Hazelton: AG breaks up $10 million cocaine ring
_ Click for the Spanish Translation
May 27, 2009
Attorney General Corbett announces dismantling of $10.4 million dollar cocaine ring in Hazleton
5.27.09 operation_second_string.jpgWILKES-BARRE -- A major cocaine trafficking ring operating in Hazleton was broken up today by the Attorney General's Bureau of Narcotics Investigation (BNI) and the Luzerne County Drug Task Force resulting in charges against 17 suspected cocaine dealers.
Attorney General Tom Corbett said the investigation, known as "Operation Second String," began in August 2008 and focused on the distribution of mass quantities of cocaine by Ricardo "Noreiga" Callender and Aramis "Flaco" Colon.
Corbett said that in two years the organization allegedly distributed up to $10.4 million worth of cocaine in Hazleton.
Evidence and testimony regarding the case was presented to a statewide investigating grand jury, which recommended the criminal charges being filed today.
"In September 2007, we took down one of the largest cocaine trafficking rings in Hazleton as part of 'Operation Boomerang,'" Corbett said. "Less than two years later, we are here again, arresting a new set of drug dealers who thought they could simply step in and continue what the previous group had started."
Agents estimate that the organization was responsible for the distribution of approximately one kilo of cocaine per week with an estimated street value of $100,000. Callender and Colon allegedly distributed the majority of the cocaine themselves, distributing at least a half kilo per week in the Hazleton area.
According to the grand jury, a series of undercover purchases were made between Aug. 8, 2008, and March 20, 2009, and set-up through Junior Diaz.
Corbett said that Diaz was the main link between undercover agents and associates of the cocaine network. Diaz allegedly arranged most of the cocaine transactions and was known as "the guy to go to" for cocaine.
Junior Diaz is currently wanted in Luzerne County for shooting someone eight times in a dispute over a woman.
Corbett noted that some defendants in the case are suspected of being illegal aliens, which is currently part of a continuing investigation.
Corbett also noted that all but four defendants in the Operation Boomerang case have pled guilty and have been sentenced. Jorge "The Don" Rivera and Bienvenido Guerro, the main suspects in the case are scheduled for trial the week of June 8, 2009. The remaining two defendants, Denny DeCastro Sanchez and Johnny Peguero are scheduled for trial in June and September.
Corbett thanked Luzerne County District Attorney Jackie Carroll, the Hazleton Police Department, the Edwardsville Police Department, the Wright Township Police Department and the Butler Township Police Department for their assistance with the investigation.
The case will be prosecuted in Luzerne County by Deputy Attorney General Timothy Doherty of the Attorney General's Drug Strike Force Section.
Below is a list of the defendants and the charges against them:
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Junior "Junior" Diaz, 22, 160 North Church St., Hazleton, is charged with one count of corrupt organizations, one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine, seven counts of delivery of cocaine, seven counts of possession of cocaine and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
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Jose Valoy, 33, 44 East Green St., Hazleton, is charged with one count of corrupt organizations, one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine, one count of delivery of cocaine, one count of possession of cocaine and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
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Aramis "Flaco" Colon, 22, 417 West Chapel St., Hazleton, is charged with one count of corrupt organizations, one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine, four counts of delivery of cocaine, four counts of possession of cocaine and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
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Ricardo "Noreiga" Callender, 23, 121 Putnam St., Hazleton, is charged with one count of corrupt organizations, one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine, five counts of delivery of cocaine, five counts of possession of cocaine and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
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Michael Diaz, 30, 154 South Locust St., Hazleton, is charged with one count of corrupt organizations, one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine, one count of delivery of cocaine, one count of possession of cocaine and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
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Cesar "Cavallo" Vazquez Guerrero, 29, 160 North Church St., is charged with one count of corrupt organizations, one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine, four counts of delivery of cocaine, four counts of possession of cocaine and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
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"Juan" Doe, age unknown, address unknown, is charged with one count of corrupt organizations, one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine, two counts of delivery of cocaine, two counts of possession of cocaine and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
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Alejandro "Manso" Serrano-Hernandez, 41, 221 South Cedar St., or 62 South Hazle St., or 314 East Chestnut St., Hazleton, is charged with one count of corrupt organizations, one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine, two counts of delivery of cocaine, two counts of possession of cocaine and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
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Osvaldo "P-Teen" Jimenz Aquino, 28, 116 West Second St., Hazleton, is charged with one count of corrupt organizations, one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine, one count of delivery of cocaine, one count of possession of cocaine and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
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Yashira Flores-Movet, 27, 110 East Tamarack St., Apt. #1, Hazleton, is charged with one count of corrupt organizations, one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine, one count of delivery of cocaine, one count of possession of cocaine and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
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John Doe, known as "Gavi", age unknown, address unknown, is charged with one count of corrupt organizations, one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine, one count of delivery of cocaine, one count of possession of cocaine and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
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Jose Alex Buros-Garcia, 30, 772 Alter St., Hazleton, is charged with one count of corrupt organizations, one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine, two counts of delivery of cocaine, two counts of possession of cocaine and two counts of criminal use of a communication facility.
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Victor "Rolando" Peguero, 29, 695 North Locust St., Hazleton, is charged with one count of corrupt organizations, one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine, one count of delivery of cocaine, one count of possession of cocaine and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
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Yendaliz Gonzalez-Valle, 26, 160 North Church St., Hazleton, is charged with one count of corrupt organizations, one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine, one count of delivery of cocaine, one count of possession with the intent to deliver cocaine, one count of possession of cocaine and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
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Jean C. Nunez, 24, 351 Monroe Ave., Hazleton, is charged with one count of corrupt organizations, one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine, one count of delivery of cocaine, one count of possession with the intent to deliver cocaine, one count of possession of cocaine and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
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Ramon Nivar, 21, 530 West Maple St., Hazleton, is charged with one count of corrupt organizations, one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine, one count of delivery of cocaine, one count of possession with the intent to deliver cocaine, one count of possession of cocaine, and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
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Pedro "Petie" Contes, 29, 127 Washington Ave., West Hazleton, is charged with one count of corrupt organizations, one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine, one count of delivery of cocaine, one count of possession with the intent to deliver cocaine, one count of possession of cocaine, and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
(A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty.)
PA State AG: $10.4M coke ring set up shop fast
Looks like some are still on the run.
Dixie
May 28
State AG: $10.4M coke ring set up shop fast
Five of 17 charged in Operation Second String remain wanted, he says.
By Edward Lewis elewis@timesleader.com
Staff Writer
PLAINS TWP. – It didn’t take long for a group of alleged drug dealers to move into the Hazleton area after a previous group had been swept out, Pennsylvania’s chief prosecutor said on Wednesday.
click image to enlargeAttorney General Tom Corbett talks about ‘Operation Second String’ Wednesday. Behind him is Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta.
Clark Van Orden/The Times Leader
Select images available for purchase in the
Times Leader Photo StoreState Attorney General Tom Corbett said undercover narcotics agents and Hazleton police broke up a $10.4 million cocaine trafficking ring that had been operating in the city for nearly two years.
“In September 2007, we took down one of the largest cocaine trafficking rings in Hazleton as part of Operation Boomerang,â€
