April 19, 2007

Operation Conquistadors yields 29 arrests for drug trafficking and credit card fraud in South Florida
ICE-led investigation nets more than $7 million in contraband seized and six arrests in Colombia

MIAMI - Twenty-nine people were arrested here and Colombia this morning by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents and other federal and local law enforcement officers for the alleged participation in a large-scale drug importation and distribution organization and fraudulent credit card scheme.

According to the indictment Julio Ramirez, Virginio Rudy Suarez, Niexi Garcia-Lamela, Miguel Suarez, Carlos Perez, Leandro Alvarez-Castillo, Mariza Lamela, Roberto Maceo, Lazaro Galvez, Heriberto Santallana, Ana Maines, Lazaro Fundora, Osmany Sanchez-Lamela, Franklin Acosta, Alexis Maceo, Rodolfo Quesada, Pedro Mendez, Orlando Jose Escobar, Marietta Montesino-Suarez, Victor Orlando Paredes-Burbano, Raul Humberto Barahona, Gabriel Bernardo Correa-Dominguez, Alberto Santos-Maceo, Jesus Alain Martin, Jose Jaime Calderon-Gomez, William Gustavo Aguirre-Rengifo, and Jose Manuel Alvarez-Casas, participated in a conspiracyto import and distribute cocaine and heroin cocaine in South Florida area between 2002 and the present date.

The indictment further alleged that the defendants used international cargo flights and sea vessel containers traveling from Colombia, Venezuela and Peru to the Miami International Airport (MIA) and the Port of Miami in violation of Title 21, United States Code, sections 952(a) and 963. The indictment also charged Ramirez, Suarez, Garcia-Lamela, Miguel Suarez, Perez, Alvarez-Castillo, Mariza Lamela, Maceo, Galvez, Santallana, Maines, Fundora, Sanchez-Lamela, Alexis Maceo, Quesada, Mendez, Escobar, Montesino-Suarez, Santos-Maceo, and Martin with possession and conspiracy to posses with the intent to distribute cocaine and heroin, in violation of Title 21, USC, sections 841(a)(1) and 846.

To date, more than 500 pounds of cocaine and 80 pounds of heroin have been seized in connection with this conspiracy.

A second indictment charged seven people with conspiring to commit credit card fraud in violation of Title 18, USC Sections 1028 and 1029.Charged with credit card fraud are defendants Virginio Rudy Suarez, Miguel Suarez, Alberto Chang-Cabrera, Marietta Montesino-Suarez, Julio Ramirez, Lazaro Fundora, and Celis Alvarez.

ICE special agents discovered the credit card fraud scheme during the underlying narcotics trafficking investigation.According to the charges, the conspirators stole legitimate credit card numbers and encoded the stolen credit card numbers onto blank cards. Members of the group then allegedly attempted and/or made purchases at various retail stores in the South Florida area, including Wal-Mart, Winn Dixie, and area gas stations.

"This prosecution highlights the success of interagency cooperation in helping to secure our airports and in stopping the flow of illegal narcotics," said U.S. Attorney Acosta. "In addition, this investigation reminds us that credit card and identity theft crimes have become an integral part of other organized criminal activities in South Florida. We will continue to lead the fight against credit card fraud and identity theft."

"This investigation and resulting prosecution confirms the commitment of federal and local law enforcement agencies to fight crime, sending a clear message that we will continue to investigate and prosecute those involved in criminal activity in our jurisdiction," said Anthony V. Mangione, acting special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Miami. "Thanks to the diligent efforts of all the agencies involved in this operation, ICE prevented a large amount of dangerous drugs from reaching the United States."

Defendants Niexi Garcia-Lamela, Victor Orlando Paredes-Burbano, Raul Humberto Barahona, Gabriel Bernardo Correa-Dominguez, Jose Jaime Calderon Gomez and Jose Manuel Alvarez Casas were arrested in Colombia.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

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