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2 West Virginia Drug Trafficking Networks ‘Dismantled’
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2 West Virginia Drug Trafficking Networks ‘Dismantled’

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — Two drug trafficking organizations operating in West Virginia, one of which has ties to the Sinaloa Drug Cartel, have been “dismantled” after a federal grand jury returned 25 indictments, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia (USAO) announced Tuesday.

Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada
Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada

Alleged Sinaloa Drug Cartel founder Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute fentanyl in El Paso, Texas, following his arrest last week.


The USAO said the local operation with ties to Sinaloa was run from an auto body shop in Martinsburg, West Virginia. Drugs came from Puerto Rico via the U.S. Postal Service and also from a source tied to the Sinaloa cartel, the USAO said.

The following people were charged:

  • Saul Alexi Padilla-Garcia, 34, of Shepherdstown
  • Juan Carlos Suarez-Lugo 55, of Martinsburg
  • Victor Jose Canales, 45, whose place of birth is unknown
  • Alexis Alvarado, 37, of Ranson
  • Mauricio Antonio Alvarado-Flores, 37, whose place of birth is unknown
  • Olvin Luis-Melendez Robles, age unknown, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania;
  • Mario Pellot-Acevedo, 58, of Martinsburg
  • Eddi Heredia Cruz, 27, of Shepherdstown
  • Jose Alberto Camarena Rocha, 30, from California
  • Manuel Sanchez Gomez, 37, from California
  • Angel Lopez, 43, from Fresno, California
  • Sergio Rubio Pacheco, 33, of Fresno, California
  • Moises Marrero, 39, of Ranson
  • James Reyes, 54, of Martinsburg
  • David Reyes, 60, whose place of birth is unknown
  • Charles Edward Branson, 53, of Martinsburg
  • Danny William Mendez Delacruz, 41, of Martinsburg
  • Yan Lionel Diaz-Cruz, 27, of Ranson

According to the USAO, 15 of them were arrested on Tuesday, but police are still searching for Gomez, Melendez-Robles and Diaz-Cruz.

In another case, the USAO reported that seven people are facing charges after nearly 40,000 fentanyl pills and 12 firearms were seized by Berkeley County detectives:

  • Delano Alan Butler, 43, of Martinsburg
  • Faith Elizabeth Small, 22, of Hagerstown, Maryland
  • Jwan Martine Smith, 38, of Martinsburg
  • Geraldine Lagata Hill, 43, of Stephens, Virginia
  • Cody Aaron Ashby, 32, of Martinsburg
  • Crystal Lyn Lewis, 34, of Martinsburg
  • Matthew James Elsea, 42, of Martinsburg

Officers are still searching for Smith, but all other suspects have been arrested, the USAO said.

Dozens of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies investigated the cases from California to Virginia.