HSTF: Operation Mousetrap Leads to Midtown Takedown: Multiple Charged in Drug Trafficking Conspiracy Connected to 540-Kilogram Cocaine Seizure in Miami (DOJ)

MIAMI - A federal grand jury has charged five South Florida defendants for their roles in a cocaine trafficking organization tied to an international network moving narcotics from Colombia through the Dominican Republic into South Florida.

The indictment charges Daniel "Mickey" Hernandez, 38, of Miami; Frank Gonzalez, 45, of Hialeah; Alexander "Al Biggs" Walker Caraballo, 50, of Miami; Jose Luis "Lil Cuz" Diaz, Jr., also known as "Pri," 33, of Miami Gardens; and Humberto "Kiki" Moreno, 42, of Miami, with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. Hernandez and Diaz are also charged with distribution offenses. Walker and Gonzalez face additional charges for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of firearms and ammunition as convicted felons.

According to court documents, the defendants were part of a Miami-based drug distribution network responsible for kilogram-level cocaine trafficking. Investigators identified Hernandez as a key distributor, with Moreno, Caraballo, and Gonzalez among his suppliers and associates. Agents traced the operation to a high-rise in Midtown Miami, where cocaine was stored and prepared for distribution.

The investigation builds on prior High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) and Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) efforts targeting cocaine routes between Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and South Florida, including Operation Final Voyage, which led to the prosecution of high-level traffickers and cooperation from more than 90 defendants.

As part of those efforts, Operation Horseman's Voyage targeted maritime trafficking networks responsible for importing large quantities of cocaine into South Florida, while Operation Mouse Trap focused on local retail and wholesale distributors. Investigators identified a network importing up to 1,700 kilograms of cocaine aboard high-end fishing vessels traveling from the Dominican Republic to Miami.

The Miami-based distribution operation was allegedly led by Andy Gabriel Mercedes-Hernandez, who directed the receipt, storage, and distribution of cocaine shipments with the assistance of approximately 20 associates, including boat captains, enforcers, and street-level distributors.

The investigation led to multiple enforcement actions. In October 2025, law enforcement arrested two defendants and seized more than $250,000 in drug proceeds concealed in a vehicle. In a separate interdiction, law enforcement seized more than 1,600 kilograms of cocaine from a vessel.

The investigation culminated in a search warrant executed at a Midtown Miami luxury high-rise apartment, where agents seized approximately 536 kilograms of cocaine, 14 firearms - including an unserialized AK-47 - and roughly $3.1 million in cash. Walker was later arrested, and agents recovered additional cocaine packaged for street-level distribution, along with bulk cash concealed in hidden compartments in his vehicle.

In the days that followed, law enforcement arrested additional members of the organization, including Jesus Alberto Salcedo-Perez, Keisy Estibet Peguero, Enmanuel Amauris Rivera-Cabrera, and Mario Joel Rijo-Jimenez. A federal grand jury had already charged several co-conspirators, and additional charges have been filed against others, including cocaine suppliers based in the Dominican Republic and Colombia.

If convicted, the defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and up to life for the conspiracy charge. Walker and Gonzalez also face additional consecutive sentences of up to life for firearms offenses and up to 15 years for possessing firearms as convicted felons.

U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Miles Aley of the DEA Miami Field Office made the announcement.

DEA Miami is leading the investigation, with support from the ATF Street Terror Offender Program (STOP) Team, Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, City of Miami Police Department, Miami Beach Police Department, City of Homestead Police Department, City of Aventura Police Department, Sunny Isles Beach Police Department, the U.S. Coast Guard, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Customs and Border Protection, and the Florida National Guard.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Almas Abdulla is prosecuting the case against the Operation Mouse Trap defendants, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Anika Miranda handling asset forfeiture. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lynn Kirkpatrick is prosecuting the Operation Horseman's Voyage defendants, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabrielle Raemy Charest-Turken overseeing asset forfeiture.

This prosecution is part of the HSTF initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Miami comprises agents and officers from ATF, DEA, HSI, BSO, USMS, and USPIS.

An indictment/complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.sdfl.uscourts.govLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. or at http://pacer.sdfl.uscourts.govLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link., under case numbers 26-cr-20092 and 26-cr-20135.

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