The United States Attorney's Office (USAO) issued an update on a press release of September 29, 2010 entitled: Twenty Individuals Indicted for Participation in Drug Trafficking Conspiracy Using the U.S. Mail and Other Postal Violations.
Seven of the twenty indicted were mail carriers for the USPS. There were four separate indictments. Those included in the first indictment are charged with 34 counts including conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin, cocaine and marijuana, and using firearms during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
One USPS letter carrier, Olly Nieves Burgos, is described in the press release as the leader of the conspiracy. Here is a quote taken from the news release:
"From in or about 2003, Nieves Burgos, Ramiro Escobar Llanch, Edwin Rivera Medero and Jos Rivera Franco abused their positions as mail carriers for the U.S. Postal Service to facilitate drug shipments between Puerto Rico, Texas, California and Arizona. They were all assigned as mail carriers at the 65th Infantry U.S. Post Office in San Juan.”
“The indictment alleges that, as part of the manner and means of the conspiracy, defendants would inform clients of successful methods to send narcotics through the U.S. Postal Service and avoid detection from law enforcement. Defendants would meet with their co-conspirators at pre-determined locations during work hours to receive their parcels while wearing their U.S. Postal uniforms, in order to make these transactions appear less suspicious."
Those charged in the second indictment were Edgardo Lpez Arroyo and Sergio Cruz Vega. Both were charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Cruz Vega was a USPS mail carrier who accepted payment for the shipments of narcotics which were arranged by Lopez Arroyo.
In the third indictment, Jose Rivera Franco is charged with theft of mail matter by officer or employee, and unlawful possession of a controlled substance. Franco is one of the leaders and advisors in the largest conspiracy and is listed also in the first indictment above.
The fourth indictment has twenty seven counts charged against Olly Nieves Burgos and Ramiro Escobar Llanch, the two leaders mentioned above in the first indictment of the largest conspiracy. Also charged in this fourth indictment are Jeffrey Villalobos, Pedro Rivera and Eliseo Castro. All five are charged with conspiracy to Eliseo Castro assume and pretend to be a mail carrier and to deliver the mail for the other four, while they drew pay without performing their work.
United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodrguez Vlez stated: "Today'sindictments exemplify the department's commitment to aggressively prosecute any corrupt officer who violates the law. The conduct of these defendants demonstrates a reprehensible abuse of their power and a violation of their position of trust as U.S. Postal mail carriers."
If those indicted are proven guilty, they face the following penalties as described in the press release:
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Torriente. If convicted, the fifteen defendants charged in the largest conspiracy could face up to life in prison. Defendants Edgardo Lpez Arroyo and Sergio Cruz Vega face up to forty (40) years in prison. Defendants Jeffrey Villalobos, Pedro Rivera and Eliseo Castro, charged with violations to the Postal Services statute, face up to three years in prison.
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