, illegal drugs and their inevitable nexus to violence. I also want to thank our federal partners for their dedication in prosecuting these drugs dealers."

Assistant Special Agent in Charge Belle Chen briefs Special Agent in Charge Diego Rodriguez and Coordinating Supervisory Special Agent Michael Harkins in the New York command post during the arrests this morning.

According to the Indictments, the Complaint, and other documents filed in Manhattan federal court:

Between March 2010 and July 2010, undercover officers with the NYPD made over 100 purchases of "crack" cocaine, powder cocaine, and heroin from drug dealers in the Hunts Point area of the Bronx. During the buys, the officers were able to purchase significant street level quantities of "crack" cocaine, powder cocaine, and heroin seven days a week, 24-hours a day.

OMAR GONZALEZ, a/k/a "O," NELSON VELEZ, a/k/a "Nell," JUAN CAMACHO, a/k/a "Pito," a/k/a "Papito Camacho," GERALDO MARTINEZ, a/k/a "Macho," DENISE ALAMO, NIVIA ALAMO, a/k/a "Nena," JIMMY ALAMO, a/k/a/ "Skinny," RICKY BELL, RAYMOND LOPEZ, a/k/a "Ray," ALEX AMANTE, JOSE RODRIGUEZ, a/k/a "Joey," LAWRENCE SIMMONS, a/k/a "Black," and MANUEL ROSA, a/k/a "Manny," are charged in an indictment with conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute "crack" cocaine. GONZALEZ and his alleged co-conspirators primarily operated in and around 621 Manida Avenue, Bronx, New York.

DARNELL OUTRAM, a/k/a "D," LERAY LANIER, a/k/a "Shorts," GARY BYNUM, a/k/a "G," TREVON NEDD, a/k/a "Hat Boy," and WILLIAM PEREZ, a/k/a "Biscuit," are charged in an indictment with conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute "crack" cocaine and heroin. OUTRAM and his alleged co-conspirators primarily operated in and around 625 Manida Avenue, Bronx, New York.

JIMMY FRANCO, a/k/a "Nino," STEVEN GUZMAN, a/k/a "Pauly," CHARLIE WAXTER, a/k/a "Umce," JAVIER ROSA, a/k/a "Javi," and IAN MILLIN, a/k/a "Akeil," are charged in an indictment with conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute "crack" cocaine and heroin. FRANCO and his alleged coconspirators operated in and around 885 Irvine Street, Bronx, New York.

RAFAEL ROJAS, a/k/a "Ke-Kay," ALEXI ROJAS, a/k/a "Hermano," ALVIN VICIOSO, a/k/a "Noni," EDGAR FELICIANO, a/k/a "Eggie," ARISTEDES COLUMBIE, a/k/a "Tito," JOSE VARGAS SANTOS, a/k/a "Tio," a/k/a "Jose L. Colon," JOSHUA NUNEZ, a/k/a "Primo," FREDDY BRATCHER, and FNU LNU are charged in an indictment with conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute powder cocaine and heroin. Rojas and his alleged co-conspirators operated in and around 754 Manida Avenue, Bronx, New York.

JASMINE BOSCH is charged in a Complaint with possessing with intent to distribute and distributing cocaine.

Earlier today, law enforcement officers searched five locations in the Hunts Point area from which certain defendants stored and/or distributed illegal narcotics or stored the proceeds of their illegal activity.

Mr. BHARARA praised the investigative work of the FBI and the NYPD.

This case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys TODD BLANCHE, KAN M. NAWADAY, TIMOTHY T. HOWARD, and HADASSA WAXMAN are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictments and Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.