PHILADELPHIA—An indictment, unsealed today, charges eight people with conspiring to distribute heroin in the Kensington section of Philadelphia, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. Charged are: Jorge Balbuena, a/k/a “Hansel,” 29, Yan Mota Soto, 25, Luis Garcia, a/k/a “Twin,” a/k/a “Mellos,” a/k/a “Domi,” 35, Jose Garcia, a/k/a “Twin,” a/k/a “Mellos,” 35, Ysidro Garcia, a/k/a “Pisa Pie,” 67, Elvin DeJesus, 26, Pedro Angel Montes-Perez, 24, and Gary Cuevas-Reyes, 27, all living in Philadelphia, PA. In addition to the conspiracy count, the defendants are charged in multiple counts of distribution of heroin, and distribution of heroin within 1,000 feet of a school or playground. Jorge Balbuena, Jose Garcia, Evlin Dejesus, Gary Cuevas-Reyes, Pedro Montes-Perez were arrested this morning. Montes-Perez is a U.S. citizen. The remaining defendants are citizens of the Dominican Republic residing in Philadelphia.

According to the indictment, the conspiracy existed from March 2014 to October 2015 and was led by Jorge Balbuena and supplied wholesale amounts of heroin, cocaine, cocaine base (“crack”), and other controlled substances to other wholesale drug distributors, and to street corner drug operations.

If convicted, each defendant faces lengthy prison terms.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Philadelphia Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David. E. Troyer and Marianne Shelvey of the United States Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Gang Section.

An Indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.