Twenty-five individuals have been indicted in connection with two drug trafficking organizations in the Eastern Panhandle, one of which has ties to the Sinaloa Drug Cartel. U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced the charges against those allegedly operating a large-scale fentanyl and cocaine operation out of an autobody shop in Martinsburg, West Virginia.
The indictment reveals that the group imported significant amounts of drugs from Puerto Rico via the U.S. Postal Service, as well as through connections to the Sinaloa Cartel. Saul Alexi Padilla-Garcia, 34, of Shepherdstown and seventeen others face charges following a detailed investigation that involved federal law enforcement agents from Chicago and Northern California.
“This case underscores the scope of the threat posed by Mexican drug cartels to the people of West Virginia,” Ihlenfeld stated. “These transnational organizations will operate anywhere that there is profit to be made, including here in our region. Fortunately, we have one of the best drug task forces in the country to push back against dangerous groups like this one.”
The list of those charged includes:
- Juan Carlos Suarez-Lugo, 55, Martinsburg;
- Victor Jose Canales, 45, hometown unknown;
- Alexis Alvarado, 37, Ranson;
- Mauricio Antonio Alvarado-Flores, 37, hometown unknown;
- Olvin Luis-Melendez Robles, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania;
- Mario Pellot-Acevedo, 58, Martinsburg;
- Eddi Heredia Cruz, 27, Shepherdstown;
- Jose Alberto Camarena Rocha, 30, California;
- Manuel Sanchez Gomez, 37, California;
- Angel Lopez, 43, Fresno, California;
- Sergio Rubio Pacheco, 33, Fresno, California;
- Moises Marrero, 39, Ranson;
- James Reyes, 54, Martinsburg;
- David Reyes, 60, hometown unknown;
- Charles Edward Branson, 53, Martinsburg;
- Danny William Mendez Delacruz, 41, Martinsburg;
- Yan Lionel Diaz-Cruz, 27, Ranson.
Fifteen arrests were made recently, with law enforcement still searching for Gomez, Melendez-Robles, and Diaz-Cruz.
Separately, another case has resulted in charges against seven individuals following the seizure of nearly 40,000 fentanyl pills and 12 firearms earlier in the year in Berkeley County. Authorities had discovered a stash house on Shepherdstown Road in Martinsburg. Those indicted in this case include:
- Delano Alan Butler, 43, Martinsburg;
- Faith Elizabeth Small, 22, Hagerstown, Maryland;
- Jwan Martine Smith, 38, Martinsburg;
- Geraldine Lagata Hill, 43, Stephens, Virginia;
- Cody Aaron Ashby, 32, Martinsburg;
- Crystal Lyn Lewis, 34, Martinsburg;
- Matthew James Elsea, 42, Martinsburg.
Six defendants were taken into custody; Smith is still at large.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is leading the prosecution in these cases. The Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force served as the lead investigative body, with support from various agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, among others.
