31 May – LAWFUEL – The Law News Network – Marcos Daniel Jiménez, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Charles J. Hynes, District Attorney for the Kings County District Attorney’s Office, announced today the return of a Superseding Indictment detailing thirteen (13) homicides committed by members of a large organized crime syndicate, known as the “Corporation.” Among those charged in the Superseding Indictment are: Jose Miguel Battle, Sr.; Manuel Isaac Marquez, Sr.; Jose Miguel Battle, Jr.; Julio Acuna; Gustavo Battle; Orlando Cordoves; Jorge Davila; Jose Aluart; Jorge Nunez; Norberto Fernandez; Argelio Jimenez; Evelyn Maribel Runciman; and Valerio Cerron. This investigation was spearheaded by the South Florida Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force and South Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, and is the culmination of a ten-year investigation into the illegal activities of individuals involved in running the Corporation. This indictment supersedes the 2004 indictment.
As alleged in the Superseding Indictment, the Corporation, which is currently based in South Florida, has operated since the 1960’s in multiple jurisdictions, including New York, New Jersey, and in various locations overseas. According to the Superseding Indictment, the Corporation has conducted extensive illegal gambling operations, trafficked in narcotics, and used violence and intimidation to conduct its operations, including the commission of multiple murders. Indeed, the Superseding Indictment specifically lists four arsons in New York, set in the mid 1980s, which resulted in the deaths of eight (8) innocent individuals. The Corporation was also allegedly involved in narcotics trafficking and money laundering. Their money laundering activities extended to Lima, Peru, where the Corporation set up a casino to launder their ill-gotten money.
Also detailed in the Superseding Indictment are five (5) premeditated killings occurring in South Florida and New York. Among the deceased are Jannin Toribio and Laura Sirgo, Ernesto Torres, Jose “Palulo” Enriquez, Idalia Fernandez, Angel Roberto Mujica, and Omar Broche. According to the Indictment, these murders were authorized and committed by members of the Corporation in furtherance of their racketeering conspiracy.
Since its formation in 1964, the Corporation has allegedly generated millions of dollars in illegal revenues for its members each year. The Superseding Indictment seeks forfeiture of over $1.3 billion in illegally generated funds.
United States Attorney Jiménez, referring to the particularly violent nature of this criminal enterprise, stated, “This racketeering group maintained power and control over a large metropolitan area through violence and intimidation. Arson and murder were a routine part of their business operation. The goal of this prosecution is to help dismantle this violent enterprise.”
District Attorney Hynes added, “Far from being a victimless crime, illegal policy gambling exacts a horrible toll on a wide range of victims. It is a black market tax on the most vulnerable members of our community that diverts millions of dollars yearly from our local economies to the coffers of the Corporation and its leaders, including Jose Battle, Jr. As today’s Superseding Indictment confirms, the Corporation’s upper echelon managers repeatedly resorted to violence, even arson and murder, to protect their ill-gotten gains. Our participation in this joint investigation and prosecution underscores my long-term commitment to vigorously prosecuting illegal gambling and disgorging the Corporation and its leaders of the profits of these crimes.”
Mr. Jiménez commended the King’s County District Attorney’s Office and New York City Police Department, who have been working hand in hand with the Internal Revenue Service, which is the lead investigative agency, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Broward County Sheriff’s Office, and the Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service. Mr. Jiménez also commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Immigration and Naturalization Service; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; the Florida Department of Law Enforcement; the New Jersey State Police; the New Jersey Commission of Investigation; the Hudson County New Jersey Prosecutor’s Office; the Miami-Dade County States Attorney’s Office; and Miami-Dade Police Department, all of which have been or are currently involved with this investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United Sates Attorneys Tony Gonzalez, Maria Beguiristain, and David Haimes, of U.S. Attorney’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force; Alison Lehr of the Asset Forfeiture Section; Ann Marie C. Villafana of the Criminal Division of the West Palm Beach Office, and Special Assistant United States Attorneys Patricia McNeil and Dennis Ring of the King’s County New York District Attorney’s Office Racket’s Division.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on .
