A federal indictment was unsealed Friday, charging 12 individuals, including members of international criminal gangs MS-13, Sur-13, and the Mexican Mafia, with drug-related offenses in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties in the Southern District of Florida.
The twelve-count indictment names Edgar Garcia-Velasquez, also known as “Diablo,” 34, a Honduran national, Francisco Rangel, known as “Casper,” 41, of California, Gabriela Rodriguez-Carrillo, 42, of California, Luis Portillo, also known as “Shadow” or “Sombra,” 35, of Miami, Jose Puga, known as “Stranger,” 45, of California, Malinda Martinez, 42, of Fort Myers, Karina Martinez-Vazquez, 34, of Miami, Rafael Gutierrez, also known as “Rafy,” 28, of Miami, Jose Hernandez, known as “Blue Demon” or “Labomba3,” 39, of Belle Glade, Loupe Loredo, known as “L3g3nd,” 39, of Lake Wales, Felipe Gonzalez, also known as “Wicked,” 41, of California, and Hugo Cruz, known as “Houdini,” 33, of LaBelle, Florida.
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The indictment alleges the defendants conspired to possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties. Additionally, Garcia-Velasquez, Rodriguez-Carrillo, Puga, Gonzalez, and Martinez-Vazquez are charged with conspiring to distribute fentanyl in the same areas.
Several defendants, including Garcia-Velasquez, Martinez, Portillo, Gutierrez, Puga, Loredo, and Martinez-Vazquez, face further charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in South Florida.
Arrests of the defendants began on September 12, with the suspects making their initial court appearances in the Southern District of Florida. If convicted, all face potential life imprisonment.
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U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida announced the indictment, which involved federal agencies such as Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO).
Multiple agencies led the investigation, including HSI Fort Lauderdale, FBI Miami, ATF Fort Lauderdale, and DEA Miami, with support from HSI and FBI offices in Los Angeles and Fort Myers. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bertila Fernandez is leading the prosecution.
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This case is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) initiative, which aims to dismantle high-level drug traffickers and transnational criminal organizations through a collaborative, intelligence-driven approach.
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