AMBRIDGE – A black tar heroin ring was shut down Monday when 23 out of 27 suspected drug dealers — including ten illegal immigrants — were arrested on charges of trafficking a rare type of heroin in and around Allegheny and Beaver Counties.
Attorney General Tom Corbett announced the arrests at a press conference at the Ambridge Police Department.
Corbett said the arrests are the culmination of an investigation, known as “Operation Black Tar,” into the activities of alleged ringleader and Mexican national, Julio Ramierez-Garcia aka Manual “Manny” Munoz Lopez.
“Black tar heroin is a form of heroin found mainly in California and other southwestern states,” Corbett said. “Although the potency is no different than the form usually found in Pennsylvania, it is extremely rare to find in this region of the United States.”
Black tar heroin is rarely seen in Pennsylvania because it is primarily produced in Mexico. The black tar is dark colored, sticky, and usually an oddly shaped ball wrapped in a piece of plastic and, in this case, packed in a colored balloons.
The form of heroin typically found in Pennsylvania is a high-purity level, white or brown powder substance, which is packaged in bags stamped with a “brand” or the name of that particular type of heroin. This particular form can be easily injected, smoked, or snorted. Because of black tar heroin’s consistency and lower purity level, it is usually injected, but, if the purity level is high enough, it can be smoked.
According to the grand jury, around January or February 2006, Julio Ramierez-Garcia arrived in southwestern Pennsylvania and allegedly began to distribute “black tar heroin.”
Corbett said that during the next 13 to 14 months, Ramierez-Garcia worked closely with a number of other Mexican nationals, including Pedro Peralta-Romero, to build an organization that would distribute the black tar in Allegheny and Beaver Counties. The two men would use other illegal Mexican nationals as “couriers” and other non-Mexican residents of Southwestern Pennsylvania as “resellers” to distribute the black tar.
Ramierez-Garcia served as the leader of the organization, while Peralta-Romero directed the day-to-day operations.
Corbett said the couriers would then distribute the black tar to the street-level dealers for resale. In addition, women would be used to provide services such as household errands, wiring of money, and purchasing of pagers and cell phones essential to the operation of the drug ring.
The grand jury stated that Ramierez-Garcia would deliver a large quantity of black tar heroin to the Thorn Run Apartments, Beaver Falls, where it would be unpacked, broken down and repackaged in balloons for resale.
Corbett said a phone call would be placed by a street level dealer to a pager number. Once a connection was made with the pager, he or she would enter a two-digit code assigned by Ramierez-Garcia, and a telephone number and wait for a return call.
According to the grand jury, the street level dealer would receive a phone call from a blocked number and a Hispanic male would advise them of when and where to obtain the “black tar.” Ramierez-Garcia, Peralta-Romero, and/or one or more of their appointed couriers would make the delivery and pick up any money owed for previously “fronted” drugs.
Corbett said Lucas Perez-Lopez, Isaias Perez-Delgado, Hector Gonzalez-Medina, Irvin Joan De-Dios-Ramierez, and Josue Celedon-Partida all served as couriers. Hector Bravo-Orquiz and Gregorio Celedon-Partida, Josue’s brother, were recruited and recently arrived in the region to work as couriers.
The street-level dealer would then sell the heroin to pay off any debt owed to Ramierez-Garcia or Peralta-Romero. Individuals who served as street level dealers include: Chris Aeschbacher, Martin Bobro, Chris Burckure, Jessica Cox, Clayton Fulmer, Brenna Heuring, Charles Hummel, James Lauria, Vincent Moakley, Thomas Morgan, Gary Palacious, James Roush, James Tassos, Dennis Trimmer, Ashley Trogvac, and Dana Woods.
Jocelyn Bradford, Ramierez-Garcia’s girlfriend, and Veronica Hernandez Garcia, Peralta-Romero’s wife, served the organization by running errands, wiring money, and obtaining pagers and mobile phones to be used for arranging drug purchases.
Corbett revealed that the investigation infiltrated the Ramierez-Garcia black tar heroin trafficking organization by using confidential informants who would make controlled purchases and payments from individuals in the organization.
Corbett said one of the CIs first purchased black tar heroin from Ramierez-Garcia in January or February 2006 and testified that for each purchase arranged, he or she always spoke with a Hispanic male, often being Ramierez-Garcia. The first time the CI met Ramierez-Garcia, Ramierez-Garcia was accompanied by his girlfriend.
The grand jury found that another CI first used black tar heroin in August or September and on several occasions, he or she obtained the drug from “Jimmy” Lauria. The CI testified that it was Lauria who eventually introduced them to Ramierez-Garcia so that they could purchase the black tar for themselves.
Corbett said before Ramierez-Garcia or Peralta-Romero would supply any of the CI’s with heroin, they first had to show them their “track marks,” or the visible markings at the drug injection site.
Corbett said Ramierez-Garcia used two apartments in Allegheny and Beaver Counties to conduct his drug distribution business. Using the name Manuel Munoz-Lopez, he rented apartment 34 in the Thorn Run Apartment complex and used the Munoz-Lopez name for utilities.
According to the grand jury, agents observed Ramierez-Garcia, Peralta-Romero, other Hispanic males, and Veronica Hernandez-Garcia leaving and returning to the building at times consistent with controlled purchases and payments by CIs.
On one occasion, agents observed Hernandez-Garcia placing trash bags into a receptacle outside the apartment building. Law enforcement officers examined the trash and recovered paraphernalia consistent with the trafficking of black tar, along with Western Union receipts dating March 1 for money transfers from Hernandez-Garcia in Coraopolis to Bravo-Orquiz and Celedon-Partida in Phoenix, Ariz.
Corbett said a warrant was issued on March 23 for apartment 34. At the time of execution, Peralta-Romero, Hernandez-Garcia, Bravo-Orquiz, and Celedon-Partida were all gathered in the apartment.
Officials recovered approximately seven and one-half ounces of black tar heroin, $18,000 (including money used in controlled purchases), and drug trafficking paraphernalia.
Corbett said in addition to the apartment in Moon Township, Ramierez-Garcia also paid rent for and stayed at an apartment listed under Bradford’s name in Beaver Falls. After the two individuals vacated the residence, the property was searched and trafficking paraphernalia and information on the arrest of one of Ramierez-Garcia’s couriers, Perez-Lopez, was recovered.
The grand jury found that Bradford stole Jordan Fout’s identity and on two separate occasions used Fout’s identity at Freedom Wireless to purchase pagers that were used to arrange black tar heroin pickups. Bradford is also a registered subscriber of at least one of the mobile phones used by the drug organization.
Corbett said Perez-Lopez was arrested and detained on Sept. 13 by Immigration and Customs Enforcement for illegally entering the United States. In Dec. 2006, Perez-Delgado was also detained by ICE and deported shortly thereafter.
In addition, De-Dios-Ramierez and Gonzalez-Medina were detained by ICE on Jan. 25, 2007 for illegally entering the United States; and, on Feb. 22, Celedon-Partida was also detained by ICE for illegally entering the United States.
“Since the arrests of the Mexican nationals in March, there have been no reports of black tar heroin in Allegheny or Beaver County,” Corbett said.
Corbett said the defendants will be preliminarily arraigned before Magisterial District Judge James F. DiBenedetto. The case will be prosecuted in Beaver County by Deputy Attorney General Maureen Sheehan-Balchon.
Corbett thanked the agents and officers from the Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation (BNI); Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement; Beaver County District Attorney Berosh’s office, and Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala’s office; and the Allegheny, Aliquippa, Ambridge, Beaver Falls, Hopewell, McKees Rocks, Monaca, Moon Twp., New Brighton, Ohio Twp., Rochester Twp., Sewickley, and Whitaker Police Departments.
Below is a list of the defendants and the charges against them:
— Julio “Manny” Ramierez-Garcia, 25, incarcerated in the Beaver County Jail, is charged with one count each corrupt organizations, conspiracy to participate in a corrupt organization, conspiracy of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, dealing in unlawful proceeds, attempted dealing in unlawful proceeds; 23 counts possession with the intent to deliver heroin and 22 counts delivery of heroin.
— Pedro “Miguel” or “Alonzo” Alberto Peralta-Romero, 25, incarcerated in the Beaver County Jail, is charged with one count each corrupt organizations, conspiracy to participate in a corrupt organization, conspiracy of possession with the intent to deliver heroin, attempted dealing in unlawful proceeds; and two counts dealing in unlawful proceeds, 19 counts possession with intent to deliver heroin, and 18 counts delivery of heroin.
— Lucas Perez-Lopez, 27, incarcerated in the Beaver County Jail, is charged with one count each corrupt organizations, conspiracy to participate in a corrupt organization, conspiracy of possession with the intent to deliver heroin; and two counts each possession with intent to deliver heroin and delivery of heroin.
— Isaias Perez-Delgado, 24, deported to Mexico, is charged with one count each corrupt organizations, conspiracy to participate in a corrupt organization, conspiracy of possession with intent to deliver heroin; and two counts each possession with intent to deliver heroin and deliver of heroin.
— Irvin Joan De-Dios-Ramierez, 20, incarcerated in the Beaver County Jail, is charged with one count each corrupt organizations, conspiracy to participate in a corrupt organization, conspiracy of possession with intent to deliver heroin; and two counts each possession with intent to deliver heroin and deliver of heroin.
— Josue Celedon-Partida, 28, incarcerated in the Beaver County Jail, is charged with one count each corrupt organizations, conspiracy to participate in a corrupt organization, conspiracy of possession with intent to deliver heroin; and two counts each possession with intent to deliver heroin and deliver of heroin.
— Hector Gonzalez-Medina, 21, incarcerated in the Beaver County Jail, is charged with one count each corrupt organizations, conspiracy to participate in a corrupt organization, conspiracy of possession with intent to deliver heroin, possession with intent to deliver heroin, and delivery of heroin.
— Hector Eduardo Bravo-Orquiz, 19, incarcerated in the Beaver County Jail, is charged with one count conspiracy of possession with intent to deliver heroin.
— Gregorio Celedon-Partida, 23, incarcerated in the Beaver County Jail, is charged with one count conspiracy of possession with intent to deliver heroin.
— Veronica Trinidad Hernandez-Garcia, 25, incarcerated in the Beaver County Jail, is charged with one count conspiracy of possession with intent to deliver heroin.
— Jocelyn Bradford, 25, last known address of Beaver Falls, is charged with one count conspiracy of possession with intent to deliver heroin, and two counts each forgery and identity theft.
— Christopher Burckure, 22, Rochester, is charged with one count each corrupt organizations, conspiracy to participate in a corrupt organization, conspiracy of possession with intent to deliver heroin, possession with intent to deliver heroin, and delivery of heroin.
— Brenna Heruing, 23, Rochester, is charged with one count each corrupt organizations, conspiracy to participate in a corrupt organization, conspiracy of possession with intent to deliver heroin; and two counts each possession with intent to deliver heroin and deliver of heroin.
— Charles Hummel, 29, last known address New Brighton, is charged with one count each corrupt organizations, conspiracy to participate in a corrupt organization, conspiracy of possession with intent to deliver heroin, possession with intent to deliver heroin, and delivery of heroin.
— Dana Woods, 25, Bellevue, is charged with one count each corrupt organizations, conspiracy to participate in a corrupt organization, and conspiracy of possession with intent to deliver heroin.
— Christopher Aeschbacher, 23, Rochester, is charged with one count conspiracy of possession with intent to deliver heroin, and two counts each possession with intent to deliver heroin and delivery of heroin.
— Martin Mark Bobro is charged with one count each conspiracy of possession with intent to deliver heroin, possession with intent to deliver heroin, and delivery of heroin.
— Jessica Gale Cox, 23, Coraopolis, is charged with one count each conspiracy of possession with intent to deliver heroin, possession with intent to deliver heroin, and delivery of heroin.
–Clayton Fulmer, 22, Rochester, is charged with one count conspiracy of possession with intent to deliver heroin, and three counts each possession with intent to deliver heroin and delivery of heroin.
— James “Jimmy” Lauria, 29, McKees Rocks, is charged with one count each conspiracy of possession with intent to deliver heroin, possession with intent to deliver heroin, and delivery of heroin.
— Vincent Moakley, 24, Rochester, is charged with one count each conspiracy of possession with intent to deliver heroin, possession with intent to deliver heroin, and delivery of heroin.
— Thomas J. Morgan is charged with one count each conspiracy of possession with intent to deliver heroin, possession with intent to deliver heroin, and delivery of heroin.
— Gary Palacios, 33, Pittsburgh, is charged with one count each conspiracy of possession with intent to deliver heroin, possession with intent to deliver heroin, and delivery of heroin. Palacios is currently a fugitive.
— Derrick Roush, 26, New Brighton, is charged with one count each conspiracy of possession with intent to deliver heroin, possession with intent to deliver heroin, and delivery of heroin.
— James Tassos, 32, Pittsburgh, is charged with one count each conspiracy of possession with intent to deliver heroin, possession with intent to deliver heroin, and delivery of heroin.
— Dennis R. Trimmer, 26, Coraopolis, is charged with one count each conspiracy of possession with intent to deliver heroin, possession with intent to deliver heroin, delivery of heroin, and corrupting the morals of a minor.
— Ashley Trogvac, 21, Rochester, is charged with one count each conspiracy of possession with intent to deliver heroin, possession with intent to deliver heroin, and delivery of heroin.