Eighty-Two Individuals Indicted for Drug Trafficking in the Luis Lloréns Torres Public Housing Project
Defendants are Facing a Narcotics Forfeiture Allegation of $8 Million

SAN JUAN, PR—On October 7, 2011, a federal grand jury indicted 82 individuals as a result of an investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD), announced today United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. The defendants are charged in a two-count indictment with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, “crack” (cocaine base,) heroin, marijuana, and Oxycodone (also known as Percocet). The object of the conspiracy was to distribute controlled substances at the Luis Lloréns Torres Public Housing Project, located in San Juan, Puerto Rico for significant financial gain.

According to the indictment, from on or about March 2007, the object of the conspiracy of this drug trafficking organization was to possess with the intent to distribute and distribute cocaine, crack, heroin, marijuana, and Percocet at a drug distribution point located at the sector known as “Calle 4” within the Luis Lloréns Torres Public Housing Project. The main leaders of the organization were: Malvin Nater-Ayala, aka “Malvin”; Emanuel Rodríguez-Isaac, aka “Manuelito”; and Christian Rosario-Bonilla, aka “Christian Nora” and “Mellao.”

The defendants and their co-conspirators would purchase wholesale quantities of heroin, cocaine, and marijuana in order to distribute the same in street quantity amounts at their drug distribution points. The 82 co-conspirators had many roles, in order to further the goals of the conspiracy, including: three leaders, 14 enforcers, six suppliers, 21 drug owners, 12 runners, 53 sellers, and four facilitators.

It was further part of the manner and means of the conspiracy that the co-conspirators would use apartments and other locations to cook, store, package, and sell the drugs, and to conceal drugs, drug paraphernalia, drug ledgers, drug proceeds, scanners, firearms, and ammunition. The members of the drug trafficking organization would possess, carry, use, brandish, and discharge firearms in order to maintain control of their drug points and in order to protect themselves, their drugs and proceeds from rival individuals and organizations, and to expand their drug trafficking business within the community.

“Today’s operation was part of our Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) and contributes to our ongoing battle against the drug trafficking organizations that operate all around Puerto Rico,” said Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “We will not rest until every town is safe again, and all our citizens can live in peace.”

“The FBI and other state and local law enforcement agencies are dedicated to increasing the safety and security of the people of Puerto Rico by continuing to combat the violence permeating our community,” said Joseph S. Campbell, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI-San Juan Field Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Carmen Márquez and Ilianys Rivera.

If convicted, the defendants face a minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment and a maximum of life imprisonment, with fines of up to $10 million. Criminal indictments are only charges and not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.