Three men from Puerto Rico were charged with being part of a drug trafficking organization and distributing cocaine in Montgomery County and the Washington, D.C. area.
According to Montgomery County Police, the three men were based in Puerto Rico and sent shipments of cocaine from San Juan to the D.C. area.
Ray Rivera Ruiz, 39, is alleged to be the ring leader. He was indicted May 26 on conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, one count of continuing criminal enterprise – causing the intentional death of Shantay Butler, and one count of causing the death by using a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
Jann Jousten Aponte Rivera, 26, and Michael Gabriel Hernandez Rivera, 20, were indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, one count of continuing criminal enterprise – causing the intentional death of Shantay Butler, 44, and one count of causing the death by using a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense.
According to the government’s evidence, the three men, as well as several others, shipped between 50 and 150 kilograms of cocaine to a local drug trafficking organization that operates in Montgomery and Frederick counties between October 2019 and April 2021.
The three men have been in custody since they were arrested in April 2021.
Three Alleged Drug Traffickers Indicted for Distribution in Montgomery Countyhttps://t.co/RcJAo4Dn2s#mcpnews #mcpd pic.twitter.com/x7RVenqfp2
— Montgomery County Department of Police (@mcpnews) June 15, 2022
