The charges represent federal, local and state law enforcement’s “drive to dismantle an organization that was selling drugs in our district,” Troy Rivetti, the Pittsburgh-based U.S. attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, which includes Erie, said at the news conference.<\/p>\n
He said the charges “disrupt the flow of these dangerous narcotics with which they sought to poison our community.”<\/p>\n
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Troy Rivetti, the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, speaks at a news conference at City Hall on May 18, at which he announced the indictment of 15 people on drug charges<\/p>\n
Four of the other defendants are from Jamestown, New York, one is from Youngstown, Ohio, and another is from West Babylon, on Long Island, New York, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The defendants were charged in two separate but related indictments \u2014 one names 13 defendants and the other names two.<\/p>\n
All but two of the defendants were arrested swiftly<\/p>\n
The defendants were indicted on May 12 and were arrested several days later, according to arrest records. Two of the defendants remained at large on May 18.<\/p>\n
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Fifteen defendants have been indicted in federal court in Erie on charges they trafficked in large amounts of fentanyl and cocaine in Erie.<\/p>\n
A task force with the federal Department of Homeland Security led the investigation. At the news conference, officials with the task force released information on seized drugs. They said investigators found the drugs after serving search warrants in January and March.<\/p>\n
The kilogram of fentanyl is “enough to kill 500,000 Americans,” Richard Evanchec, the FBI special agent in charge of the Pittsburgh office, which includes Erie, said at the news conference.<\/p>\n
In Common Pleas Court: Police say Erie mom went to Corry to deal drugs when fire killed kids<\/a><\/p>\n In a statement released after the news conference, Evanchec said, “To those who think they can ship dangerous drugs into the heart of our community, no matter how sophisticated the operation, the FBI and our partners will pursue you across time zones and international borders to protect the American people.”<\/p>\n A list of the defendants<\/p>\n The names and addresses of the defendants are based on arrest records and the indictments. The addresses are for the residences where the defendants were arrested.<\/p>\n Residences in Erie:<\/p>\n Yanelite Amaro-Colon, 39, 400 block of East 11th Street<\/p>\n Alberto D. Arroyo-Amaro, 27, 300 block of East Ninth Street<\/p>\n Brayan O. Arroyo-Amaro, 29, 300 block of East Ninth Street<\/p>\n Juan G. Cartagena Sr., 31. 1000 block of West 27th Street<\/p>\n Lourdes Marie Cartagena, 30, 1000 block of West 27th Street<\/p>\n Luis A. DeJesus Jr., 46, 700 block of East 25th Street<\/p>\n Luis R. Feliciano Martinez, 54, 800 block of East 25th Street<\/p>\n Landy G. Pacheco Mendez, 34, 800 block of East 26th Street<\/p>\n Residences in Jamestown, New York<\/p>\n Abner Cintron-Melendez, 40<\/p>\n Residence in Youngstown, Ohio<\/p>\n Residence in West Babylon, New York<\/p>\n Cacares-Perez and Tirado were the only defendants not arrested as of the morning of May 18. Arraignments and detention hearings were to occur starting on May 18, according to court records.<\/p>\n Pennsylvania State Police case: State police charge Erie, Illinois men with drug distribution in probe<\/a><\/p>\n Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Sellers is prosecuting the cases. Assisting him are Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Anglin and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Trabold, the head of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Erie.<\/p>\n Cash seized at different residences<\/p>\n The lead defendant in the larger indictment is Cintron-Melendez. He and the other 12 defendants in that case are all charged with the felony of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances \u2014 cocaine, fentanyl or both.<\/p>\n The lead defendant in the other indictment is DeJesus. He and Tirado, his co-defendant, are charged with the felony of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine.<\/p>\n Both cases included the seizure of cash, according to the indiotments. The authorities said at the news conference that investigators also seized four firearms.<\/p>\n The largest amount of cash was seized in the larger case \u2014 a total of $102,235, according the indictment. It states in investigators seized $26,346 from a residence in Jamestown, New York, and $12,144 from another Jamestown residence, both on Jan. 7.<\/p>\n Investigators seized $63,745 from a residence in the 300 block of East Ninth Street in Erie on March 13, according to the indictment. That is the same address of the residence where Alberto Arroyo-Amaro was arrested, according to arrest records. He is ranked the fourth-highest defendant in the larger indictment.<\/p>\n Authorities seized $6,206 in the investigation that led to the smaller indictment, according to court records.<\/p>\n Contact Ed Palattella at\u00a0epalattella@usatodayco.com<\/a>\u00a0or 814-870-1813.<\/p>\n