September 23, 2008
Erin Mulvey
Public Information Officer
212 337-2906
Cocaine Hidden in Kiddie Toys
SEP 23  --
   (NEW YORK)  - New York Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent-In-Charge John P. Gilbride, Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan, and Ron Verrochio, Inspector in Charge of the New York Division, Postal Inspection Service, announced the arrest on Tuesday morning of 9 people in Bronx and Manhattan in connection with a drug importation and money laundering 
organization that shipped kilograms of cocaine from Puerto Rico to New York City concealed in 
boxes of children's toys and puzzles.
During the course of the investigation 4 kilograms of cocaine (8.8 pounds); 4 handguns and 
$86,400 were recovered. The New York leader of the organization, Jose Diaz a/k/a Jose David 
Diaz-Ortega, was arrested on July 30, 2008. A total of 9 people have been arrested and charged 
in an indictment unsealed today.
A five-month investigation revealed that Jose Diaz a/k/a Jose David Diaz-Ortega, directed 
associates in Puerto Rico to ship kilograms of cocaine, concealed inside children's toy tool 
boxes and large building toy container boxes, to New York City. The organization used United 
States Postal Service Express Mail to make deliveries to drop off addresses in Manhattan and the 
Bronx. Eight other members of the Diaz-Ortega drug or money laundering enterprise in the 
Bronx, New Jersey and Puerto Rico, also face top felony charges. The narcotics were destined to 
be sold to buyers on the East Coast.
 One sale occurred on June 5, 2008 at Diaz-Ortega's Bronx residence. A Connecticut resident 
purchased a kilogram of cocaine concealed inside a child's pegboard stool. With the assistance 
of the New Haven Drug Enforcement Administration District Office and the Ansonia Police 
Department, the cocaine, still inside the stool, was recovered in the Waterbury, Connecticut area. 
Diaz-Ortega and Jesus Diaz, an employee in Prima Check Cashing, a money remitter and check 
cashing business at 1740 First Avenue in Manhattan, are also charged with laundering the 
proceeds of the narcotics business. As often as twice a week, Diaz-Ortega brought drug proceeds 
amounting to $40,000-$50,000 to Prima Check Cashing where Jesus Diaz, with the assistance of 
Lisa Rodriguez, sent wire transfers to associates in Puerto Rico. He also converted drug 
proceeds received in smaller denominations into $100 dollar bills. Diaz-Ortega stashed currency 
in his residence at 1314 Clay Avenue in the Bronx.
A June 13, 2008 search warrant at Diaz-Ortega's home led to the recovery of $86,400 and a .380 
caliber handgun. Diaz-Ortega, who was not home at the time, was arrested on July 30, 2008 at 
First Avenue and 101 st Street in Manhattan. He is being held on bail in the amount of $500,000 
cash/ $250,000 bond. His next court date is October 6, 2008 before the Honorable William 
Wetzel, Supreme Court Part 34. He and eight of his co-conspirators were indicted by a Special 
Narcotics Grand Jury on August 29, 2008.
This morning a search warrant at Cessa Eddy's Prospect Avenue Bronx home led to the recovery 
of a .38 caliber, .25 caliber and .9 millimeter handguns and an ounce of cocaine and an ounce of 
marijuana packaged in numerous plastic zip lock bags for distribution. Teams of DEA agents 
and Special Narcotics investigators arrested the remaining defendants charged in the indictment, 
including: Mark Marasi, Cessa Eddy, Jackeline Viera, Jesus Diaz, Lisa Rodriguez, Juan 
Carambot, Jose Weekes and Julio Perez.
The defendants will be arraigned this afternoon in Supreme Court Part 1. 
Below are names, addresses and charges against the defendants in this case:
1) Jose Diaz-Ortega, 28 
1314 Clay Avenue 
Bronx, NY
2) Mark Marasi, 37 
405 East 92 nd Street, Apt. 5J, 
New York, NY
3) Cessa Eddy, 22 
2339 Prospect Avenue, Apt 3D 
Bronx NY
4) Jackeline Viera, 28 
2312 Beaumont Avenue, Apt. 1, 
Bronx, NY
5) Jesus Diaz, 36 
27 Adult Drive 
Moonachie, NJ
6) Lisa Rodriguez, 36 
27 Adult Drive 
Moonachie, NJ
7) Juan Carambot, 40 
1806 1 st Avenue 
New York, NY
8) Julio Perez, 32 
1830 1 st Avenue 
New York, NY
9) Jose Weekes, 20 
1806 1 st Avenue 
New York, NY
CHARGES 
CONSPIRACY IN THE SECOND DEGREE
Jose David Diaz-Ortega, Julio Perez, Juan Carambot, Jose Weekes, Jackeline Viera, Cessa Eddy, 
Mark Marasi
CONSPIRACY IN THE FOURTH DEGREE
Jesus Diaz, Lisa M. Rodriguez (2 counts)
CRIMINAL POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE IN THE FIRST DEGREE
Cessa Eddy (3 counts), Mark Marasi (2 counts), Juan Carambot (3 counts), Jackeline Viera (1 
count) Jose Diaz (7 counts)
CRIMINAL SALE OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE IN THE FIRST DEGREE
Jose Diaz (1 count)
ATTEMPTED CRIMINAL POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE IN THE 
FIRST DEGREE
Jose Diaz
CRIMINAL POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE IN THE THIRD DEGREE
Jose Diaz (7 counts)
MONEY LAUNDERING IN THE THIRD DEGREE
Jose Diaz, Jackeline Viera (1 count)
MONEY LAUNDERING IN THE THIRD DEGREE
Jose Diaz, Jose Weeks, Jackeline Viera (1 count)
CRIMINAL POSSESSION OF A WEAPON IN THE FOURTH DEGREE
Jose Diaz (1 count)
SAC John Gilbride praised the DEA New Haven District Office, the DEA Caribbean Division and the Ansonia Police Department DEA for their assistance in this investigation.