20 drug trafficking suspects arrested after ICE-led, multistate investigation

ERIE, Pa. – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) led a multiagency investigation capped Wednesday by the arrests of 20 drug trafficking suspects from locations across the country.

The suspects were indicted by a federal grand jury in Erie and were arrested on charges of violating federal drug laws, retaliation against a witness or informant, and money laundering.

The 16-count indictment named the following individuals who have been arrested:

Raul Gerardo Ruiz-Maldonado, 41, Houston; Maria Remedios Urrutia, 23, Erie; Marco Antonio Melchor, 34, Erie; Dana Scott Ball, 37, Waterford, Pennsylvania; Jorge Daniel Montes-Cervantes, 25, Erie; Jenny Eileen Urrutia, 34, Elkhart, Indiana; Reyna Urrutia, 35, Elkhart; Christina Urrutia Rojas, 29, Edinboro, Pennsylvania; Sammar Aimee Melchor, 33, Erie; Ancelmo Ayala, 40, Elkhart, Indiana; Jose Merced Gomez Murillo, 54, Columbus, Ohio; Oscar Mata Garcia, 26, Forrest City, Arkansas; Safa Gobah, 21, Forrest City, Arkansas; Juan Jose Ramos, 28, Akron, Ohio; Robert Jovaun Harris, 36, Erie; Efrain Ramon Pagan Rosario, 24, Erie; and Nathanael Ortiz Andino, 28, Erie.

From June 2013 through January 2015, these defendants allegedly engaged in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 150 kilograms of cocaine, ounces of high purity methamphetamine, and ounces of heroin. In addition, multiple ounces of methamphetamine and heroin were allegedly distributed from the premises an Erie house between August and December 2013 and multiple kilograms of cocaine and quantities of methamphetamine were seized in Erie in December 2013.

According to the indictment, a member of the conspiracy allegedly threatened to harm an individual for giving information to law enforcement. In September and October 2014, members of the conspiracy distributed more than 500 grams of cocaine, and defendant Marco Melchor engaged in money laundering activity in the purchase of a BMW vehicle.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence for all counts of life in prison, a fine of $38,250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.

A second, two-count indictment, named Marco Antonio Melchor, 34, Erie, and Wilson Enrique-Reyes, 32, Lawrence, Massachusetts, as defendants.

From about July 2014 about January 2015, the defendants allegedly conspired to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. In addition, they are charged with using a communication facility in the commission of a drug trafficking crime.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of life in prison, a fine of $4.25 million or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.

A final, one-count indictment, named Dana Scott Ball, 37, William Condon, Jr., 26, Erie, Pa., and Vincent Jamal Carter, 37.

According to this indictment, about September 2013 to about 2015, the defendants conspired to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute one hundred kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of marijuana.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 40 years in prison, a fine of $5 million or both for each defendant. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Marshall J. Piccinini is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

HSI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pennsylvania State Police, U.S. Border Patrol, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation; the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General Organized Crime Section, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Detectives conducted the investigation leading to the indictments in these cases.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.