2 drug trafficking rings operating in West Virginia ‘dismantled’

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — Two drug trafficking organizations that operate in West Virginia, one of which has ties to the Sinaloa Drug Cartel, were “dismantled” after a federal grand jury returned 25 indictments, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia (USAO) announced Tuesday.

The alleged founder of the Sinaloa Drug Cartel, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute fentanyl in El Paso, Texas after his arrest last week .

Zambada was arrested near the Mexican border along with the son of notorious drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.

The pair were arrested last Thursday after the two flew into an airport near El Paso, Texas. Zambada’s attorney says he was tricked by Joaquín Guzmán López and forced against his will to travel.

The USAO said the local operation with ties to Sinaloa was running out of an autobody shop in Martinsburg, West Virginia. Drugs were coming from Puerto Rico through the U.S. Postal Service as well as from a source connected to the Sinaloa Cartel, the USAO said.

The following were indicted:

• Saul Alexi Padilla-Garcia, 34, of Shepherdstown
• Juan Carlos Suarez-Lugo 55, of Martinsburg
• Victor Jose Canales, 45, whose hometown is unknown
• Alexis Alvarado, 37, of Ranson
• Mauricio Antonio Alvarado-Flores, 37, whose hometown is unknown
• Olvin Luis-Melendez Robles, age unknown, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania;
• Mario Pellot-Acevedo, 58, of Martinsburg
• Eddi Heredia Cruz, 27, of Shepherdstown
• Jose Alberto Camarena Rocha, 30, of California
• Manuel Sanchez Gomez, 37, of California
• Angel Lopez, 43, of Fresno, California
• Sergio Rubio Pacheco, 33, of Fresno, California
• Moises Marrero, 39, of Ranson
• James Reyes, 54, of Martinsburg
• David Reyes, 60, whose hometown is unknown
• Charles Edward Branson, 53, of Martinsburg
• Danny William Mendez Delacruz, 41, of Martinsburg
• Yan Lionel Diaz-Cruz, 27, of Ranson

The USAO said that 15 of them were arrested on Tuesday, but law enforcement is still looking for Gomez, Melendez-Robles and Diaz-Cruz.

In a different case, the USAO said seven people are facing charges after nearly 40,000 fentanyl pills and 12 firearms were seized by investigators in Berkeley County:

• Delano Alan Butler, 43, of Martinsburg
• Faith Elizabeth Small, 22, of Hagerstown, Maryland
• Jwan Martine Smith, 38, of Martinsburg
• Geraldine Lagata Hill, 43, of Stephens, Virginia
• Cody Aaron Ashby, 32, of Martinsburg
• Crystal Lyn Lewis, 34, of Martinsburg
• Matthew James Elsea, 42, of Martinsburg

Officers are still searching for Smith, but all other defendants were taken into custody, the USAO said.

Dozens of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies investigated the cases from California to Virginia.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.