On April 9, 2025, a federal grand jury in Puerto Rico indicted 25 gang members from Mayagüez on charges related to drug trafficking and firearms violations. United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, W. Stephen Muldrow, made the announcement and emphasized the ongoing efforts to curb violent crime and enhance community safety. The investigation was led by the FBI and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau's Mayagüez Strike Force, with assistance from various federal agencies.
U.S. Attorney Muldrow stated, “The prosecution of this drug trafficking gang demonstrates our determined efforts to protect our communities from the violent crime and gun violence they bring to our streets." Devin J. Kowalski, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office, echoed this sentiment: "Today, we sent a clear message: violence, drugs, and organized crime will find no safe haven in Puerto Rico."
The indictment details activities dating back to April 2021, alleging the gang's involvement in distributing various drugs near public housing projects in Mayagüez. The organization reportedly used violence to maintain control and expand its operations. The gang's internal meetings often involved discussions on criminal strategies, including violence.
The defendants, who held various roles within the organization, used force to intimidate rivals and control their own members. They are accused of roles ranging from leadership to enforcement and facilitating drug processing and sales.
The defendants named in the indictment include Jonathan Martínez González, Isaías Jaseph Molina Valle, Juan A. Ortiz Mendoza, among others. The indictment also includes charges related to firearms, with some defendants alleged to have possessed machineguns in connection to drug trafficking.
Federal prosecutions are being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alberto López-Rocafort, Teresa Zapata-Valladares, Laura Díaz González, and Héctor Siaca Flores. If convicted, the defendants face sentences ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment. The charges also include a narcotics forfeiture allegation of over $19 million.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative against transnational crime. The operation coordinates efforts to dismantle criminal organizations and protect communities.
In law, an indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven otherwise.
