9 Members Of Bronx Drug Trafficking Organization Charged With Distributing Heroin, Fentanyl, And Cocaine Out Of Auto Body Shops

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Raymond Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), James D. Robnett, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, (“IRS-CI”), Angel M. Melendez, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Keith M. Corlett, Acting Superintendent of the New York State Police (“NYSP”), and James P. O’Neill, Police Commissioner of the City of New York (“NYPD”), announced today that ADALBERTO VELAZQUEZ, a/k/a “Joe,” RAYMOND RESTO, a/k/a “Tone,” SAL CASTRO, a/k/a “Floss,” JOEL LOPEZ, a/k/a “Rompiendoe,” a/k/a “Paul,” a/k/a “Po,” WILLIS LLERAS, a/k/a “Willy,” REINALDO ROMAN, a/k/a “Papo,” JAIME GARCIA, a/k/a “Jimmy,” ANTONIO BURGOS, a/k/a “Anthony,” and MARILYN ADINO have been charged with participating in a conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine.  The defendants arrested today are expected to be presented this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang.  The case has been assigned to United States District Judge Ronnie Abrams.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “As alleged, these defendants were a network that outwardly offered to fix cars but was really an organization that would supply a fix of heroin or cocaine.  Thanks to the work of the DEA and its Strike Force partners, we have delivered a body blow to these allegedly drug-peddling body shops.”

DEA Special Agent in Charge Raymond Donovan said:  “These arrests will have a significant impact on the heroin/fentanyl supply in the Bronx.  DEA’s goal is to keep the public safe from the dangers of drug abuse.  One way of doing that is to target local distribution organizations responsible for attracting new users, enabling addiction and contributing to overdoses in our city.  I applaud the Strike Force and U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of New York, for their diligent work throughout this investigation.”

According to the allegations in the Indictment[1] and statements made in Court:

The defendants were members of a drug trafficking organization (the “DTO”) that packaged and sold narcotics out of multiple auto body shops and garages in the Bronx, New York.  From 2015 to February 2019, the DTO is estimated to have distributed hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and heroin.  Much of the heroin that the DTO distributed was mixed with fentanyl. 

VELAZQUEZ, 50, RESTO, 43, CASTRO, 39, LLERAS, 63, ROMAN, 55, GARCIA, 53, BURGOS, 46, and ADINO, 49, each of the Bronx, New York, and LOPEZ, 39, of New York, New York, are each charged with one count of conspiring to distribute cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.  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. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the DEA.  The arrest was the result of an investigation by the New York Strike Force, a crime-fighting unit comprising federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) and the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).  

The Strike Force is housed at the DEA’s New York Division and includes agents and officers of the DEA, the New York City Police Department, the New York State Police, Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations, the U. S. Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives , U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, New York National Guard, the Clarkstown Police Department, U.S. Coast Guard, Port Washington Police Department, and New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

 [1]   As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.