An indictment was unsealed in the District of North Dakota today, charging a federal inmate and eight co-conspirators with international methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl trafficking.
According to court documents, since January 2022, Jesus Amurahaby Celestin-Ortega, also known as Flaco, 26, allegedly engaged in drug-related and money laundering conspiracies and a continuing criminal enterprise while incarcerated at a federal prison on unrelated drug and firearm charges. Celestin-Ortega allegedly operated a criminal network using a contraband cellphone from inside the federal prison to import and distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, more than one kilogram of heroin, and more than 400 grams of fentanyl. He is accused of directing and coordinating the importation of these substances into the United States and their distribution within North Dakota, Minnesota, California, Colorado, Georgia, Missouri, Texas, Arizona, and elsewhere. Additionally, Celestin-Ortega allegedly conspired to launder drug proceeds from the United States to Mexico.
Celestin-Ortega’s eight co-conspirators—Trinidad Torres Meraz (58) of Riverside; Edgar Hernandez (43), also known as Ivan Edgar Hernandez Vasquez; Maria De La Cruz Estrada Moreno (40) of El Paso; Jesse Rocha (25) of Denver; Rafael Bueno-Nava (49) of Fridley; Ryan James Stevens (41) of Arvada; Christian Ivan Gonzalez (31) of Phoenix; and Martina Lucia Mendez (26) of Gilbert—are charged with participating in the distribution conspiracy. Five co-conspirators—Torres Meraz, Estrada Moreno, Bueno-Nava, Stevens, and Mendez—also allegedly conspired to import methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl from Mexico into the United States. Three conspirators—Torres Meraz, Estrada Moreno, and Bueno-Nava—face additional money laundering conspiracy charges. Celestin-Ortega and six co-conspirators have been arrested on the indictment and have made their initial court appearances. Hernandez and Mendez remain fugitives.
If convicted on drug distribution conspiracy counts or importation conspiracy counts defendants face a maximum penalty of life in prison. The money laundering conspiracy counts carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri announced the indictments alongside U.S. Attorney Mac Schneider for the District of North Dakota; Executive Associate Director Katrina W. Berger of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Special Agent in Charge Steven T. Bell of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Omaha Field Division; Inspector in Charge Bryan S. Musgrove of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Denver Division; and Special Agent in Charge Thomas F. Murdock of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI).
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces operation involving HSI; DEA; USPIS; IRS-CI; Grand Forks Narcotics Task Force; North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation; Grand Forks Police Department with support from Federal Bureau Of Prisons’ National Gang Unit.
Trial Attorneys Lernik Begian and Tara Arndt from Narcotic Dangerous Drug Section along with Assistant U.S Attorneys Christopher C Myers Matthew P Kopp prosecuting case
An indictment is merely an allegation all defendants presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt court law