LOS ANGELES
– Authorities this morning arrested five defendants charged in a federal grand
jury indictment alleging they took part in a drug trafficking ring that
imported pound quantities of cocaine and heroin from Mexico, then used modified
BMW “trap cars” to distribute those drugs throughout the United States.
The
four-count indictment charges a total of seven defendants with conspiracy to
distribute controlled substances, and alleges a series of acts between December
2017 and July 2018.
In today’s
takedown, law enforcement seized approximately 22 kilograms (48.5 pounds) of
cocaine, 22 firearms, two luxury vehicles purchased with drug proceeds, 3 Rolex
watches and equipment for making butane honey oil, which contains a much higher
percentage of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) than found in traditional marijuana
products.
The five
defendants arrested today are expected to make their initial court appearance
this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
Joel Antonio
Villegas, a.k.a. “Junior,” 31, of Downey, and William Ariel Moreno, 29, also of
Downey, are accused of being the operation’s ringleaders who obtained kilogram
quantities of heroin and cocaine from Mexico for U.S. customers. Villegas and
Moreno were found in possession of cocaine and guns in their homes at the time
of their arrests this morning. Villegas is an alleged drug distributer who
obtains drugs from a Mexican supplier and distributes the narcotics from the
Los Angeles area to customers throughout the United States, using both trap
cars and commercial shipping companies.
According to
the indictment, Villegas directed co-conspirators to buy two 2005 BMW X5
automobiles so they could be outfitted with secret compartments to carry
narcotics. Villegas allegedly also arranged for the shipment of two crates
containing 55 pounds of marijuana and honey oil to Orlando, Florida. He also
advised other members of the conspiracy that commercially shipping, rather than
mailing, marijuana and honey oil “better ensured that law enforcement would not
intercept the packages and seize the drugs,” the indictment alleges.
The two BMWs
belonging to the Villegas organization were stopped on the same day in April
2018 at the U.S.-Mexico border, where officers found hidden compartments inside
their engine manifolds, containing multiple kilograms of cocaine and heroin,
intended for distribution throughout the United States. Last year, law
enforcement seized at least $71,000 in cash, along with pound quantities of
cocaine and heroin in connection with this organization.
In addition
to the conspiracy charge, Villegas and another co-conspirator also are charged
with possessing with intent to distribute 13.3 pounds of cocaine. Two other
co-defendants have been charged with possessing with intent to distribute 11
pounds of cocaine.
If convicted
on all counts, the defendants would face a statutory maximum sentence of life
in federal prison and mandatory minimum sentences of at least 10 years in
federal prison.
An
indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every
defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a
reasonable doubt.
This matter
is being investigated by the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration,
IRS-Criminal Investigation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the California
Highway Patrol, the Pasadena Police Department, the South Gate Police
Department, and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office with the support of the
Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF).
This case is
being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys A. Carley Palmer of the
International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section and
Jonathan S. Galatzan of the Asset Forfeiture Section.
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