Feds charge 8 in Kensington drug ring probe
Federal authorities arrested four Dominican nationals and one U.S. citizen who were charged Thursday with running a large-scale drug distribution network that controlled several Kensington corners.
Federal authorities arrested four Dominican nationals and one U.S. citizen who were charged Thursday with running a large-scale drug distribution network that controlled several Kensington corners.
Three others were being sought.
Prosecutors say Jorge "Hansel" Balbuena, 29, oversaw the operation, obtaining large quantities of heroin, crack and cocaine from South America via contacts in the Dominican Republic and selling them wholesale to street-level dealers.
Others charged - including Ysidro "Pisa Pie" Garcia, 67, and his 35-year-old twin sons Luis and Jose - are accused of controlling distribution at the corners, some near Lewis Elkin Elementary on the 3100 block of "D" Street and McKinley Playground at "C" and East Westmoreland Streets.
A 25-count indictment unsealed against the men Thursday charges them with various counts of conspiracy and drug distribution between March 2014 and October 2015.
Those arrested Thursday include Balbuena; Jose Garcia; Elvin "Elvys" DeJesus, 26; Gary Cuevas-Reyes, 27 and Pedro Montes-Perez, 24 and a U.S. citizen.
Ysidro and Luis Garcia and Yan Mota Soto, 25, were being sought Thursday.
It was not immediately clear Thursday whether any of the men had retained an attorney.
215-854-2608
@jeremyrroebuck