Thirteen people from several states have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges related to drug trafficking and firearms offenses, according to First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti. The indictment follows a two-year investigation into the alleged cocaine trafficking operation.
The defendants are from Pennsylvania, California, New York, Florida, and New Mexico. They include Feng Ruan of Brooklyn, NY; Maoxuan Xia of Flushing, NY; Jhon Canizales-Soto of Miami, FL; Marcos Francisco-Tomas of Riverside, CA; Andres Flores-Cedeno of New Kensington, PA; Eric Vega of Riverside, CA; Manuel Rivera of Coachella, CA; Fernando Gonzalez-Gonzalez and Julio Flores of Los Angeles, CA; Michael Johnson of Albuquerque, NM; Aaron Mitchell of Pittsburgh, PA; Raymond Simmons and Toriano Wilson of New Kensington, PA.
According to the indictment, between January 2023 and April 2024, Francisco-Tomas, Flores-Cedeno, Vega, Rivera, Gonzalez-Gonzalez, Flores, Johnson, Mitchell, Simmons, and Wilson conspired to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. Specific allegations include Rivera possessing with intent to distribute five kilograms or more on August 30, 2023. On February 17, 2024 both Francisco-Tomas and Flores-Cedeno allegedly possessed with intent to distribute the same amount.
The indictment also alleges that on January 17, 2023 Ruan engaged in monetary transactions involving property derived from unlawful activity. From January 2023 through April 2024 Xia and Canizales-Soto along with several others are accused of participating in interstate travel or transmission in aid of racketeering. Additionally on October 5, 2023 Mitchell is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition as a previously convicted felon.
If convicted on the most serious charges related to drug trafficking conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute cocaine (five kilograms or more), ten defendants face at least ten years up to life in prison and fines up to $10 million. Ruan and Xia could face up to ten years in prison and fines up to $250,000 if convicted on their respective charges. Canizales-Soto faces up to five years imprisonment for his alleged role. Mitchell could receive up to fifteen years for the firearms charge as a felon in possession. Sentences would be determined based on federal guidelines considering offense severity and criminal history.
Assistant United States Attorney Katherine C. Jordan is prosecuting the case.
The prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative created by Executive Order 14159: Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF brings together multiple government agencies including agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration and Internal Revenue Service within the Western District of Pennsylvania under leadership from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for that district.
“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,” according to information provided by officials. “Through historic interagency collaboration…the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying investigating and prosecuting…crimes committed by these organizations which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders.” Officials say there is particular focus on crimes involving children as well as efforts aimed at removing violent criminal aliens from the country.
Officials emphasized that an indictment is only an accusation: “A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.”
