TOLEDO, OH (Toledo News Now) – Authorities are investigating a major drug trafficking scheme involving thousands of pounds of cocaine and more than a dozen people, who are still on the loose.
Federal investigators say 28 people spent the past decade moving more than 1 ton of cocaine from Mexico and Texas to northwest Ohio. The conduct detailed in the 21-count indictment took place between 2002 and the present.
All of them have been indicted on charges of conspiracy to distribute the cocaine, as well as marijuana.
"The charges detail a conspiracy that brought cocaine and marijuana from Mexico and Texas and pushed it onto the streets of Toledo," said Steven Dettelbach, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. "Members of this group were caught at various times with large quantities of drugs, firearms and piles of cash."
During the course of the conspiracy, more than 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) of cocaine, along with more than 100 kilograms of marijuana were distributed in the Toledo area, according to the indictment.
Currently only 12 are in custody at the Lucas County Jail, including leader Lionel Perez. Authorities are urging all 28 named in the indictment to turn themselves in and have started a manhunt to track them down.
Those indicted are:
-Lionel Perez, 36, of San Benito, TX
-Agustin J. Lara, 37, of San Benito, TX
-Jose Lara, 53, of San Benito, TX
-Juan Resendez, 36, of San Benito, TX
-Reynaldo Chavez, 36, of San Benito, TX
-Sergio Perez, 28, of San Benito, TX
-Esequiel Perez, 35, of San Benito, TX
-Mauricio Sandoval, 42, of San Benito, TX
-Eliza A. Perez, 42, of Toledo, OH
-Marcus Barrera, 34, of Toledo, OH
-Marwin J. Payne, 44, of Toledo, OH
-Joseph A. Malino, 39, of Toledo, OH
-Christina M. Rodriguez, 40, of Toledo, OH
-Melissa Gonzalez, 40, of Toledo, OH
-David Smith, 27, of Toledo, OH
-Francisco Rodriguez, 36, of Gibsonburg, OH
-Joe Arguelles Jr., 33, of Gibsonburg, OH
-Brigido Herrera, 38, of Harlington, TX
-Mario Vasquez, 36, of Edinburg, TX
-Juan Luis Valdes, 47, of Laredo, TX
-James Nunn, 40, of Maywood, IL
-Leopoldo T. Pecina, 38, of Northwood, OH
-Jose C. Rodriguez III, 38, of Perrysburg, OH
-Cato Hornbeak, 37, of Maumee, OH
-Angelo Pecina, 62, of Oregon, OH
-Ricardo Pizana Jr., 27, of Fremont, OH
-Francisco Salazar, 46, of Fremont, OH
-Moises Razo, 34, of Mexico
All 28 defendants are charged in count 1 with conspiracy to distribute and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana.
The indictment culminates a seven-year investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation, Ottawa County Drug Task Force, Ottawa and Sandusky county sheriff's offices, and Fremont Police Department.
The district attorney says every effort will be made to arrest every suspect listed in the indictment.
"The message to these drug traffickers has to be clear. There's a big sign up in the northern district of Ohio that says, 'We are closed for your business,'" said Dettelbach.