Tampa, Florida - United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the unsealing of an indictment charging nine members of a drug trafficking organization based out of Tampa (please see chart for details). The indictment also notifies the defendants that the United States intends to forfeit a firearm used in the offenses, and any monies traceable to the offenses.
According to the indictment, from November 2019 through Sept. 10, 2020, the defendants conspired to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine and 400 grams or more of fentanyl. The indictment also charges several defendants with the distribution of fentanyl, possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute it, possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute it, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Tampa Police Department, the Florida Highway Patrol, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charlie D. Connally.
This investigation is also the result of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.
Defendant
(Age, Residence)
Charges
Maximum Penalties
Diego Perez Ortiz
(46, Tampa)
1) Conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 5 or more kilograms of cocaine and 400 or more grams of fentanyl
2) Distribution of fentanyl ( 4 counts)
3) Possession of 500 grams or more of cocaine with the intent to distribute
4) Possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute
1) Minimum mandatory of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison
2) Maximum term of 20 years in federal prison, per count
3) Minimum mandatory term of 5 years, and up to 40 years, in federal prison
4) Maximum term of 20 years in federal prison
Ramon Alers Ramos
(45, Tampa)
Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 5 or more kilograms of cocaine and 400 or more grams of fentanyl
Minimum mandatory term of 10 years, and up to life in federal prison
Carlos Acosta Martinez
(46, Tampa)
Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 5 or more kilograms of cocaine and 400 or more grams of fentanyl
Minimum mandatory term of 10 years, and up to life in federal prison
Andres Garcia Quinones
(48, Caguas, Puerto Rico)
Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 5 or more kilograms of cocaine
Minimum mandatory term of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison
Izamhomy Valverdi Caraballo
(34, Tampa)
Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 5 or more kilograms of cocaine
Minimum mandatory term of imprisonment of 10 years, and up to life, in federal priosn
Edwin Rivera Fonseca
(26, Tampa)
1) Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 5 or more kilograms of cocaine
2) Possession of 500 grams or more of cocaine with the intent to distribute
3) Possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute
1) Minimum mandatory term of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison
2) Minimum mandatory term of imprisonment of 5 years, and up to 40 years, in federal prison
3) Maximum term of 20 years in federal prison
Antonio Rivera
(29, Tampa)
1) Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine
2) Possession of 500 grams or more of cocaine with the intent to distribute
3) Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
1) Minimum mandatory term of 5 years, and up to 40 years, in federal prison
2) Minimum mandatory term of 5 years, and up to 40 years, in federal prison
3) Minimum mandatory term of imprisonment of 5 years to run consecutive to any other term of imprisonment imposed up to life imprisonment
Kris Ralf Salvi
(27, Tampa)
Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl
Maximum term of 20 years in federal prison
Elleric Edwardo Alverio (41, Tampa)
1) Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl
2) Possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute
1) Maximum term of 20 years in federal prison
2) Maximum term of 20 years in federal prison
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
