The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District
of Pennsylvania says seven people were arrested
Thursday on a superseding indictment returned by a federal grand
jury in Scranton on June 26, 2012. The federal charges involve
conspiracy, bank fraud, money laundering, and a marijuana growing
operation in two states - Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, Carlos
Guerra-Lescay, age 51, Eileen Mesa, age 36, Ernesto Huerta
Martin, age 51, Jose Frias, age 43, all from Newark, NJ, Vivian
Cruz, age 49, and Antonio Figueredo, age 41, both from Easton,
PA, and Osleivy Gomez, age 34, North Bergen, NJ were arrested on
a three-count superseding indictment. They are charged with with
conspiracies to commit bank fraud, money laundering, and the
manufacture of marijuana with intent to distribute.
Allegedly, the defendants had a scheme to
buy properties with false financial information. The properties,
located in the Brodheadsville and Gilbert area of Monroe County,
PA, were then used to for an indoor marijuana growing
operation. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum sentence of 40
years imprisonment for the drug charges, a maximum 20 years
imprisonment for the money laundering charge, and a maximum five
years imprisonment for the conspiracy to commit bank fraud.