Seventeen federal indictments, unsealed today in federal court, have charged 33 defendants with federal firearm, drug trafficking or other federal offenses.
Four defendants were charged by Chatham County authorities on state firearm and drug offenses. Additionally, eight defendants were previously indicted and prosecuted in 2012. All of the federal and state charges derive from a lengthy undercover investigation dubbed “Operation Pulaski.”
The United States Attorney’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Savannah-Chatham police department initiated Operation Pulaski in late 2011. During the operation, undercover ATF agents purchased guns and drugs from multiple criminal organizations whose scope ranged from regional to international.
The undercover agents were able to infiltrate these organizations over a period of time, ultimately purchasing 189 firearms, including handguns, assault rifles, sawed-off shotguns and machine guns; illegal drugs, including more than 200 grams of heroin and more than 4 kilograms of cocaine; and stolen vehicles.
The investigation revealed that the vehicles were stolen in the New York City area and then transported to the southeastern United States for resale or for shipment abroad for resale. Agents worked in cooperation with the National Insurance Crime Bureau for the return or re-designation of the automobiles recovered in the investigation.
Twenty-six of the individuals who sold firearms and drugs to the undercover agents are alleged to be convicted felons. Eleven of the individuals investigated are believed to be illegal immigrants. In addition, a number of the guns purchased by undercover agents were previously reported stolen.
United States Attorney Edward J. Tarver stated: “The Department of Justice works tirelessly to protect the personal safety and the property of its citizens. Operation Pulaski was a relentless effort to remove illegal guns from the streets of our communities and to halt the illegal sale of guns, especially where the transactions were being conducted by violent criminals. This undercover operation serves as notice to the criminal element that if you traffic in firearms, drugs, or stolen cars in this district, you will be apprehended and you will be prosecuted.”
Metro police Chief Willie Lovett said: “The success of Operation Pulaski was achieved through the coordinated efforts of Metro, the U.S. Attorney and ATF and that cooperation of the three agencies will continue in other operations. The numbers of guns, stolen vehicles and drugs seized in Pulaski are more than significant; they are staggering, considering the criminal history of most of those arrested. I have no doubt those weapons would have been used against innocent victims and the drugs would have ruined lives. We are very appreciative of the agencies that helped make this possible and look forward to this continued relationship.”
Following numerous arrests Tuesday and Wednesday, initial appearances for several of the federally indicted defendants will be held in United States District Court, Statesboro, on Thursday. A listing of the 33 defendants newly indicted on federal charges is attached.
An indictment is only an accusation and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the Government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Assistant United States Attorneys Cameron Heaps Ippolito and T. Shane Mayes are prosecuting the federal cases for the United States.
Indicted were:
Alejandro Jorge Barrero-Rojas, 29, Bolivia
Akeem Jamal Edwards, 22, Savannah
Alvon Mitchell, 33, Savannah
Anthony Solis-Reyes, 25, Honduran National
Augustin Rubio-Garcia, 31, Hardeeville, S.C.
Cedric Austin, 26, Savannah
Demetrius Mumford, 28, Savannah
Derrick Stephens, 35, Atlanta
Eduardo Cruz-Camacho, 32, Savannah
Naquan Trell Elliot, 19, Savannah
Eric Dyches, 41, Savannah
Hermino Garcia-Rodriguez, 25, Garden City
Gustavo Reyes-Sosa, 25, Bluffton, S.C.
Herbert Carter, 31, Savannah
Javier Garcia-Rodriguez, 29, Garden City
Javier Murillo-Solis, 32, Hilton Head Island, S.C.
Jeffrey Barnes, 50, Savannah
Juan Zapien-Pacheco, 26, Hardeeville, S.C.
Leonardo Moreno-Romero, 23, Hardeeville, S.C.
Luis Alonso, 34, Hardeeville, S.C.
Markus Brown, 29, Savannah
Martin Anguiano, 45, Ridgeland, S.C.
Maximigo Ortega, 34, Savannah
Michael Holsey, 21, Savannah
Miguel Hernandez-Landeros, 26, Garden City
Mikael Oliver, 18, Savannah
Sonny Vasquez, 28, Bluffton, S.C.
Tyreik Watson, 34, Savannah
Walis Parra-Reyes, 31, Bluffton, S.C.
Wendell Brantley, 35, Bluffton, S.C.
Reginald Black, 20, Garden City
Roberto Barrero, 45, Bolivia
Matthew Vasquez, 22, Savannah