A federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment on March 17 charging 52 gang members with intent to distribute, possession and distribution of controlled substances, and firearms violations. Forty defendants were charged with possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and 21 were charged with possession of a machine gun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
“Thanks to the great investigative work of our law enforcement partners and prosecutors, the important leaders, enforcers and other members of the violent gang are being taken off our streets,” W. Stephen Muldrow, U.S. attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, said on Monday. “These arrests reflect our steadfast determination to remove violent gangs from our communities.”
According to the indictment, members of La Familia Nunca Muere (LFNM) distributed cocaine, marijuana, heroin, and fentanyl within 1,000 feet of multiple locations between 2018 and the present. Members also responded to perceived threats without first verifying the veracity and participated in acts of violence, including shootings and murders in public places.
The defendants had different roles that helped further the goals of the drug trafficking conspiracy. Roles include leaders, suppliers, drug point owners, enforcers, runners, sellers, lookouts, and facilitators.