ORGANIZATION FLOODED THE BRONX WITH HEROIN AND FENTANYL
22 People Indicted After Investigation by Bronx DA, NYPD, DEA and HSI
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark, New York City Police Commissioner James P.
O’Neill, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan and
Homeland Security Investigations New York Special Agent in Charge Angel M. Melendez today
announced that 22 people have been indicted on charges related to distributing heroin and fentanyl
in the Bronx. Three of the defendants are charged with Operating as a Major Trafficker, which
carries a maximum of life in prison if convicted. During the investigation, more than 50 pounds
of fentanyl destined for the Bronx and elsewhere in the Northeast were seized.
District Attorney Clark said, “This organization allegedly spanned street dealers in the
South Bronx to significant suppliers in Mexico linked to the Sinaloa cartel. These indictments
charge traffickers whose poison kills an average of 20 Bronxites a month. Fortunately, 23 kilos
(50 pounds) of fentanyl were intercepted before it could wreak havoc. The stamp on many of the
heroin packs says it all: PAID. But with our law enforcement partners, we will pursue those at
every level of the illegal narcotics trade who put money above human beings.”
New York City Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill said, “The success of this
operation means that large quantities of illegal narcotics were prevented from hitting the streets
of New York City. The NYPD will continue to be relentless in the pursuit of narcotic
traffickers. This result is a clear example of what the combined powers of local law
enforcement agencies can achieve.”
Special Agent in Charge Donovan said, “This case provides a bird’s eye view of how the
Sinaloa Cartel’s operation and transportation network brings heroin, fentanyl, and death to New
York City doorsteps and users throughout the Northeast. Fentanyl is the deadliest threat facing
communities nationwide. Through this investigation, we have saved lives; we intercepted 23
kilograms of fentanyl that had a lethal capacity to kill the population of New York City before it
hit the streets.”
Special Agent in Charge Melendez said, “As fentanyl continues to flood through our borders,
drug dealers in the Bronx and elsewhere are lacing narcotics with the highly addictive opioid,
creating a more desired product among its customer base. Law enforcement understands the
potential havoc this drug can effect on our communities, and we remain partnered in the effort of
disrupting and dismantling those drug trafficking organizations who profit with no concern for
their own communities.”
New York State Police Superintendent Keith M. Corlett said, “Great law enforcement
partnerships and police work led to the arrest of these 20 individuals in the Bronx. Through
communication and cooperation, a drug trafficking organization was dismantled and more than
20 kilos of Fentanyl were taken off the streets, some of it bound for New York State. The State
Police are proud to be a part of this Strike Force Group. Each arrest, each seizure is saving lives
and decreases the additional crime that surrounds these illegal and dangerous operations.”
District Attorney Clark said 17 of the 22 defendants were arrested, most of them during a
takedown on May 28, 2019 that yielded drugs, a Mossberg .22-caliber semi-automatic rifle and
189 rounds of ammunition. The defendants are charged in two indictments. One indictment
charges 11 individuals with 236 counts of various degrees of Criminal Sale and Criminal
Possession of a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy. Three of the defendants—Roberto
Gonzalez Franco, of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico; Oscar Alessandro Garcia, of Palmerton, PA;
and John Doe of the Bronx—are charged with Operating as a Major Trafficker, which carries a
minimum of 15-25 years to maximum of life in prison if convicted.
A second indictment charges 11 individuals with 281 counts of various degrees of Criminal
Sale and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy.
Sixteen of the defendants have been arraigned before Bronx Supreme Court Justice April A.
Newbauer. Most of the defendants are due back in court on June 20, 2019.
According to the 20-month investigation by the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, NYPD
Criminal Enterprise Investigative Section, Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force and
Homeland Security Investigations, dubbed “Operation Getting Paid,” the defendants were part of
two different groups that trafficked several kilograms of fentanyl and heroin monthly, and sold it
in bulk to distributors in the Bronx, Philadelphia, Albany, and other cities in the northeast. The
drugs wound up on the streets in $10 packets.
According to the investigation, Roberto Gonzalez Franco is a Mexican national with a B-1
Visa border crossing card restricting his travel to 75 miles from the border. Gonzalez Franco
crossed the border approximately 15 times from September 2018 to early February 2019 and held
meetings with other defendants in the Bronx, Philadelphia and Chicago.
According to the investigation, Mario Alberto Urbina Garcia of Los Angeles is an American
who frequently traveled with Gonzalez Franco. Urbina Garcia crossed the border approximately
13 times from September 2018 to early February 2019.
According to the first indictment, on February 8, 2019, 23 kilos (50 pounds) of fentanyl were
seized from a hidden compartment within a vehicle in Chicago while en route to the Bronx and
other locations. According to the investigation, the fentanyl was being supplied by Gonzalez
Franco, Garcia and Urbina. The source of the fentanyl is believed to have been the Sinaloa cartel.
Urbina was in the vehicle when the narcotics were seized by the DEA in Chicago. John Doe, who
lived in the Melrose section of the Bronx, allegedly was going to receive part of the shipment and
allegedly sell it to Carlos Rodriguez Santana and Charlie Rodriguez, of the Melrose and
Morrisania sections of the Bronx.
The investigation began with a probe of drug dealing in the McKinley Houses, where Charlie
Rodriguez allegedly headed a group that sold glassines of heroin with the stamp “PAID” and
glassine with fentanyl stamped “PRICELESS.”
One of the defendants, Jose Jaquez, allegedly transported drugs and cash throughout the
Bronx in his NYC green taxicab. Charlie Rodriguez also allegedly distributed narcotics to resellers in Albany.
According to the second indictment, the other group, headed by Kelvin De Leon and Carlos
Miguel De Leon, distributed their narcotics from the University Heights, Kingsbridge Heights,
and Concourse sections of the Bronx, and supplied Carlos Vazquez with heroin mixed with
fentanyl. Vazquez lived in Wakefield and distributed much of his drugs close to the McKinley
and Forest Houses.
On January 6, 2019, Kelvin De Leon died of acute heroin intoxication in his home where it is
believed he stored narcotics.
According to the investigation, defendants Carlos Vazquez and Felipe Marquez frequented
drug treatment programs, and may have used them to cultivate vulnerable people as heroin
customers or re-sellers
District Attorney Clark also thanked NYPD Lieutenant Edward Barry, NYPD Detectives
Shane Gugliucciello and Michael Smyth, and NYPD Police Officer Albert Knowles; the DEA
Chicago Division, Illinois State Police, Master Sergeant Ken Benson and Trooper Stephanie
Dickson; Pennsylvania State Police, Trooper First Class Gary Knott; and Department of
Investigation, Office of Inspector General for NYCHA, Chief Investigator Enio Bencosme for
their assistance in the case.
The DEA STRIKE FORCE is supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force and the New York/New Jersey
High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. 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.
An indictment is an accusatory instrument and is not proof of a defendant’s guilt.
Defendants
Indictment # 2019-1092
John Doe, AKA Saul, AKA Alex, East 154 Street, Bronx
Carlos Rodriguez Santana, 76, East 155 Street, Bronx
Charlie Rodriguez, 45, East 163 Street, Bronx
Robert Goldberg, 65, Sheridan Avenue, Bronx
Rafael Rodriguez, 57, Herkimer Street, Albany
Jose Jaquez, 39, Hammersley Avenue, Bronx
Santiago Jose Martinez Sanchez, AKA Eduito, 51, East 141 Street, Bronx
Silvia Vidal, 30, Bruckner Boulevard, Bronx
Roberto Gonzalez Franco, 50, Los Mochis, Mexico
Mario Alberto Urbina Garcia, AKA Monstro, 33, Los Angeles, California
Oscar Alessandro Garcia, AKA Junior, 44, Palmerton, Pennsylvania
Indictment #2019-1089
Carlos Vazquez, AKA, Catano, 66, White Plains Road, Bronx
Damaso Rodriguez, 51, Prospect Avenue, Bronx
Felipe Marquez, 60, East 165 Street, Bronx
Leonardo Villar-Cruz, AKA Cuba, 62, Morrison Avenue, Bronx
Juan Serrano, AKA John, 56, Reverend James A. Polite Avenue, Bronx
John Torres, AKA John, 50, Saint John Ave, Bronx
Jose Muniz, AKA Joey, 37, Tiebout Avenue, Bronx
Eduard Ventura de Leon, AKA Eduardo, 32, Sedgwick Avenue, Bronx
Carlos Miguel de Leon, AKA Carlito, AKA Jorge, 28, Walton Avenue, Bronx
Victor Manuel Burgos Ramos, AKA Chaka, 30, Leggett Avenue, Bronx
Carmen Delia Burgos Ramos, AKA Yeli, 29, Grand Avenue, Bronx
