2 Hudson Valley Men Among 21 Indicted In Metro Drug Ring Bust

Two Hudson Valley residents were among 21 people indicted Dec. 20 following a joint probe into a big metro area drug trafficking ring by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security, the New York City Police Department and the Bronx District Attorney's Office. Of those indicted, 11 were arrested in a sweep that day.

According to the 12-month wiretap investigation, Bronx residents Mario Martinez and Joan Velez worked together to obtain and distribute narcotics. The defendants resold the narcotics throughout the Bronx and New York State, New Jersey and Connecticut.

Martinez, 46, and Velez, 36, have been indicted for operating as major traffickers, moving major narcotics throughout the New York metropolitan area. Each faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison if convicted of that charge.

The others, including Johnnie Wright of Ulster County and Victor Lora of Westchester, were charged with a variety of criminal offenses including: first, second and third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance; first, second and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance; second and fourth-degree conspiracy; and other related charges.

“These individuals are alleged to have trafficked large quantities of highly addictive drugs through our local communities and into our surrounding states,” said Angel M. Melendez, special agent in charge of HSI New York. “Our neighborhoods have been plagued with opioid addictions, and we will continue joint law enforcement efforts with the NYPD in order to rid our streets of the dealers and traffickers of these deadly drugs.”

Several of the defendants allegedly sold drugs along West Burnside Avenue in the 46th Precinct.

During the investigation, authorities seized over 10 kilograms of heroin, packaged in bricks and thousands of glassines, as well as various quantities of cocaine and crack-cocaine, $20,000 in cash and three firearms.

The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Defendants:

• Mario Martinez, 46, Bronx
• Joan Velez, 36, Bronx
• Franky Skinner AKA Row, 48, Bronx
• Johnnie Wright AKA Jimmy, 36, Ulster County, NY
• Ramon Bonilla AKA Baldy, 52, Bronx
• Luis Raposo AKA Luisito, 50, Bronx
• David Hemphill AKA Dolla, 40, Bronx
• Alexis Sanchez AKA Butter, 39, Bronx
• Michael Collins AKA Mike, 29, Bronx
• Christian Sanchez AKA Bori, 32, Manhattan
• Emmanuel Gomez AKA Pistola, 35, Bronx
• Yessenia Castro AKA La Yii, 33, Bronx
• Francisco Brito, 38, Bronx
• Randy Minaya, 30, Bronx
• Miguel Robles, 36, Bronx
• Michael Gallardo AKA Mike, 39, Bronx
• Victor Lora, 24, Westchester County, NY
• Leo Bonilla, 34, Bronx
• Robert Porras AKA Robo, 39, Manhattan
• Stephen Carrasco AKA Smurf, 42, Bronx
• Desjohn Curry, 28, Bronx

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