MJP –
Twelve people, including members of the Mexican Mafia, Sur-13, and the transnational criminal organizations MS-13 and MS-13, were charged with drug-related charges in a federal indictment that was unsealed on Friday in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties in the Southern District of Florida.
The 34-year-old Honduran Edgar Garcia-Velasquez, better known by his stage name “Diablo,” is named in the twelve-count indictment. Casper, whose real name is Francisco Rangel, is a 41-year-old Californian Rodriguez-Carrillo, 42, a resident of California, Luis Portillo, 35, of Miami, who goes by the names “Shadow” and “Sombra,” Jose Puga, 45, of California, often known as “Stranger,” Malinda Martinez, a Fort Myers resident aged 42, The 34-year-old Miami resident Karina Martinez-Vazquez The 28-year-old Miami resident Rafael Gutierrez, also known as “Rafy,” Jose Hernandez, 39, of Belle Glade, often known as “Labomba3” or “Blue Demon,” Loupe Loredo, 39, of Lake Wales, also known as “L3g3nd,” Two men from Florida—Felipe Gonzalez, 41, better known as “Wicked,” and Hugo Cruz, 33, better known as “Houdini”—are involved.
In Broward and Miami-Dade Counties, the defendants allegedly conspired to possess 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with the purpose of distributing it.
Fentanyl distribution conspiracy charges also include Martinez-Vazquez, Puga, Rodriguez-Carrillo, Rodriguez, and Garcia-Velasquez.
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Martinez-Vazquez, Garcia-Velasquez, Portillo, Gutierrez, Puga, Loredo, and Martinez-Vazquez are among the defendants facing further counts of methamphetamine possession with the intent to distribute in South Florida.
On September 12, the defendants were apprehended, and the Southern District of Florida court heard their first court appearances. Everyone at risk of life in prison if found guilty.
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Several federal agencies, including HSI, the FBI, the ATF, the DEA, and the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO), were involved in the announcement of the indictment by U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida.
The investigation was spearheaded by many agencies, including the following: HSI Fort Lauderdale, FBI Miami, ATF Fort Lauderdale, and DEA Miami. HSI and FBI offices in Fort Myers and Los Angeles provided further support. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bertila Fernandez is leading prosecutors.
The goal of this case and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) effort is to use intelligence-driven collaboration to bring down international criminal organizations and high-level drug traffickers.
