Accused fugitive drug trafficker ‘El Don’ charged in NYC after running for over a year
A ruthless drug kingpin nicknamed “El Don” faced a slew of drug, assault and kidnapping charges in a Manhattan courtroom Thursday after getting nabbed in Mexico by the feds following more than a year on the lam, authorities said.
Jonathan Huertas, 31, and his cohorts allegedly kidnapped two people early last year and tortured them in a Bronx basement apartment with a hot iron and melted plastic — and planned to snatch a third victim before cops closed in.
Investigators raided the Morris Heights apartment and found nine pounds of drugs, including fentanyl and cocaine, and busted three Huertas associates, officials said.
But Huertas took off and remained on the run for a year and a half before he was arrested in Jalisco, Mexico and shipped back to New York, Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan said on Thursday.
“The illegal drugs flooding our city are not
only causing record overdose deaths, but members of criminal organizations involved in the importation and distribution have been charged with crimes of cruelty and disregard for human life,” Brennan said in a statement.
According to prosecutors, cops scoped out Huertas and his associates as they came and went from the Bronxdale Avenue apartment, using video footage to track the suspects.
Huertas was allegedly seen on video torturing one victim on Jan. 29, 2022, by putting a hot iron to his buttocks and dripping melted plastic on him — while the gang was heard discussing kidnapping another person, authorities said.
The second victim was allegedly tortured with the hot iron on Jan. 31.
Police moved in on the apartment in February 2022 and arrested the crew — including Ronny Jimenez and Cesar Jimenez, who later pleaded guilty to drug, kidnapping and weapons charges and were each sentenced to seven years in prison.
A third accomplice, Jasmin Roman, pleaded guilty to drug possession and received five years of probation, authorities said.
Huertas, meanwhile, was a fugitive until he was picked up on a federal warrant in Mexico in September and was extradited back to the US.
He appeared in Manhattan Supreme Court on Thursday in a green jumpsuit and white sneakers as he was arraigned on charges of kidnapping, conspiracy, assault, operating as a major trafficker and several counts of drug possession
Huertas pleaded not guilty and was ordered held without bail by Judge Steven Statsinger. He is due to be returned to federal custody at a later date.
“This indictment demonstrates the dark side of drug trafficking — threats of violence, kidnapping and torture,” Frank Tarentino, a special agent in charge of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York division, said in a statement.
“DEA is committed to bringing criminals to justice, no matter where they might flee,” Torentino said. “In this case, the global reach of DEA and our law enforcement partners tracked Jonathan Huertas to Jalisco in order for him to face the consequences of his crimes.”
