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DA drops charges against Beato, wants him ‘held accountable’ in federal court

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Ace Hardware closing facility in Jenkins Township

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Following a year-long investigation, several suspects have been indicted by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking charges.</p><p>The investigation involved the U.S Attorney&#8217;s Office, Scranton&#8217;s Drug Enforcement Agency office, PEnnsylvania STate Police Vice and Investigation units, and Wilkes-Barre City Police&#8217;s Anti Crime Unit and detective division.</p><p>According to police, the following have been indicted:</p><p>&#8226; Jose Ramon De Leon-Pineda, of West Hazleton</p><p>&#8226; Juan V. Roman-Polanco, of Avoca</p><p>&#8226; Edirso A. De Leon-Frias, of Nanticoke</p><p>&#8226; Ruth I. Reyes-Maldonado, of Nanticoke</p><p>&#8226; Myrna Jimenez-Echevarria, of Lancaster</p><p>&#8226; Joel Jose Contreras, of Kingston</p><p>&#8226; Luis Enrique Martinez-Ortiz, of Wilkes-Barre</p><p>&#8226; Roy Seabrook, of Wilkes-Barre</p><p>&#8226; Alhagie Samba, of Wilkes-Barre</p><p>&#8226; Adrian Rivera, of Wilkes-Barre</p><p>&#8226; Jerrod Curtis, of Wilkes-Barre</p><p>&#8226; Nelson Soto, of Wilkes-Barre</p><p>The indictment alleges that the defendants conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, powder cocaine, and cocaine base, or &#8220;crack.&#8221;</p><p>De Leon-Pineda is also a suspect in a shooting that took place on Sept. 5 at the Rancho Latino Night Club on Prospect Street, according to police.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Travis Kellar</p><p>tkellar@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Travis Kellar at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @TLNews</p></shirttailMeta></div>

12 indicted on drug trafficking charges