DOJ: Dozens named in connection to drug trafficking ring, accused of sending cocaine through mail

MILWAUKEE — Dozens of people have been named in a year-long Department of Justice investigation, accused of being involved in an alleged drug trafficking organization. Some have already been arrested by local and federal officials.

According to a Department of Justice complaint that's more than 200 pages long, the investigation began in Sept. 2018. Agents determined that several involved were a part of drug trafficking organization that distributed cocaine, heroin and fentanyl in eastern areas of Wisconsin. They're accused of using the United States Postal Service to bring drugs into Milwaukee.

The criminal complaint says a home in the 1200 block of W. Walker Street was the center of the drug ring, describing it as "a residence, used by organization members, to meet and conduct mechanical work on vehicles as well. The residence and rear garage are used to store illegal drugs too."

According to the complaint, these suspects would send pounds of cocaine in the mail to Milwaukee from Puerto Rico. Then, people in Milwaukee would mail bundles of cash back to the U.S. territory. Federal agents intercepted packages, listened in on phone calls, and ran surveillance for months putting this case together. Investigators even used wiretaps to get information on the suspects.

The complaint lists dozens of instances where drug shipments were sent to post offices across the Milwaukee area.

In Sept. 2018, the investigation revealed that Jose Gonzalez-Collado had received kilogram-quantities of cocaine from an unknown source of supply in Puerto Rico. The cocaine would be dealt out by Eric Rosa in Milwaukee. Marcos Aponte-Lebron would be the person to facilitate drug shipments from Puerto Rico, retrieve drugs from storage facilities to other distributors, collect the proceeds and facilitate the proceeds back to Puerto Rico.

According to the complaint, cocaine was shipped to residences in Milwaukee through the United States Postal Service. On Sept. 28, 2018, the USPS intercepted a package containing approximately three kilograms of cocaine from Puerto Rico destined for a residence in Milwaukee. Authorities executed an anticipatory warrant at the home after the package was delivered and found over 300 grams of cocaine and firearms in the home.

On Oct. 25, the USPS intercepted another package originating from Puerto Rico destined to a home in Milwaukee. Although officers tried to deliver the package, no one retrieved it. A postal employee left a note for someone to contact USPS to receive the package. An unidentified man went to the post office to give the USPS his contact number for the undelivered package. No one ever retrieved the package and on Oct. 25, 2018, law enforcement executed a warrant and found two kilograms of cocaine.

In one instance, when a package of cocaine was not delivered, one of the suspects "went to the West Milwaukee post office to specifically inquire about the undelivered parcel. Gave the postal employee his name and telephone numbers as a means to contact him should the parcel arrive."

Once the drugs were sold, the proceeds would be shipped back to Puerto Rico.

Sometimes, boxes "would have over $30,000 in drug proceeds to be boxed and mailed."

There was even worry that Hurricane Dorian, which ravaged Puerto Rico last summer, could cause a problem.

"Don't send anything, until it goes through," one suspect said according to the complaint. That suspect further commented "if the hurricane ruins us, we would have to wait."

The suspects are also accused of using storage facilities to keep drugs. They also tried not to mail more than one package to Milwaukee from a single location.

One person allegedly suggested women should drop off packages because they were "less suspicious."

The complaint says the drugs were distributed across Racine and Milwaukee counties as well as other locations in the United States, including many cities in the eastern part of the country.

In Wednesday's raid in Milwaukee, approximately $267,000 and 35 firearms were seized.

Arrest warrants were also executed in Puerto Rico.

22 of the 26 were arrested. Approximately 15 kilograms of cocaine, 50 grams of heroin, 80 grams of crack cocaine, 35 firearms and $267,000 were seized.

The defendants charged in "Operation Island Hopper" are:

The full criminal complaint is below:

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