A large-scale drug trafficking investigation arrested over 20 suspects accused of shipping kilos of cocaine from Puerto Rico to Berks County, Pennsylvania, via the United States Postal Service. Some of the suspects have been arrested, while others remain at large.
Multiple police departments worked with Pennsylvania State Police to initiate the sting, which revealed that the suspected members of the organization were also supplying meth.
Troopers and detectives also worked with USPS inspectors and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to investigate, coining the sting “Operation Postal Storm.”
According to the announcement, law enforcement used measures such as court-authorized wiretaps, intense surveillance, and covert narcotics purchases.
The investigation began in January, with search warrants executed on Monday and Wednesday, according to authorities.
The following things have been seized:
- Bulk quantities of cocaine
- Methamphetamines
- 12 firearms
- U.S. currency
The defendants were arrested, brought to the Berks County Sheriff’s Central Processing Center, and then arraigned. Many have been charged with corruption, conspiracy, and narcotics offenses.
The following individuals are in custody:
- Kelvin Rodriguez-Diaz, 37-year-old from Reading: $1M bail set
- Jonathan Pagan-Vega, 42-year-old from Puerto Rico
- Edwin Martinez-Rodriguez, 33-year-old from West Lawn: $2M bail set
- Osvaldo Reyes-Jimenez, 30-year-old from Reading: $250K bail set
- Nelson Rafael Leon, Sr., 56-year-old from Reading: $200K bail set
- Johnny Lopez-Suarez, 39-year-old from Reading: $100K bail set
- Santos Torres-Rodriguez, 49-year-old from Reading: $25K bail set
- Victor Sanchez, Sr., 48-years-old from Reading: $50K bail set
- Henry Massa-Olmeda, 45-years-old from Reading: $200K bail set
- Yessimalie Torres, 39-years-old from Temple: $5K bail set
- Fernando Corona, 42-years-old from Reading: $50K bail set
- Christopher Gottschall, 50-years-old from West Lawn: $100K bail set
- David Serrano, 36-years-old from Reading: $20K bail set
- Andre Pendergrass, Sr., 55-years-old from Reading: $50K bail set
- Andre Pendergrass, Jr., 34-years-old from Reading: $50K bail set
- Jason Greth, 29-years-old from Shillington: $20K bail set
- Melissa Batterson, 46-years-old from Reading: $2K bail set
The following suspects were still wanted as of Friday afternoon:
- Roberto Sandoval Jimenez, 33-years-old from Reading
- Abraham Vega-Rodriguez, 40-years-old from Reading
- Emmanuel Rodriguez-Santos, 39-year-old from Reading
- Andres Vazquez, 28-years-old from Reading
- Wesley Santiago, 25-year-old from Reading
Law enforcement officials said the probe is still ongoing.