FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO): A major cocaine, meth and heroin ring that circulated drugs in three different states — including the majority of northern Indiana — was busted when police arrested 17 people earlier this month. Investigators are still searching for another man.
“We are not finished. This law enforcement team is united and we will continue our efforts, and we are coming after you, and you are next.”
That’s U.S. Attorney David A. Capp’s message to other criminals in the Fort Wayne area.
Capp announced the 17 arrests during a news conference Wednesday. Police are still searching for 28-year-old Javier Orozco of Fort Wayne, a suspected supplier-level heroin dealer in the drug ring.
The investigation began in January 2015 when officers began to make controlled purchases. During the last year and a half, police served 20 federal search warrants and found $600,000 in cash, 11 kilograms of cocaine, 13 vehicles, 13 firearms, marijuana, more than 100 grams of heroin and more than 50 grams of meth.
Eighteen of the search warrants were executed in Fort Wayne, while only one home in South Bend and a home in Elkhart were searched.
RELATED: 2 Fort Wayne men accused of being involved in drug distribution ring
Capp said the 17 people arrested weren’t just street level dealers — the drug ring trafficked at least $30,000 to $45,000 worth of drugs at a time.
Those arrested and charged with trafficking heroin, meth and cocaine are:
- Jose C. Razo, 43, also charged with maintaining a drug house in Fort Wayne and being part of eight specific alleged distributions
- Carlos Silva-Ponce, 39, also charged with maintaining a drug house in Fort Wayne and being part of two specific alleged distributions
- Patricia S. Quinones, 48, of Fort Wayne
- Samuel J. Gemple, 48, of Fort Wayne
- Marco A. Garcia, 29, of Fort Wayne
- Allan C. Chiprez-Garcia, 20, of Fort Wayne
The following people were also arrested:
- Baltazar Fernandez, 44, of Fort Wayne; conspiracy to distribute cocaine
- Juan M. Gonzalez, 33, of Fort Wayne; conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine
- Frederick Moore, 42, of Fort Wayne; conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine and with maintaining a Fort Wayne drug house
- Edy A. Montoya-Echeverria, 34, of Fort Wayne; conspiracy to distribute heroin
- Larmondo Watts, 44, of Fort Wayne; possession with the intent to distribute cocaine.
Federal criminal complaints were issued against the following people:
- Jesus Montes-Perez, 47, of Fort Wayne; distribution of methamphetamine
- Rene A. Del-Rio Salazar, 30, of South Bend; distribution of cocaine
- Fernando G. Garcia, 30, of Fort Wayne; distribution of heroin
- Carlos Prado, 36, of Fort Wayne; distribution of methamphetamine
- Jonathan A. Galindo, 25, of Fort Wayne; conspiracy to distribute cocaine along with using a telephone to facilitate distribution
- Enrique Cordova, 41, of Elkhart; conspiracy to distribute cocaine
The 17 people arrested were in court Wednesday. Anyone with information about Javier Orozco’s whereabouts is asked to contact the FBI.
