The United States Attorney’s Office, Fort Wayne, announced a criminal complaint was filed charging five individuals with conspiracy to distribute heroin.  A criminal complaint is a charging document and all persons charged are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Named in the complaint were:

• Eduardo Martinez, age 29, Fort Wayne
• Gisela Leyva Gamez, age 28, Phoenix Ariz.
• Rigoberto Martinez, age 32, Fort Wayne
• Cesar Rosales, age 40, Wilmington Calif.,
• Juan Rosales Suarez, age 41, Memphis, Tenn.

These individuals were all arrested last Wednesday evening at or near a residence on West Butler Street in Fort Wayne, a house where Rigoberto Martinez was staying. They will be making their initial appearances before a United States Magistrate Judge today (Monday).

In conjunction with these arrests, law enforcement authorities conducted consent searches at the residence on West Butler Street and at a residence on West State Boulevard in Fort Wayne, the residence of Eduardo Martinez.

This investigation was based upon court ordered wiretaps on two cellular phones utilized by Eduardo Martinez. In an intercepted conversation on Dec. 14, authorities learned Eduardo Martinez was negotiating with Gisela Levya Gamez for Levya Gamez to arrange for a delivery of heroin to Martinez in Fort Wayne. The delivery took place on Dec. 17 in the garage at the residence at West Butler. The delivery was made in a white pickup truck driven there by Cesar Rosales and Juan Rosales Suarez.

Law enforcement had the area under surveillance, moved in and arrested Cesar Rosales and Juan Rosales Suarez on the premises. Eduardo Martinez and Gisela Levya Gamez were apprehended a short distance away after trying to run from law enforcement.  Rigoberto Martinez was arrested in the house at West Butler.

Approximately 3.5 kilograms of heroin was seized in the garage.

On Friday, a federal search warrant was executed on the white pickup truck driven to the Butler Street garage by Cesar Rosales and Juan Rosales Suarez. Law enforcement located approximately 4.5 additional kilograms of heroin in the spare tire of that vehicle.

United States Attorney David Capp stated, “This is the largest heroin take down ever in the Northern District of Indiana. These arrests dismantle an organization responsible for bringing large quantities of heroin to the streets of greater Fort Wayne. These arrests and seizures were the result of a great cooperative law enforcement effort by federal, state and locals.”

This investigation was an extensive law enforcement effort by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Fort Wayne Police Department. Much assistance was provided throughout by the Allen County Sheriff’s Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and Explosives, the Indiana State Police, Noble County Sheriff’s Department and the Steuben County Sheriff’s Department.

The United States Attorney’s Office will seek pre-trial detention on all defendants.

This matter is being handled for the United States Attorney’s office by AUSA Anthony W. Geller.