Five individuals were arrested Tuesday for their involvement in a massive drug trafficking operation that transported approximately 22 tons of cocaine and over $100 million in cash between Los Angeles and New York City. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the alleged leaders of the organization, David Rodriguez, known as “Gotti” and “Fat Boy,” from Dumont, New Jersey, and Raymond O’Connell, known as “Sal” and “White Boy,” from Manhattan, have been detained since 2024.
The operation involved shipping cocaine concealed in locked plastic cases through high-value freight forwarding companies that typically handle jewelry, precious metals, and fine art. These shipments were sent from an office disguised as a jewelry store in Los Angeles’ California Jewelry Mart to New York City’s Diamond District. Once the drugs reached the East Coast, Rodriguez and O’Connell allegedly distributed them to co-conspirators and directed the cash proceeds back to Los Angeles for laundering.
The investigation revealed that more than 800 parcels of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $315 million, were shipped from Los Angeles to New York, while over 500 parcels, valued at $105 million, were sent back. Law enforcement seized more than $2.8 million in cash, 725 kilograms of cocaine, and luxury items purchased with drug money.
Another key figure in the case, Ronnell Sweat, pleaded guilty to federal firearm charges in 2024 and is currently serving a 15-year sentence. The recent arrests included three defendants from the East Coast who appeared in court on Tuesday, while two from Los Angeles are scheduled for a court appearance on Wednesday. The specific charges against the five newly arrested individuals have not yet been announced.
If convicted, Rodriguez and O’Connell face mandatory life sentences in federal prison. The cocaine distribution charges carry a minimum of 10 years in prison and could lead to life imprisonment, while money laundering charges could result in up to 20 years. Authorities are still searching for two additional suspects, Daniel “Nice” Vega and Gregory “G” Antonio Benitez, both from New York City.
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