A federal indictment was unsealed Friday, charging 12 people, including members of transnational criminal gangs MS-13, Sur-13, and the Mexican Mafia, with drug-related charges 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 citizen, Francisco Rangel, known as “Casper,” 41, from California, Gabriela Rodriguez-Carrillo, 42, from California Luis Portillo, popularly known as “Shadow” or “Sombra,” 35, from Miami, Jose Puga, known as “Stranger,” 45, from California, Malinda Martinez, 42, from Fort Myers Karina Martinez-Vazquez, 34, from Miami Rafael Gutierrez, better known as “Rafy,” 28, from Miami, Jose Hernandez, sometimes known as “Blue Demon” or “Labomba3,” 39, of Belle Glade Loupe Loredo, known as “L3g3nd,” 39, from Lake Wales, Felipe Gonzalez, popularly known as “Wicked,” 41, of California, and Hugo Cruz, or “Houdini,” 33, of LaBelle, Florida.
According to the indictment, the defendants conspired to possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine in Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Garcia-Velasquez, Rodriguez-Carrillo, Puga, Gonzalez, and Martinez-Vazquez are also charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl in the same locations.
Several defendants, including Garcia-Velasquez, Martinez, Portillo, Gutierrez, Puga, Loredo, and Martinez-Vazquez, are facing further counts of methamphetamine possession with intent to distribute in South Florida.
The defendants’ arrests began on September 12, with their initial court appearances in the Southern District of Florida. If convicted, all could face life in jail.
The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. Federal agencies involved included 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).
The investigation was led by several agencies, including HSI Fort Lauderdale, FBI Miami, ATF Fort Lauderdale, and DEA Miami, with assistance from the HSI and FBI offices in Los Angeles and Fort Myers. Bertila Fernandez, Assistant U.S. Attorney, is leading the prosecution.
This case is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) project, which seeks to destroy high-level drug traffickers and transnational criminal organizations using a collaborative, intelligence-driven approach.
