United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

FEDERAL INVESTIGATION TAKES DOWN DANBURY COCAINE AND CRACK DISTRIBUTION RING
DEA operation results in 18 defendant indictment

Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Bridgeport has returned an Indictment charging more than 18 people with engaging in narcotics trafficking in connection with an organization run by ALEX LUNA in Danbury, Connecticut. The Indictment was returned on Thursday, March 10.

According to documents filed with the Court, ALEX LUNA maintained sources of supply residing in Brooklyn, New York, including NICKY CARRASQUILLO and JOSE ADAMES, from whom he obtained large quantities of cocaine every few days. With assistance from BOBBY MEDINA, NELSON ROSA, WILLIAM AZCONA, JOEL BUENO and others, LUNA arranged to sell the cocaine in powder and crack form to a variety of drug dealers in the Danbury area.

The grand jury has charged the following individuals with conspiring to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and 50 grams of crack cocaine: ALEX LUNA, age 24, of Danbury; NICKY CARRASQUILLO, a/k/a Nicky Gomez, age 31, of Brooklyn, New York; JOSE R. ADAMES, a/k/a “Ponpa,” “Pon,” and “Pong,” age 34, of Brooklyn, New York; NELSON ROSA, a/k/a “Pee Wee,” age 21, of Naugatuck, Connecticut; BOBBY MEDINA, a/k/a “B,”age 24, of Danbury; ALEX SALCEDO, age 22, of Danbury; JUAN RODRIGUEZ, a/k/a “Juan Prosser,” age 33, of Danbury; MARIA ROBLES, a/k/a “Mari,” age 23, of Danbury; WILLIAM AZCONA, age 18, of Danbury; HENRY MAYORAL, a/k/a “Pac Man,” age 27, of Danbury; HERIBERTO GUZMAN, a/k/a “Crazy Louis,” age 24, of Danbury; JOSE PENA, a/k/a “Amaury,” age 21, of Danbury; BENNY RAMIREZ, age 23, of Danbury; DAVID MELENDEZ, a/k/a “Gary,” of Danbury; JOEL BUENO; age 22, of Danbury; WARREN HAWKINS, a/k/a “Paul,” a/k/a “Hawk,” age 33, of Danbury; JOSHUA FEBRES, age 25, of Danbury; and TIMOTHY EBERLY, age 25, of Danbury.

On March 4, 2005, search warrants were executed in Danbury, Naugatuck and Brooklyn, New York. All but one of the above-named defendants have been arrested and are currently detained. CARRASQUILLO remains at large and is being sought by law enforcement. In connection with the arrests and searches, law enforcement authorities seized nearly $20,000 in cash, substantial quantities of cocaine and other forms of narcotics, in addition to scales and packaging materials.

Law enforcement officers also seized firearms during the course of the investigation. According to court documents, on or about January 30, 2005, law enforcement officers learned that a high-powered assault rifle was located in a specifically identified area in Danbury and that the gun belonged to MAYORAL. Law enforcement officers responded and recovered the gun, a Norinco SKS 7.62, along with a banana-shaped magazine containing ammunition. MAYORAL is charged in the Indictment with possession of this firearm, having been previously convicted of felony offenses.

On February 18, 2005, MAYORAL was arrested. In connection with MAYORAL’s arrest, Deputy United States Marshals recovered a loaded .40 caliber Smith & Wesson handgun. Wiretap interceptions revealed that LUNA became aware of MAYORAL’s arrest and made arrangements to discard a nine millimeter firearm. In fact, law enforcement officers conducted surveillance and determined that, on or about February 22, 2005, LUNA handed a duffel bag to a known associate, who was followed and then seen throwing the gun into a pond in the back of a restaurant. On February 23, 2005, law enforcement officers subsequently recovered the gun, a carbine nine-millimeter rifle Highpoint, model 99-5.

The narcotics offenses carry mandatory imprisonment of five years, 10 years, 20 years, or life, depending on the quantities attributable to the defendants and their criminal history, if any. The maximum penalties associated with the narcotics conspiracy offenses are life in prison and $4 million in fines for offenses involving 50 grams or more of crack cocaine or five kilograms or more of cocaine; and 40 years in prison and $2 million in fines for offenses involving five grams or more of crack cocaine or 500 grams or more of cocaine. The maximum penalties associated with the firearms offenses are 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

U.S. Attorney O’Connor stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial at which it is the Government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

U.S. Attorney O’Connor praised the efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration, which coordinated the investigation. U.S. Attorney O’Connor also noted the collaborative efforts of federal, state and local law enforcement authorities in this investigation and made special note of the efforts and assistance of the Danbury Police Department, the Danbury States Attorney’s Office and the Connecticut State Police.

Assistant United States Attorneys Brian E. Spears and Harold Chen are prosecuting this matter.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov