GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Eleven people now face federal charges in connection with a large-scale drug ring allegedly operating in the area.
Charges had been filed previously in state court.
Those facing charges include:
- Ruben Ortiz, Jr., 36, for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, money laundering
- Alejandro Lopez, 37, for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime
- Francisco Martinez, 38, for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
- Hector Gomez-Salas, 31, for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
- Oscar Alonso, 45, for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute cocaine & heroin
- Gabiel Bonilla, 45, for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
- Cedric Cohen, 42, for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime
- Terry Johnson, 27, for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine & heroin, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime
- Richard Guyette, 26, for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl
- James Parkinson, 46, for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute cocaine & heroin
- Stephanie Ortiz, 30, for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, money laundering
Guyette is scheduled to stand trial Nov. 4. A variety of arraignment dates have been set for the other suspects, ranging Sept. 18 to Sept. 26.
The criminal complaints in the state case had been sealed due to the use or wire taps. Federal court records also restrict access to some documents, but more details about the operation are detailed.
The drug sales date back to May, 2017, and allegedly continued until the arrests in early August.
As part of this investigation, law enforcement executed numerous arrest warrants and search warrants in June 2019 at various locations in Green Bay. The operation and charges are the culmination of a multi-year investigation that has resulted in the seizure of significant amounts of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, marijuana, $130,000 in U.S. Currency, vehicles, and at least 14 firearms. One seizure in particular involved approximately 480 grams of fentanyl that was intended to be sold by members of the conspiracy, according to the statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
“These serious charges reflect our unwavering commitment to confront those who profit from selling poisons like fentanyl and methamphetamine in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Krueger. “I commend the numerous law enforcement agencies whose extraordinary dedication and collaboration led to these charges.”
Multiple area police agencies were involved in the investigation, including: Brown County Drug Task Force, Green Bay Police Department, Brown County Sheriff’s Office, Menominee Tribal Police Department, Manitowoc County Metro Drug Unit, Lake Winnebago Area Metropolitan Drug Unit, Oneida Police Department, Wausau Police Department, Native American Drug and Gang Initiative Task Force, Brown County District Attorney’s Office, Outagamie County District Attorney’s Office, Manitowoc County District Attorney’s Office, Wisconsin Attorney General’s Office, Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation, Wisconsin Department of Revenue, Wisconsin State Patrol, Wisconsin National Guard Counter Drug Program, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service, North Central High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).
