An investigation into a heroin trafficking ring has led to several arrests in Harrisburg and Lancaster, according the state Attorney General’s office.
Investigators said this was the result of a six-month-long investigation by the Harrisburg Police Department, Dauphin County Special Emergency Response Team, Manheim Township Police Department, Lancaster County Drug Task Force and the Drug Strike Force Section.
Leopoldo “Gordo” Miranda-Viera, 29, of Lancaster; Hector “Tattoo” Ortiz-Rivera, 36, of Harrisburg; Luis “Meno” Ortiz-Rivera, 33, of Harrisburg; Victor Alhadol-Santiago, 23, of Lancaster; and Ismael Rodriguez, 36, of Lancaster are each charged with possession of illegal substances with intent to deliver, as well as various of other charges.
Agents in the Bureau of Narcotics Investigation received information in Oct. 2014 regarding brothers “Tattoo” (Hector Ortiz-Rivera) and “Menor” (Luis Enrique Ortiz-Rivera), who were allegedly distributing bundle quantities of heroin in the area of Derry Street, Harrisburg.
Attorney General Kathleen Kane said the Mobile Street Crimes Unit was deployed in Harrisburg at the time. Agents shared intelligence to positively identify “Tattoo,” which accelerated the investigation.
Utilizing a confidential informant and controlled purchases, it was determined that a Lancaster man known as “Gordo” (Leopoldo Miranda-Viera) was supplying the brothers with heroin. Agents were further able to identify two additional accomplices, Ismael Otero Rodriguez and Victor Alhadol-Santiago, who were responsible for storing, packaging and distributing the heroin for “Gordo.”
During the course of the investigation, agents seized more than 50 grams of heroin with an estimated street value of $15,000 and nearly $80,000 cash, which included buy money a confidential informant paid “Tattoo” to purchase heroin from “Gordo.”
Below is a complete list of charges for the five men :
— Leopoldo Miranda-Viera aka “Gordo,” 29, of Lancaster, is charged with: seven counts of delivery of heroin; two counts of corrupt organizations; one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin; one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver heroin; and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
— Hector Ortiz-Rivera aka “Tattoo,” 36, of Harrisburg, is charged with: seven counts of delivery of heroin; two counts of corrupt organizations; one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin; one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver heroin; and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
— Luis Enrique Ortiz-Rivera aka “Menor,” 33, of Harrisburg, is charged with: two counts of delivery of heroin; two counts of corrupt organizations; one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin; one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver heroin; and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
— Victor Alhadol-Santiago, 23, of Lancaster, is charged with: two counts of delivery of heroin; two counts of corrupt organizations; one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin; and one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver heroin.
— Ismael Otero Rodriguez, 36, of Lancaster, is charged with: two counts of corrupt organizations; one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin; and one count of criminal conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver heroin.
