Date: January 16, 2020
Contact: newsroom@ci.irs.gov
Eleven defendants were charged with conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and 40 grams or more of fentanyl in the Milwaukee area. Over one kilogram of fentanyl has been seized during the course of the investigation. If convicted of the heroin and fentanyl charges, each defendant faces a mandatory minimum term of 5 years in prison.
The defendants charged are:
- Adolfo Reyes-Feliciano
- Jonathan Aranzamendi-Maldonado
- Azahel Velazquez-Melgoza
- Brian A. Melendez-Santiago
- Jomuel Lozano-Martinez
- Malek A. Farakhna
- Kendell R. Newkirk
- Angel R. Padilla-Colon
- Eduardo I. Gutierrez-Armedariz
- Eduardo De Jesus Robles-Cambronero
- Mario J. Navarro
On January 15, 2020, federal, state, and local law enforcement officers arrested ten of the defendants. Two of the arrested defendants were undocumented aliens from Mexico and subject to immediate removal. The officers also executed search warrants in Milwaukee resulting in the seizure of approximately 800 grams of black tar heroin, 200 grams of fentanyl, and one firearm.
The defendants were charged based on a multi-year investigation led by law enforcement agents and officers from the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the City of Kenosha Police Department, the City of Greenfield Police Department, and the City of West Allis Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mario Gonzales.
The public is cautioned that an indictment is merely a charge and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.