Ángel M. Ayala-Vázquez and His Brother, Luis X. Cruz-Vázquez, Found Guilty of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances

SAN JUAN, PR—Ángel Ayala-Vázquez (aka “El Negro, Ángelo Millones, El Buster, Papa Upa”) and Luis X. Cruz-Vázquez, aka “El Mono,” were found guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin, crack, cocaine, marijuana, Percocet, and Xanax at the Public Housing Projects José Celso Barbosa and Sierra Linda in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, announced United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez.

From approximately 1995 to the present, Ayala-Vázquez, was the principal leader of this organization. He and other members of the organization were responsible for the importation of thousands of kilograms of narcotics to Puerto Rico; the transshipment of narcotics from Puerto Rico to several states, including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Florida; the distribution of kilogram quantities of narcotics to other drug trafficking organizations operating in Puerto Rico; and the street level distribution of the same within the José Celso Barbosa and Sierra Linda Public Housing Projects.

Ayala-Vázquez and members of his drug trafficking organization used violence in order to maintain control of their drug trafficking activities. Ayala-Vázquez allowed other members of the drug trafficking organization to control the street level sale of the narcotics within other public housing projects and throughout the district of Puerto Rico, so long as the narcotics are purchased from him.

Luis X. Cruz-Vázquez was an administrator; he supervised the day to day operations of the various narcotics distribution points within Barbosa, Sierra Linda, and other locations to Puerto Rico.

The indictment also contained forfeiture allegations for $100 million. The defendants and their co-conspirators disguised the true nature of their narcotics proceeds by purchasing legitimate assets, including, real estate properties, race cars, motor vehicles, vessels, and businesses through the use of “straw owners,” in order to conceal the true ownership of the assets, and the illegal source of the funds used to make the purchases.

“This conviction demonstrates the commitment of the Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Puerto Rico to eradicate drug trafficking in Puerto Rico. For many years these individuals intimidated the citizens of the municipality of Bayamón with their violence and drug trafficking,” said Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “We are pleased with the jury’s verdict. The investigation continues.”

Senior U.S. District Judge Juan Pérez-Giménez scheduled the sentencing for August 8.

The case was investigated by FBI, DEA, ICE, IRS, and PRPD, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy Henwood, Jenifer Y. Hernández-Vega, Olga Castellón, and Maritza González.