Kevin Ellis
Federal agents arrested four people Wednesday on charges that they distributed “black-tar heroin” from Mexico in Gaston and Mecklenburg counties.
The four face allegations that they trafficked as much as 1 kilogram of the drug, according to federal criminal complaints.
All four men remain in federal custody pending an Aug. 10 detention hearing.
The arrests are part of an ongoing investigation, code-named “Operation Dirty Girl 3,” being conducted by a multi-agency Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, which includes the FBI, U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, State Bureau of Investigation, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and Gastonia Police Department, along with other law enforcement agencies.
The Task Force has made other arrests and seizures in recent weeks, including several in June and several in July.
According to court documents and information brought out in court proceedings, the heroin was allegedly received from Mexico and then the participants used a local “dispatch” system through which purchasers called a phone number, a dispatcher directed the purchaser to a nearby location, and a “runner” met the purchaser in another vehicle to conduct the transaction.
Affidavits in support of the complaints describe how five of the individuals were recorded arranging heroin transactions on court-authorized phone wiretaps, and detail numerous transactions made with three of the individuals charged today.
Those involved in Wednesday's arrests include:
- Wilfredo Andujar 44, of Puerto Rico, also known as “Rolando Casanova” “Freddy,” “Buddy” and “Bori”; in federal custody
- Nancy Tebbe Rotolo, 52, who is in local custody
- James Lee Thompson, 46, also known as “Buddy,” who is in federal custody.
- Anthony Britt Moore, 39, in federal custody
- Irvin Josue Navarro Ramirez, 25, Mexico, also known as “Jorge,” in federal custody
- Sergio Rosas Garcia, 24, of Mexico, also known as “Bossman,” not yet in custody
