5 Defendants Arrested on Federal Charges Alleging Bicoastal Drug Trafficking Organization that Shipped Cocaine and Cash via Air

LOS ANGELES - Five defendants were arrested today on a 10-count federal superseding indictment alleging their participation in a multimillion-dollar drug trafficking organization (DTO) that used luxury private shipping companies to ship via air more than 20,000 kilograms (22.1 tons) of cocaine and more than $100 million in drug proceeds between Los Angeles and New York City.

Three defendants arrested today are expected to make their initial appearances this afternoon in United States District Court for the Southern District of New York:

• Jamel Donald Levy, 52, of Brooklyn, New York;
• Bruce Adams, 50, of Bronx, New York; and
• Cindy Rachel Imbert, 33, of Englewood, New Jersey.

Two other defendants arrested today are expected to make their initial appearances and be arraigned this afternoon in Los Angeles federal court:

• Nohely Jimenez-Ruiz, 30, of downtown Los Angeles; and
• Lorna Martinez, 42, a.k.a. "Cookie," also of downtown Los Angeles.

Among the defendants currently in federal custody are the alleged ringleaders, David Rodriguez, 45, a.k.a. "Gotti" and "Fat Boy," of Dumont, New Jersey, and Raymond O'Connell, 39, a.k.a. "Sal" and "White Boy," of the Manhattan borough of New York City. Rodriguez and O'Connell have been in federal custody since last year. Another defendant, Ronell Sweat, 47, of New York City, is serving a 15-year federal prison sentence after pleading guilty last year to a federal firearms charge.

Rodriguez and O'Connell are charged with one count of engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, four counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, and one count of money laundering. Eight other members of the DTO are charged in a superseding indictment returned on September 3.

According to the superseding indictment, Rodriguez and O'Connell over several years directed the purchase and storage of bulk quantities of cocaine in Los Angeles, for distribution on the East Coast. From an office fronting as a jewelry store in the California Jewelry Mart in downtown Los Angeles, members of the DTO shipped locked plastic cases concealing cocaine to New York City's Diamond District using high-value freight forwarding companies. These companies specialize in shipping jewelry, precious metals, and fine art.

The cocaine was then redistributed by co-conspirators along the East Coast. Rodriguez and O'Connell also directed the shipment of drug proceeds from New York to Los Angeles, where co-conspirators laundered the money and sent it to others inside the organization.

Throughout this investigation, at least 1,300 parcels were shipped between Los Angeles and New York by the defendants' DTO. More than 800 parcels concealing cocaine were shipped from Los Angeles to New York, with a declared weight of more than 22 tons, which would have an estimated wholesale value in Los Angeles of approximately $315 million. Approximately 500 parcels were shipped from New York to Los Angeles, with a total declared value of more than $105 million.

During the investigation, law enforcement seized more than $2.8 million in cash drug proceeds and more than 725 kilograms (nearly 1,600 pounds) of cocaine, as well as high-end cars and jewelry that defendants purchased using drug proceeds.

Law enforcement is looking for Daniel Vega, 52, a.k.a. "Nice," and Gregory Antonio Benitez, 40, a.k.a. "G.," both of New York City.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

If convicted, Rodriguez and O'Connell would face mandatory sentences of life in federal prison. The cocaine distribution charges carry a 10-year mandatory minimum prison sentence and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The money laundering-related counts are punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, and the United States Postal Inspection Service are investigating this matter with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the United States Marshals Service, the California Department of Justice, California Highway Patrol, and the Glendale Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly Larocque and Jenna Williams of the Transnational Organized Crime Section and Victor Rodgers of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section are prosecuting this case.