United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
10/24/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/24/2025 15:09
33 Alleged Members of Violent Kensington Drug Trafficking Organization Charged in 41-Count Indictment
Press Release
33 Alleged Members of Violent Kensington Drug Trafficking Organization Charged in 41-Count Indictment
Friday, October 24, 2025
Share
- X
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
PHILADELPHIA - At a news conference this afternoon, United States Attorney David Metcalf announced a historic indictment against a violent drug trafficking organization operating in the Kensington section of Philadelphia. The indictment charges 33 alleged members of the Weymouth Street Drug Trafficking Organization with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and dozens of related offenses.
U.S. Attorney Metcalf discussed the case alongside FBI Director Kash Patel, FBI Philadelphia Special Agent in Charge Wayne Jacobs, and Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel, and assisting federal and state law enforcement partners.
The indictment alleges that, from about January 2016 through October 2025, the Weymouth Street Drug Trafficking Organization ("Weymouth DTO") distributed fentanyl, heroin, crack cocaine, and cocaine on the 3100 block of Weymouth Street, one of the most prolific drug blocks in the city, functioning as an open-air drug market where illegal narcotics are sold every day and at all hours. While that block is the nucleus of the group's alleged activity, their area of operations has extended to include the corner of F Street and Clementine Street, the corner of E Street and Wishart Street, and 3000 Potter Street.
The indictment further alleges that the Weymouth DTO uses violence to enforce its territory, including shootings, murder, and physical assaults. Members of the Weymouth DTO retaliate against witnesses that the DTO believes provide information to law enforcement and commit violent acts against members of rival drug trafficking organizations.
As alleged in the indictment, the Weymouth DTO is headed by Jose Antonio Morales Nieves, aka "Flaco," 45, of Luquillo, Puerto Rico, who authorizes other members of the Weymouth DTO to sell drugs on his block in exchange for "rent." Morales Nieves helps protect the members of the DTO through the threat of violent acts, performed either by himself or his associates, against others who have caused the Weymouth DTO harm or attempted to sell controlled substances in the DTO's territory.
The indictment alleges that Ramon Roman-Montanez, aka "Viejo," 40, of Philadelphia, is a leader of the Weymouth DTO and manages the street-level operations. He is responsible for organizing the drug shift schedule, which establishes roles and shifts for who in the Weymouth DTO will be responsible for selling drugs at what times and on what days, managing proceeds, and obtaining more controlled substances.
As alleged, Nancy Rios-Valentin, 33, also of Philadelphia, is another leader of the Weymouth DTO responsible for organizing the drug shift schedule, as well as managing and maintaining drug proceeds.
A list of all defendants and the charges against them is below.
Twenty-four defendants were arrested in coordinated operations today. Eight defendants were already in state or federal custody, and one remains at large.
"Drug traffickers who poison our communities and enforce their territory through violence will face the full force of federal law," said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. "Working alongside our state and local partners, the Department of Justice will continue to dismantle these criminal networks, hold violent offenders accountable, and restore safety to neighborhoods that have suffered for far too long. I want to thank U.S. Attorney Metcalf, the FBI, and every prosecutor and agent whose dedication made today's action possible."
"This indictment is, by defendant, the largest federal case of this century prosecuted by our office and it attacks the very heart of the opioid crisis in the neighborhoods of Kensington," said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. "We are committed to returning these neighborhoods to their residents and reclaiming them from drug dealers who profit from the misery of others."
"Today, even more criminals are off the streets because of the diligent work of the FBI and our partners," said FBI Director Kash Patel. "Over 30 people have been charged for their alleged role in drug trafficking and dozens of other offenses. These individuals were charged with distributing fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine on one of the most prolific drug blocks in Philadelphia. They were members of a violent drug trafficking organization and used violence to enforce their territory and sell drugs that poison our city streets and community. The FBI will continue our work to put an end to drug trafficking and violence in our cities."
"There is no question our streets are safer today because of the tireless dedication and diligence of numerous federal, state, and local partners, but our work is not done," said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. "The FBI, alongside our law enforcement partners at every level, will continue to serve our citizens by pursuing the dangerous offenders who shatter our communities' sense of safety, security, and quality of life."
"Today's actions were the culmination of a deliberate, patient, and highly coordinated investigation into a violent criminal enterprise operating on and around Weymouth Street in Kensington," said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel. "This group pumped fentanyl into a community already hurting, and they used violence to protect their business. Thank you to our state and federal partners who continue to show up in Philadelphia not as visitors but as teammates: FBI Director Patel, U.S. Attorney Metcalf, FBI Philly SAC Jacobs and his team, the DEA, the Attorney General's Office, and to our own DC Jim Kelly and the men and women of the Philadelphia Police Department's Narcotics Bureau who did the hard work to get us here. This is One Philly in action - exactly the model Mayor Parker has demanded from day one: not turf battles, not silos, but agencies standing shoulder-to-shoulder around a single mission: protecting the people of this city."
This case is part of PSN Recon, a criminal intelligence program launched this year by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, in which the federal and state law enforcement community work together to identify the most violent and dangerous actors in the city of Philadelphia. PSN Recon builds on the original mission of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Neighborhoods ("PSN") initiative, to collaboratively address violence in partnership with state and local enforcement officials. Learn more about PSN Recon here.
The case is being investigated by the FBI and the Philadelphia Police Department, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sara Solow and Jason Grenell.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
|
Name |
Place of Residence |
Age |
Charges |
|
JOSE ANTONIO MORALES NIEVES aka "Flaco" |
Luquillo, PR | 45 |
■ Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances ■ Possession With Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances |
|
RAMON ROMAN-MONTANEZ aka "Viejo" |
Philadelphia, PA | 40 |
■ Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances ■ Distribution of Controlled Substances (3 counts) ■ Possession With Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances (2 counts) ■ Conspiracy to Sponsor an Animal Fighting Venture |
| NANCY RIOS-VALENTIN | Philadelphia, PA | 33 |
■ Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances ■ Possession With Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances ■ Conspiracy to Sponsor an Animal Fighting Venture |
|
JOEL CARRILLO-CRESPO aka "Jowey" |
Philadelphia, PA | 48 | ■ Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances |
|
LUIS LEVANTE-MEDINA aka "Diamante" |
Wilmington, DE |
32 |
■ Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances ■ Possession With Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances ■ Possession of a Firearm by a Felon |
|
CHAYANNE HERRERA aka "Cito" |
Philadelphia, PA |
34 |
■ Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances ■ Possession With Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances |
|
KELVIN AGUAYO-GARCIA aka "Negro" |
Philadelphia, PA |
36 |
■ Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances ■ Distribution of Controlled Substances (7 counts) ■ Possession With Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances |
|
ELLIOT MATTEI-RODRIGUEZ aka "Elio" |
Philadelphia, PA |
26 |
■ Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances ■ Distribution of Controlled Substances |
|
SANDINO JOSE HIDALGO GENOA aka "Domi" |
Philadelphia, PA |
43 |
■ Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances ■ Distribution of Controlled Substances ■ Possession With Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances |
|
JOSUE ONEIL ORTIZ-BETANCOURT aka "Oneil" |
Philadelphia, PA |
28 |
■ Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances ■ Distribution of Controlled Substances (3 counts) |
|
ANGEL RIOS-VALENTIN |
Millville, NJ |
32 |
■ Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances |
|
JUAN GOMEZ-RESTO aka "Pupo" |
Philadelphia, PA |
47 |
■ Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances ■ Attempted Possession With Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances (2 counts) |
|
JAVIER RESTO-BERRIOS aka "Chicken" |
Philadelphia, PA |
55 |
■ Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances ■ Distribution of Controlled Substances (12 counts) ■ Attempted Possession With Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances (2 counts) |
|
RICHARD CARTAGENA aka "Richie" |
Philadelphia, PA |
39 |
■ Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances ■ Distribution of Controlled Substances ■ Possession With Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances |
|
ELIUD OMAR MORALES-GARCIA aka "Chochin" |
Philadelphia, PA |
32 |
■ Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances ■ Distribution of Controlled Substances |
|
ANGEMILL GONZALEZ-CLAUDIO aka "Angel"/"Angie" |
Philadelphia, PA |
31 |
■ Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances |
|
JOHN DAVID LOPEZ-BORIA aka "Grande" |
Philadelphia, PA |
28 |
■ Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances ■ Distribution of Controlled Substances (2 counts) |
|
JONATHAN TORRES |
Philadelphia, PA |
30 |
■ Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances ■ Distribution of Controlled Substances (2 counts) |
|
EDERICK RIVERA SANTIAGO-GONZALEZ aka "Edri"/"Negro" |
Philadelphia, PA |
25 |
■ Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances ■ Distribution of Controlled Substances (3 counts) |
|
JANDANIEL VELEZ-GONZALEZ aka "Jan" |
Philadelphia, PA |
21 |
■ Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances ■ Distribution of Controlled Substances |
|
WILFRED CASTILLO aka "Domi" |
Philadelphia, PA |
26 |
■ Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances |
|
HECTOR VEGA-MELENDEZ aka "Tito" |
Philadelphia, PA |
24 |
■ Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances |
|
JULIO JOSE RAMIREZ-DIAZ aka "June" |
Philadelphia, PA |
39 |
■ Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances ■ Possession With Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances |
|
CARLA DIAZ-RESTO aka "Karla" |
Philadelphia, PA |
36 |
■ Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances |
|
MAYRA MOLINA DEJESUS aka "Rubia" |
Philadelphia, PA |
46 |
■ Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances |
|
JAIME OTERO-RODRIGUEZ aka "Pilon" |
Philadelphia, PA |
45 |
■ Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances |
|
JOSE SANTANA-GONZALEZ aka "Chipi"/"Chepo" |
Philadelphia, PA |
37 |
■ Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances ■ Distribution of Controlled Substances (6 counts) |
|
LUIS WILLIAMS aka "Prendi Pas" |
Philadelphia, PA |
22 |
■ Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances |
|
SONIA RAMOS DE JESUS |
Philadelphia, PA |
57 |
■ Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances ■ Distribution of Controlled Substances |
|
ADELEDA GONZALEZ aka "Moya" |
Philadelphia, PA |
52 |
■ Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances ■ Distribution of Controlled Substances (2 counts) |
|
LUIS CRUZ |
Philadelphia, PA |
53 |
■ Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances ■ Possession With Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances |
|
JOSE CANDIDO HIDALGO GENOA |
Philadelphia, PA |
34 |
■ Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances ■ Possession With Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances |
|
JIANNI CRUZ SANTOS |
Philadelphia, PA |
31 |
■ Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances ■ Possession With Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances |
Contact
[email protected]-861-8300
Updated October 24, 2025
Topics
Drug Trafficking
Violent Crime
Components
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern
United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania published this content on October 24, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 24, 2025 at 21:09 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]