http://sanjuan.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/2007/sj102607.htm

Rosa Emilia RodrÃ*guez-Vélez
United States Attorney
District of Puerto Rico


Torre Chardón Bldg., Suite 1201
350 C. Chardón Avenue
Hato Rey, Puerto Rico 00918 (787) 766-5656


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: October 26, 2007


Contact: U.S. Attorney’s Office
Lymarie V. Llovet-Ayala
Public Affairs Specialist
(787) 282-1820




63 MEMBERS OF THE DRUG TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATION "LOS DEMENTES" INDICTED
Another conspiracy disarticulated as a result of the joint efforts of the San Juan Strike Force
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - On October 25, 2007, a federal Grand Jury in the District of Puerto Rico issued a seven- count indictment, charging 63 defendants with federal drug trafficking and firearms offenses. This morning 45 members of the drug trafficking organization known as "Los Dementes", established since January 1998 at the Public Housing Project Juana Matos in Cataño, were arrested. Twelve leaders of the organization also managed several drug points at the Matienzo Cintrón and El Coqui Public Housing Projects, the Vietnam Ward in Cataño and the Amelia Ward in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.

The members of the drug trafficking organization are charged with violations of the Federal Controlled Substances Act, specifically: conspiracy to distribute heroin, marihuana, cocaine, crack, Xanax, and Percocet in the Juana Matos Public Housing Project, in Cataño, Matienzo Cintrón and El Coqui Public Housing Projects, the Vietnam Ward in Cataño and the Amelia Ward in Guaynabo, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 846, 853 and 860, and the firearms violations: Title 18, United States Code, Sections 924(c)(1) and 2. The indictment also contains narcotics forfeiture allegations for undisclosed amount of dollars, pursuant to Title 21, United States Code, Section 853. The arrest operation is still ongoing.

"We are methodically eliminating the most active and violent drug trafficking organizations in the San Juan Metro area," said US Attorney Rosa Emilia RodrÃ*guez-Vélez. "Through the joint efforts between the federal and state law enforcement agencies, we will continue to eradicate violent crime from our communities."

The leaders of the drug trafficking organization would maintain a group of co-defendants managing the drug distribution activities at the numerous drug points under their control. The leaders of this organization would divide amongst themselves and their subordinates the proceeds of the drug trafficking sales. The following are the group leaders: CARLOS CRUZ-MOJICA, a/k/a "Hueso", a/k/a "Flaco"; PEDRO J. RAMOS-RAMOS, a/k/a "Pedrito"; JUAN A. RIVERA-GOMEZ, a/k/a "Pito Baja Panties"ANDERSON CRUZ-MALDONADO, a/k/a "Pito Cura"; LUIS CRUZ-VALCARCEL, a/k/a "Luis Pitillo"; CARLOS QUINTANA-RIVERA, a/k/a "Chivo"; Ã