Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Philip R. Bartlett, Inspector in Charge of the New York Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”), Adolphus P. Wright, the Special Agent in Charge of the Miami Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), James J. Hunt, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the DEA, Peter Forcelli, Special Agent in Charge of the Miami Field Division and Puerto Rico Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”), Angel M. Melendez, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), James P. O’Neill, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), and George P. Beach II, the Superintendent of the New York State Police (“NYSP”), announced the unsealing today of an Indictment charging eight members and associates of La Organizacion de Narcotraficantes Unidos (“La ONU”) with various racketeering, drug trafficking, and firearms offenses, including six murders.
Five of the defendants are already in custody for other offenses. The remaining three defendants – OSCAR VALDES-GARCIA, a/k/a “Pony,” WILLIAM VASQUEZ-BAEZ, and RALPH LABOY – will be presented today in the District of Puerto Rico before U.S. Magistrate Judge Silvia Carreno-Coll. VASQUEZ-BAEZ was an active member of the Puerto Rico Police Department when he allegedly committed the May 9, 2007, murder of Anthony Castro-Carrillo, as charged in Counts 13 and 14 of the Indictment. LABOY had recently resigned from the Puerto Rico Police Department when he allegedly committed the Castro-Carillo murder. The case has been assigned to United States District Judge Jesse M. Furman in Manhattan.
All eight defendants are charged with murder. In connection with the racketeering conspiracy and a narcotics conspiracy, members and associates of La ONU are charged in the Indictment with committing the following murders in Puerto Rico:
- The April 9, 2005, murder of Crystal Martinez-Ramirez.
- The June 23, 2006, double murder of Ken Gonzalez-Rodriguez and Jean Adorno-Caballero.
- The December 28, 2006, murder of Israel Crespo-Cotto.
- The May 9, 2007, murder of Anthony Castro-Carrillo.
- The March 20, 2009, murder of Carlos Barbosa.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said: “Members and associates of a violent drug trafficking organization, La ONU, allegedly committed six ruthless murders to further a drug trade that funneled massive quantities of cocaine from Puerto Rico to New York. Frighteningly, one of those six murders allegedly was committed by an active and a former member of the Puerto Rico Police Department. As alleged, when police officers, sworn to protect the citizens they serve, instead kill to protect drug trafficking profits, that tears at the very fabric of civilized society. Such alleged lawlessness simply cannot be left unchecked. We thank all of our federal and local law enforcement partners for their tireless investigative work to bring these defendants to justice in a court of law.”
USPIS Inspector in Charge Philip R. Bartlett said: “This criminal enterprise stopped at nothing to allegedly move drugs from Puerto Rico to the Bronx; it was all about money. They didn’t care who or what got in their way, and based on the indictment, they ‘got rid’ of their perceived obstacles. Fortunately, members of this criminal enterprise underestimated the power of interagency cooperation and collaboration. These individuals will be brought to justice for their alleged heinous crimes against the community and the misuse of the US Mail to facilitate the transport of illegal drugs into the United States.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge Adolphus P. Wright said: “Through this collaborative effort with our law enforcement partners, drug traffickers committing not only drug violations, but also other equally egregious and violent crimes, have been taken off the streets. We remain committed to pursuing their prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt said: “A 2013 investigation grew legs into something much more dangerous than a local drug distribution organization operating out of a daycare center in the Bronx. It led investigators to identifying the organization’s alleged source of supply comprising corrupt cops and violent thugs who were arrested today in Puerto Rico. This is a great example of collaborative law enforcement efforts.”
ATF Special Agent in Charge Peter Forcelli said: “For years, ATF has made combatting violent crime its top priority and this case is a perfect example of our commitment to making our communities safer. We will work tirelessly with our state, local, and federal partners to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who use or traffic in illegal firearms, regardless of where they engage in criminal activity. This case is a clear example of interagency teamwork and collaboration across several jurisdictions and I’m proud of the work that was done here.”
Superintendent George P. Beach II said: “This investigation is yet another example of law enforcement partners working collaboratively to get dangerous individuals and drugs off our streets. The expertise and dedication of our law enforcement colleagues charges eight individuals in multiple murders in Puerto Rico. Two of the individuals were police officers, trusted with enforcing the law, and were instead breaking it and causing terror in communities. I thank all of our law enforcement partners for their hard work, professionalism and commitment to making our neighborhoods safer.”
As alleged in the Indictment[1] unsealed today in Manhattan federal court and in other court papers:
La ONU was a criminal enterprise involved in the trafficking of cocaine from Puerto Rico to the Bronx, New York. The cocaine was distributed in New York, including out of a daycare center in the Bronx, New York. Members and associates of La ONU engaged in acts of violence, including murder, to protect and expand the enterprise’s criminal operations and in connection with rivalries with other criminal organizations. In particular, members of the enterprise shot and killed suspected rival drug trafficking members.
Count One of the Indictment charges JULIO MARQUEZ ALEJANDRO, a/k/a “Chino Montero,” LUIS BLONDET, a/k/a “Cabezon,” OSCAR VALDES-GARCIA, a/k/a “Pony,” JASON DONES-GONZALEZ, a/k/a “Jason,” a/k/a “Arrabal,” JOSE VICTOR PELLOT CARDONA, a/k/a “Vitito,” and REINALDO CRUZ-FERNANDEZ with participating in a racketeering conspiracy for criminal involvement in La ONU.
Counts Two and Three of the Indictment charge LUIS BLONDET with the murder of Crystal Martinez-Ramirez in aid of racketeering, and a related firearms offense.
Counts Four, Five, and Six of the Indictment charge JULIO MARQUEZ ALEJANDRO and OSCAR VALDES-GARCIA with the murder of Jean Adorno-Caballero in aid of racketeering and in connection with a drug crime, as well as a related firearms offense.
Counts Seven, Eight, and Nine of the Indictment charge JULIO MARQUEZ ALEJANDRO and OSCAR VALDES-GARCIA with the murder of Ken Gonzalez-Rodriguez in aid of racketeering and in connection with a drug crime, as well as a related firearms offense.
Counts 10, 11, and 12 of the Indictment charge JULIO MARQUEZ ALEJANDRO and OSCAR VALDES-GARCIA with the murder of Israel Crespo-Cotto in aid of racketeering and in connection with a drug crime, as well as a related firearms offense.
Counts 13 and 14 of the Indictment charge RALPH LABOY and WILLIAM VASQUEZ-BAEZ with the murder of Anthony Castro-Carrillo in connection with a drug crime, as well as a related firearms offense.
Counts 15, 16, and 17 of the Indictment charge JULIO MARQUEZ-ALEJANDRO, JASON DONES-GONZALEZ, JOSE VICTOR PELLOT-CARDONA, and REINALDO CRUZ-FERNANDEZ with the murder of Carlos Barbosa in aid of racketeering and in connection with a drug crime, as well as a related firearms offense.
Charts containing the names, ages, charges, and maximum penalties for the defendants are set forth below. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Kim praised the outstanding investigative work of USPIS, the DEA, the ATF, and the NYPD. He also thanked the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York, and the Puerto Rico Police Department for their support in this ongoing investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Jordan Estes, Dina McLeod, Andrew Thomas, and Lara Pomerantz are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
| COUNT | CHARGE | DEFENDANTS | MAX. PENALTIES |
| 1 | Racketeering conspiracy 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) | JULIO MARQUEZ-ALEJANDRO (age 47) LUIS BLONDET (age 42) OSCAR VALDES-GARCIA (age 35) JASON DONES-GONZALEZ (age 37) JOSE VICTOR PELLOT-CARDONA (age 38) REINALDO CRUZ-FERNANDEZ (age 43) | Life in prison |
| 2 | Murder in aid of racketeering activity 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(1) | LUIS BLONDET | Death penalty, or life in prison |
| 3 | Use of a firearm for murder 18 U.S.C. § 924(j)(1) | LUIS BLONDET | Death penalty, or life in prison |
| 4 | Murder in aid of racketeering activity 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(1) | JULIO MARQUEZ-ALEJANDRO OSCAR VALDES-GARCIA | Death penalty, or life in prison |
| 5 | Murder in connection with a drug crime 21 U.S.C. § 848(e)(1)(A) | JULIO MARQUEZ-ALEJANDRO OSCAR VALDES-GARCIA | Death penalty, or life in prison |
| 6 | Use of a firearm for murder 18 U.S.C. § 924(j)(1) | JULIO MARQUEZ-ALEJANDRO OSCAR VALDES-GARCIA | Death penalty, or life in prison |
| 7 | Murder in aid of racketeering activity 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(1) | JULIO MARQUEZ-ALEJANDRO OSCAR VALDES-GARCIA | Death penalty, or life in prison |
| 8 | Murder in connection with a drug crime 21 U.S.C. § 848(e)(1)(A) | JULIO MARQUEZ-ALEJANDRO OSCAR VALDES-GARCIA | Death penalty, or life in prison |
| 9 | Use of a firearm for murder 18 U.S.C. § 924(j)(1) | JULIO MARQUEZ-ALEJANDRO OSCAR VALDES-GARCIA | Death penalty, or life in prison |
| 10 | Murder in aid of racketeering activity 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(1) | JULIO MARQUEZ-ALEJANDRO OSCAR VALDES-GARCIA | Death penalty, or life in prison |
| 11 | Murder in connection with a drug crime 21 U.S.C. § 848(e)(1)(A) | JULIO MARQUEZ-ALEJANDRO OSCAR VALDES-GARCIA | Death penalty, or life in prison |
| 12 | Use of a firearm for murder 18 U.S.C. § 924(j)(1) | JULIO MARQUEZ-ALEJANDRO OSCAR VALDES-GARCIA | Death penalty, or life in prison |
| 13 | Murder in connection with a drug crime 21 U.S.C. § 848(e)(1)(A) | RALPH LABOY (age 36) WILLIAM VASQUEZ-BAEZ (age 48) | Death penalty, or life in prison |
| 14 | Use of a firearm for murder 18 U.S.C. § 924(j)(1) | RALPH LABOY WILLIAM VASQUEZ-BAEZ | Death penalty, or life in prison |
| 15 | Murder in aid of racketeering activity 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(1) | JULIO MARQUEZ-ALEJANDRO JASON DONES-GONZALEZ REINALDO CRUZ-FERNANDEZ JOSE VICTOR PELLOT-CARDONA | Death penalty, or life in prison |
| 16 | Murder in connection with a drug crime 21 U.S.C. § 848(e)(1)(A) | JULIO MARQUEZ-ALEJANDRO JASON DONES-GONZALEZ REINALDO CRUZ-FERNANDEZ JOSE VICTOR PELLOT-CARDONA | Death penalty, or life in prison |
| 17 | Use of a firearm for murder 18 U.S.C. § 924(j)(1) | JULIO MARQUEZ-ALEJANDRO JASON DONES-GONZALEZ REINALDO CRUZ-FERNANDEZ JOSE VICTOR PELLOT-CARDONA | Death penalty, or life in prison |
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment constitutes only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation.
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