FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                              CONTACT: Mary L. Hatton

April 21, 2008                                                                                                    PHONE: (219) 937-5603

NINETEEN INDICTED FOLLOWING DRUG TRAFFICKING INVESTIGATION

Hammond, IN—The United States Attorney’s Office today announced the indictments of nineteen individuals:

In the first Indictment, those charged are:

        Blas Robles, Sr., 52, of Dyer, Indiana

        Jose Manuel Robles, 24, of Dyer, Indiana

        Blas Robles, Jr., 25, of Dyer, Indiana

        Cory King, 38, of Hammond, Indiana

        Santiago Gutierrez, 29, of Hammond, Indiana

        Andres Zaragoza, 24, of Hammond, Indiana

        Ismael Ruvalcaba, 39, of Ligonier, Indiana

        Clarence Johnson, 24, of Muncie, Indiana

        Jesus Cahue, 27, of Hammond, Indiana

        George Leber, 44, of Hammond, Indiana

        Juana Mariana Robles, 47 , of Dyer, Indiana

        Juan Enriquez, 24, of Hammond, Indiana

        Saul Galvan, 28, of Goshen, Indiana

        Gumercindo Moreno-Avila, 33, of Chicago, Illinois

        Trinidad Robles, 39, of Cedar Lake, Indiana

These fifteen individuals were charged with conspiring to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and one hundred kilograms or more of marijuana.  The indictment alleges that this conspiracy occurred between October, 2006 and February, 2008.

Blas Robles, Sr. was also charged with one count of distributing five hundred grams or more of cocaine, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.  Jesus Cahue and Andres Zaragoza were also charged with possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.  George Leber was also charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.   Saul Galvan and Ismael Ruvalcaba have also both been charged with one count each of using a firearm in furtherance of a federal drug trafficking crime.  The indictment also includes numerous counts of use of a telephone in furtherance of a federal drug trafficking crime.

The indictment includes forfeiture allegations, seeking forfeiture of four guns, five automobiles and over $400,000 in U.S. currency.

Trinidad Robles and Gumercindo Moreno-Avila are still at large.  If anyone has information on these individuals, please contact the FBI in Merrillville, Indiana at 219-769-3719 or the Gang Response Investigative Team at 219-885-1055.  All information received will be treated confidentially.

As a result of the same investigation, the following individuals were charged in four separate indictments:            

Ysidra Robles, 27, of Dyer, Indiana

Abundio Robles, 59, of Hammond, Indiana

Kevin Eggleston, 42, of Lansing, Illinois

Mark Del Rio, 45, of Hammond, Indiana

Each was charged with multiple counts of use of a telephone in furtherance of a federal drug trafficking crime.

These indictments are the result of a joint investigation by the FBI GRIT Task Force, a Lake County HIDTA initiative, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF), the Hammond Police Department and the Indiana State Police. The Lake County Sheriff’s Department provided manpower and equipment in assisting with the arrests of all these individuals. Assistance was also provided by the Muncie, Indiana Drug Task Force.

  The Porter County Prosecutor’s Office provided invaluable assistance to the United States Attorney’s Offices throughout this investigation. These cases have been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David J. Nozick and Jacqueline L. Jacobs.

The specific sentence in each case to be imposed upon conviction will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statues and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The United States Attorney’s Office emphasized that an Indictment is merely an allegation and that all persons charged are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.