Law enforcement officials in New York filed federal charges against 49 members of Bronx-based drug distribution organizations. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents joined with the New York City Police Department and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) agents to bring in the alleged criminals.
The joint law enforcement task force conducted an investigation into two Bronx-based drug trafficking organizations and secured two indictments through the Department of Justice (DOJ) Southern District of New York against 49 members of the groups. The two, 12-page indictments include charges for the murder of Jose Morales on December 11, 2016, narcotics, robbery, and firearms offenses according to a statements obtained by Breitbart Texas from ICE and DOJ officials.
“Today the law enforcement community in New York struck a serious blow to violent drug distribution organizations that operate in our city. Two such organizations allegedly flooded the community of Mount Hope in the Bronx with heroin, crack cocaine, fear and death,” Special Agent in Charge of HSI New York Angel M. Melendez said in a written statement. “This is yet another step in our efforts to bring peace and hope to our communities by removing the alleged leadership and rank-and-file members of these organizations, putting an end to their menacing criminal conduct.”
Photo: Homeland Security Investigations
Breitbart Texas spoke with media officials with the office of Acting-U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Joon H. Kim. The press official said it is likely that drugs involved in these distribution organizations were likely products trafficked by Mexican drug cartels, no specific cartels or gangs are named in the indictments. The office declined an interview with the Assistant U.S. Attorney handling the case stating the prosecutors do not comment on pending cases.
Fifteen of the defendants face charges for their association with a drug distribution organization (DDO) that operates along East 175th Street and Monroe Avenue in the Bronx. Those arrested on Wednesday appeared before Magistrate Judges Barbara Moses and Henry Pittman. Three other defendants are already in custody on related charges. They are expected to face arraignment next week before District Judge William Pauley.
The second DDO operates in the area of 176th Street and Weeks Avenue in the Bronx. These defendants appeared before Magistrate Judges Moses and Pittman. This case is assigned to District Judge Loretta Preska.
“Dozens of alleged members of two drug distribution organizations have been charged with peddling potentially lethal drugs, Acting-U.S. Attorney Kim said in a written statement. Kim took over the Acting-U.S. Attorney position following the firing of U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara on Friday. The Department of Justice fired Bharara following his refusal to resign as requested by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Breitbart News reported. It is a normal practice for U.S. Attorneys to be asked to resign following the swearing in of a new President. President Bill Clinton fired then-US. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama Jeff Session when he took office in 1993.
“Many are also charged with committing violent crimes, including four who allegedly murdered Jose Morales in furtherance of their drug business. All New Yorkers are entitled to the peaceful enjoyment of their homes, free from the devastating effects of drugs and the violence that can accompany drug trafficking. Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to work to return the neighborhoods of the Bronx to the law-abiding people who live in them.”
Local law enforcement officials played a major role in these charges as well. New York Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill said, “Today’s arrests are the latest example of drug dealing that led to violence, including armed robberies and a murder in the Bronx, as alleged. This type of precision policing is leading to further reductions in crime beyond last year’s all-time low. Many thanks to the detectives, agents, and the prosecutors in the Southern District we so often work with and whose diligence resulted in the leveling of these serious drug trafficking charges today.”
Photo: Homeland Security Investigations
Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark brought state charges against some of those involved in the case. “This case crystallizes how drug dealing’s attendant violence devastates our neighborhoods,” Clark stated. “These two organizations held the Mount Hope area in a vise grip of numerous street shootings, including at least one murder. In our fight against heroin and other drugs, we must always remain focused on the community residents who are victimized by these vicious traffickers.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division James Hunt added: “Guns, violence and turf wars plague neighborhoods that drug dealers have turned into battlefields. Today, law enforcement has reclaimed the Mount Hope section of the Bronx by arresting dozens of alleged members of two drug trafficking organizations. DEA Agents working with HSI, NYPD, the Bronx District Attorney’s Office and the SDNY U.S. Attorney’s Office identified and dismantled these crews allegedly responsible for fueling drug addiction and drug-related violence.”
The DOJ provided the following information on the indictments:
Count One of the Indictment in U.S. v. James Felton, et al., unsealed today in Manhattan federal court, charges JAMES FELTON, JAMES DIAZ, ANDRE FELTON, EZEKIEL BURLEY, URIAH BROWN, BRADFORD CANNON, WILLIE REEVES, HAROLD FIELDS, ROBERT BRENT, DASHAUN MCDONALD, MATTHEW TORRES, TYRONE TURNER, KENDRICK MCCRAY, GINGER DIAZ, and JOSE SANDOVAL with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana.
Counts Two charges JAMES FELTON, DIAZ, ANDRE FELTON, and BURLEY with the murder of Jose Morales, which occurred on December 11, 2016, in the vicinity of East 175th Street and Weeks Avenue, in the course of a narcotics conspiracy.
Count Three charges JAMES FELTON, DIAZ, ANDRE FELTON, and BURLEY with using, carrying, possessing, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a narcotics conspiracy, resulting in the death of Jose Morales on December 11, 2016.
Count Four charges JAMES FELTON, DIAZ, and BURLEY with using, carrying, possessing, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a narcotics conspiracy, on dates other than December 11, 2016.
Count Five charges BROWN, CANNON, REEVES, FIELDS, BRENT, MCDONALD, TORRES, TURNER, MCCRAY, DIAZ, and SANDOVAL with using, carrying, possessing, brandishing, and discharging firearms during and in relation to a narcotics conspiracy.
Count One of the Indictment in U.S. v. Edwin Romero, et al., unsealed today in Manhattan federal court, charges EDWIN ROMERO, RAFAEL ROMERO, FRANCIS PALUZZI, LUIS GONZALEZ, ANIBAL GONZALEZ, CARLOS MOTA, ELIMANUEL DIAZ, PEDRO OLIVO, ADRIAN SANCHEZ, DARYL SIMON, JEFFREY FERNANDEZ, JUAN VALDEZ, WILLIE TUCKER, KASAN NOBLE, DAMIAN SAUNDERS, DANIEL JEFFERSON, DERECK JEFFERSON, WAYNE SCOTT, ERIC RIVERA, MICHAEL MARTINEZ, MAXAMILLION MERCADO, KAREEM SIMMONDS, ALEXANDER PENA, ANTHONY CLASE, CARLOS ACOSTA, CHRISTOPHER RODRIGUEZ, GABRIEL GONZALEZ, JESUS MATA, NANA OWUSU, ROBERTO RAMIREZ, WILPHER RODRIGUEZ, YAWILIS RODRIGUEZ, JESUS ABAD, and ANGEL GUANCE with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana.
Count Two charges EDWIN ROMERO, SANCHEZ, VALDEZ, TUCKER, and YAWILIS RODRIGUEZ with conspiring to commit robbery.
Count Three charges EDWIN ROMERO, RAFAEL ROMERO, FRANCIS PALUZZI, LUIS GONZALEZ, ANIBAL GONZALEZ, CARLOS MOTA, ELIMANUEL DIAZ, PEDRO OLIVO, ADRIAN SANCHEZ, DARYL SIMON, JEFFREY FERNANDEZ, JUAN VALDEZ, WILLIE TUCKER, KASAN NOBLE, DAMIAN SAUNDERS, DANIEL JEFFERSON, DERECK JEFFERSON, WAYNE SCOTT, ERIC RIVERA, MICHAEL MARTINEZ, KAREEM SIMMONDS, ALEXANDER PENA, ANTHONY CLASE, CARLOS ACOSTA, CHRISTOPHER RODRIGUEZ, GABRIEL GONZALEZ, JESUS MATA, NANA OWUSU, ROBERTO RAMIREZ, WILPHER RODRIGUEZ, YAWILIS RODRIGUEZ, JESUS ABAD, and ANGEL GUANCE with using, carrying, possessing, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a narcotics conspiracy.
Count Four charges EDWIN ROMERO with using, carrying, possessing, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
The defendants face from 10 years to life in prison on the charges if they are convicted.
Following are the individual charges in the indictments and information on those accused:
United States v. James Felton, et al., S2 17 Cr. 21 (WHP)
| COUNT | CHARGE | DEFENDANTS | MAX. PENALTIES |
| 1 | Narcotics conspiracy
21 U.S.C. § 846 |
JAMES FELTON
JAMES DIAZ ANDRE FELTON EZEKIEL BURLEY URIAH BROWN BRADFORD CANNON WILLIE REEVES HAROLD FIELDS ROBERT BRENT DASHAUN MCDONALD MATTHEW TORRES TYRONE TURNER KENDRICK MCCRAY GINGER DIAZ JOSE SANDOVAL
|
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison |
| 2 | Murder while engaged in a narcotics conspiracy
21 U.S.C. § 848(e)(1)(A); 18 U.S.C. § 2 |
JAMES FELTON
JAMES DIAZ ANDRE FELTON EZEKIEL BURLEY
|
Life in prison or death
Mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison
|
| 3 | Using, carrying, possessing, brandishing, and discharging firearms, causing death
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(j)(1) and 2
|
JAMES FELTON
JAMES DIAZ ANDRE FELTON EZEKIEL BURLEY |
Life in prison or death |
| 4 | Using, carrying, possessing, brandishing, and discharging firearms
18 U.S.C. |
JAMES FELTON
JAMES DIAZ EZEKIEL BURLEY |
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison for DIAZ and BURLEY
Mandatory minimum of 25 years in prison for JAMES FELTON
|
| 5 | Using, carrying, possessing, brandishing, and discharging firearms
18 U.S.C. |
URIAH BROWN
BRADFORD CANNON WILLIE REEVES HAROLD FIELDS ROBERT BRENT DASHAUN MCDONALD MATTHEW TORRES TYRONE TURNER KENDRICK MCCRAY GINGER DIAZ JOSE SANDOVAL |
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison |
| DEFENDANT | AGE | RESIDENCE |
| JAMES FELTON | 47 | Bronx, New York |
| JAMES DIAZ,
a/k/a “Chunky” |
24 | Bronx, New York |
| ANDRE FELTON,
a/k/a “Dre” |
39 | Mount Vernon, New York |
| EZEKIEL BURLEY,
a/k/a “Ezekiel McCall” a/k/a “Zeke” a/k/a “Ziggy” |
23 | Bronx, New York |
| URIAH BROWN,
a/k/a “Scooter” |
42 | Bronx, New York |
| BRADFORD CANNON,
a/k/a “Brad” |
46 | Bronx, New York |
| WILLIE REEVES,
a/k/a “Willie Reed” a/k/a “Willow” |
30 | Bronx, New York |
| HAROLD FIELDS,
a/k/a “Howie” a/k/a “HD” |
38 | Bronx, New York |
| ROBERT BRENT,
a/k/a “Ready” |
45 | Brooklyn, New York |
| DASHAUN MCDONALD,
a/k/a “Dayday” |
27 | Bronx, New York |
| MATTHEW TORRES,
a/k/a “Mac Mittens” a/k/a “Green Eyes” |
33 | Bronx, New York |
| TYRONE TURNER,
a/k/a “Skrap” |
32 | Bronx, New York |
| KENDRICK MCCRAY,
a/k/a “Kenny” |
43 | Bronx, New York |
| GINGER DIAZ,
a/k/a “George” |
30 | Bronx, New York |
| JOSE SANDOVAL,
a/k/a “Shorty” |
41 | Bronx, New York |
United States v. Edwin Romero, et al., S1 17 Cr. 123 (LAP)
| COUNT | CHARGE | DEFENDANTS | MAX. PENALTIES |
| 1 | Narcotics conspiracy
21 U.S.C. § 846 |
EDWIN ROMERO
RAFAEL ROMERO FRANCIS PALUZZI LUIS GONZALEZ ANIBAL GONZALEZ CARLOS MOTA ELIMANUEL DIAZ PEDRO OLIVO ADRIAN SANCHEZ DARYL SIMON JEFFREY FERNANDEZ JUAN VALDEZ WILLIE TUCKER KASAN NOBLE DAMIAN SAUNDERS DANIEL JEFFERSON DERECK JEFFERSON WAYNE SCOTT ERIC RIVERA MICHAEL MARTINEZ MAXAMILLION MERCADO KAREEM SIMMONDS ALEXANDER PENA ANTHONY CLASE CARLOS ACOSTA CHRISTOPHER RODRIGUEZ GABRIEL GONZALEZ JESUS MATA NANA OWUSU ROBERTO RAMIREZ WILPHER RODRIGUEZ YAWILIS RODRIGUEZ JESUS ABAD ANGEL GUANCE
|
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison |
| 2 | Robbery conspiracy
18 U.S.C. § 1951 |
EDWIN ROMERO
ADRIAN SANCHEZ JUAN VALDEZ WILLIE TUCKER YAWILIS RODRIGUEZ
|
20 years in prison
|
| 3 | Using, carrying, possessing, brandishing, and discharging firearms
18 U.S.C. |
EDWIN ROMERO
RAFAEL ROMERO FRANCIS PALUZZI LUIS GONZALEZ ANIBAL GONZALEZ CARLOS MOTA ELIMANUEL DIAZ PEDRO OLIVO ADRIAN SANCHEZ DARYL SIMON JEFFREY FERNANDEZ JUAN VALDEZ WILLIE TUCKER KASAN NOBLE DAMIAN SAUNDERS DANIEL JEFFERSON DERECK JEFFERSON WAYNE SCOTT ERIC RIVERA MICHAEL MARTINEZ KAREEM SIMMONDS ALEXANDER PENA ANTHONY CLASE CARLOS ACOSTA CHRISTOPHER RODRIGUEZ GABRIEL GONZALEZ JESUS MATA NANA OWUSU ROBERTO RAMIREZ WILPHER RODRIGUEZ YAWILIS RODRIGUEZ JESUS ABAD ANGEL GUANCE
|
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison |
| 4 | Using, carrying, possessing, brandishing, and discharging firearms
18 U.S.C. |
EDWIN ROMERO | Life in prison
Mandatory minimum of 25 years in prison
|
| DEFENDANT | AGE | RESIDENCE |
| EDWIN ROMERO,
a/k/a “Yones” a/k/a “Yoni” |
35 | Bronx, New York |
| RAFAEL ROMERO,
a/k/a “Kodi” |
34 | Bronx, New York |
| FRANCIS PALUZZI,
a/k/a “Fetty” |
27 | Bronx, New York |
| LUIS GONZALEZ,
a/k/a “Tili” a/k/a “Bori” |
39 | Bronx, New York |
| ANIBAL GONZALEZ,
a/k/a “Foli” |
34 | Bronx, New York |
| CARLOS MOTA,
a/k/a “Culebra” a/k/a “Snake” |
47 | Bronx, New York |
| ELIMANUEL DIAZ,
a/k/a “Lima” |
27 | Bronx, New York |
| PEDRO OLIVO,
a/k/a “Pito” |
24 | Bronx, New York |
| ADRIAN SANCHEZ,
a/k/a “Pachi” |
23 | Bronx, New York |
| DARYL SIMON,
a/k/a “D-Money” |
19 | Bronx, New York |
| JEFFREY FERNANDEZ,
a/k/a “Jefe” |
19 | Bronx, New York |
| JUAN VALDEZ,
a/k/a “Sito” |
21 | Bronx, New York |
| WILLIE TUCKER,
a/k/a “Big Will” a/k/a “BJ” a/k/a “BG” |
38 | Bronx, New York |
| KASAN NOBLE,
a/k/a “Kay Kay” |
40 | Bronx, New York |
| DAMIAN SAUNDERS,
a/k/a “Floss” |
37 | Bronx, New York |
| DANIEL JEFFERSON,
a/k/a “Ace” |
30 | Bronx, New York |
| DERECK JEFFERSON,
a/k/a “Bang” |
28 | Bronx, New York |
| WAYNE SCOTT,
a/k/a “Punch” |
37 | Bronx, New York |
| ERIC RIVERA,
a/k/a “Chucky” a/k/a “Chuck Dollarz” |
24 | Bronx, New York |
| MICHAEL MARTINEZ | 26 | Bronx, New York |
| MAXAMILLION MERCADO,
a/k/a “Bully” |
24 | Bronx, New York |
| KAREEM SIMMONDS,
a/k/a “Kareem Simmons” a/k/a “Black” |
40 | Bronx, New York |
| ALEXANDER PENA,
a/k/a “Green Eyes” |
20 | Bronx, New York |
| ANTHONY CLASE,
a/k/a “Ant” |
30 | Bronx, New York |
| CARLOS ACOSTA,
a/k/a “Greg” |
23 | Bronx, New York |
| CHRISTOPHER RODRIGUEZ,
a/k/a “Dread” |
21 | Bronx, New York |
| GABRIEL GONZALEZ,
a/k/a “Gabi” a/k/a “Baldy” |
40 | Bronx, New York |
| JESUS MATA,
a/k/a “Junior” a/k/a “Jay” |
20 | Bronx, New York |
| NANA OWUSU,
a/k/a “Africa” |
19 | Bronx, New York |
| ROBERTO RAMIREZ | 29 | Bronx, New York |
| WILPHER RODRIGUEZ | 23 | Bronx, New York |
| YAWILIS RODRIGUEZ,
a/k/a “Will” |
22 | Bronx, New York |
| JESUS ABAD,
a/k/a “Rojo” |
26 | Bronx, New York |
| ANGEL GUANCE,
a/k/a “Chico” a/k/a “All In” |
27 | Bronx, New York |
Bob Price serves as associate editor and senior political news contributor for Breitbart Texas. He is a founding member of the Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX and Facebook.
U.S. v. Edwin Romero Et Al Indictment by Bob Price on Scribd
U.S. v. James Felton Et Al Indictment by Bob Price on Scribd