Complaint — United States v. Ariel Castro Arrendondo (S.D.N.Y., Dkt. 1, October 26, 2021)

Summary

Complaint in United States v. Ariel Castro Arrendondo, 1:21-mj-10255-UA (21 MAG 10255), in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Document 1, filed October 26, 2021, citing a violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841. Count One charges narcotics conspiracy and alleges that the defendant conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams and more of mixtures and substances containing a detectable amount of fentanyl. The supporting affidavit of William Reddin, a Detective with the New York City Police Department, describes recorded phone calls between a confidential source and the defendant about fentanyl pills. It states that law enforcement seized a backpack of blue pills that it believes to be fentanyl pills, weighing approximately 4.66 kilograms.

Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used

Cite this document

“Complaint — United States v. Ariel Castro Arrendondo (S.D.N.Y., Dkt. 1, October 26, 2021).” Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/court-filing-no-1-21-mj-10255-dkt-1-s-d-n-y-ac164e0825/, SHA-256 019ff3356e5a1303d812770c931e4acf8408bc71cd120f49ce9c7b11dbd43c2f.

Full text

Case 1:21-mj-10255-UA Document 1 Filed 10/26/21 Page 1 of 6

ORIGINAL 21 MAG 10255
Approved : 1/ilii, ~
MITZ s. s TEI NER
SAMUEL P . ROTHSCHILD
Assistant United States Attorneys

Before : THE HONORABLE BARBARA MOSES
Un i ted States Magistrate Judge
Sou the rn District of New York

- - X

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA COMPLAINT
Violation of
- v. - 2 1 u . s . c . § 841

AR I EL CASTRO ARRENDONDO ,

Defendant . COUNTY OF OFFENSE :
NEW YORK
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - X

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK , ss .:

WILLIAM REDDIN , being duly sworn , deposes and says that
he is a Detective with the New York City Police Department ("NYPD " )
and a Task Force Of ficer with the Drug Enforcement Administration
(" DEA" ) New York Drug Enforcement Task Force , and charges as
f ollows :

COUNT ONE
(Narcotics Conspiracy)

1. On or about October 25 , 2021 , in the Southern
District of New York and elsewhere , AR I EL CASTRO ARRENDONDO , the
defendant, and others known and unknown , intentionally and
knowingly did combine, con s pire , confederate , and agree together
and wi t h each other to violate the narcotics laws of the United
Sta t es .

2. I t wa s a part and an object of the conspiracy that
ARIEL CASTRO ARRENDONDO , the defendant , and others known and
u nknown , wou l d and did distribute and possess with intent to
distribute a control l ed substance , in v iolation of Title 21 , United
States Code , Section 841 (a) (1) .

3. The cont r o l led substance that ARIEL CASTRO
ARRENDONDO , the defendant , conspired to distribute and possess
Case 1:21-mj-10255-UA Document 1 Filed 10/26/21 Page 2 of 6

with intent to distribute was 400 grams and more of mixtures and
substances containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, in
violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841 (b ) (1) (A)

(Title 21 , United States Code, Sections 812, 84l(a) (1) and
841 (b) (1) (A) . )

The bases for my knowledge and for the foregoing charge
are , in part, as follows :

4. I am a Detective with the NYPD and a Task Force
Officer with the DEA New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, and I
have been personally involved in this investigation. This
affidavit is based on my investigation, my conversations with other
law enforcement officers and other individuals, and my examination
of reports and records . Because this affidavit is being submitted
for the limited purpose of establishing probable cause, it does
not include all the facts that I have learned during the course of
my investigation . Where the contents of documents and the actions,
statements , and conversations of others are reported herein, they
are reported in substance and in part , except where otherwise
indicated .

5. Based on my training and experience, my
participation in this investigation , including my personal
observations , my conversations with confidential sources working
at the direction of law enforcement ("CS-1," "CS - 2"), and my review
of materials provided by CS - 1 1 and CS - 2 2 , including consensually

1 CS-1 has been providing information to law enforcement since in
or about 2006 . CS-1 was previously arrested for a narcotics
offense, but the case was subsequently dismissed . CS-1 is
providing information to law enforcement in exchange for financial
benefits . Information provided by CS -1 has been found reliable
and corroborated by , among othe r things, phone records and
electronic evidence , and has led to multiple seizures of narcotics.

2 CS-2 has pleaded guilty , pursuant to a cooperation agreement, to
a federal criminal information charging him with participating in
a narcotics conspiracy , possession of a firearm in relation to a
drug trafficking crime , possession of a firearm as a felon ,
conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and the sale and possession of
stolen property (the "Current Charges") . CS-2 is cooperating in
an effort to obtain leniency at sentencing for the Current Charges .
CS - 2 was also previously convicted of narcotics offenses and a
charge related to the sale of a stolen vehicle (the "Historical
Charges") , and he served as a law enforcement source following his
prior convictions of the Historical Charges. The Current Charges

2
Case 1:21-mj-10255-UA Document 1 Filed 10/26/21 Page 3 of 6

crea t ed r ecordings of certain of the communications described
below , 3 my conversations with other law enforcement agents , and my
review of law enforcement reports and records , I have learned the
following , among other things :

a. In or around August 2021 , CS-1 began
communicating through a phone number (the "Phone Number"), with an
individual subsequently identified as ARIEL CASTRO ARRENDONDO, the
defendant , as described infra . Specifically , CASTRO ARRENDONDO
and CS - 1 engaged i n dr u g - related conversations , including via the
Phone Number and in person , in and around the Arizona area . In
their initial conversations, they discussed , in substance and in
part , a potentia l drug transaction i n which CS - 1 would sell cocaine
to CASTRO ARRENDONDO . During one in- person meeting at which CS - 1
was operating at the direction of a local Arizona law enforcement
agency and was outf i t t ed wi th a recording device , CS-1 showed
CAS TRO ARRENDONDO actual cocaine to demonstrate to CASTRO
ARRENDONDO that CS - 1 could in fact sell cocaine to CASTRO
ARRENDONDO . A cocaine transaction was never completed.

b. In subsequent conversations , CASTRO
ARRENDONDO and CS - 1 discussed , in substance and in part , a
potent i a l drug t r ansact i on in which CASTRO ARRENDONDO would sell
CS - 1 fentanyl , among other narcotics , in and around the New York
City area . Specifically , in or around September 2021, CASTRO
ARRENDONDO , an individual who CS-1 understood to be CASTRO
ARRENDONDO ' s brother ( the " Brother") , and CS - 1 met in person .
CASTRO ARRENDONDO and the Brother indicated to CS - 1 , in substance
and in part, that they could in fact arrange for fentanyl , among
other narcotics , to be supplied to CS - 1 in and around the New York
City area .

c. On or about September 13 , 2021, CASTRO
ARRENDONDO , who was using the Phone Number, and CS - 1 , had a phone
call , which CS - 1 recorded . During that call , they discussed , in
substance and in part , the details of a transaction in which CASTRO
ARRENDONDO wou l d sell CS - 1 approximately 70 , 000 fentanyl pills for

arise from conduct that CS - 2 engaged in while serving as a law
enforcement source . Information provided by CS - 2 in this
investigation has been found reliable and corroborated by, among
other things , recordings and events independently observed by law
enfo r cement .

described below were predominantly in Spanish ,
t ke I
ane speak fluently. Descriptions of the
communications included herein are based on draft translations .
C.. S. - I C. S. - "2 OA--~ f-k..c..__ I "',_, .e....-. ~ c- c.....,,e_ ~ .tz. ""~ c>-.... ~<2.. ...,+ i;.
1
,-. ,., . ,, ! ..
I ""-V' f _ _ _ . I V ) ~
t-1.,ur--. re. c..-r .d: n ~
J
Case 1:21-mj-10255-UA Document 1 Filed 10/26/21 Page 4 of 6
,-

approximately $7 per pill in and around the New York City area on
or about September 17, 2021.

d. On or about September 17, 2021, CASTRO
ARRENDONDO informed CS-1, in substance and in part, that he
obtained fentanyl pills directly from Mexico and that he would be
unable to obtain fentanyl pills in time for the previously
discussed narcotics transaction.

e. In or around October 2021, CASTRO ARRENDONDO,
who was using the Phone Number, and CS-1, had a series of phone
calls, which CS-1 recorded. Specifically, CASTRO ARRENDONDO and
CS-1 discussed, in substance and in part, the details of a
narcotics transaction in which CASTRO ARRENDONDO would sell CS-1
approximately 60,000 "medicinas" (medicines), which based on my
training and experience, I understand to be a reference to fentanyl
pills, for approximately $10 per pill.

f. On or about October 22, 2021, CASTRO
ARRENDONDO, who was using the Phone Number, informed CS-1 that he
would be prepared to proceed with the narcotics transaction as
early as on or about October 23, 2021.

g. On or about October 22, 2021, CASTRO
ARRENDONDO, who was using the Phone Number, and CS-1, had a phone
call, which CS-1 recorded. CASTRO ARRENDONDO explained, in
substance and in part, that there were an additional six "platos
chinos" (Chinese plates) that were on their way to New York, which
based on my training and experience, I understand to be a reference
to six kilograms of fentanyl. In addition, CASTRO ARRENDONDO
informed CS-1 that there were an additional fifty-five thousand
"seeds" on their way to New York, which based on my training and
experience, I understand to be a reference to fifty-five thousand
fentanyl pills. CASTRO ARRENDONDO, through the Phone Number, also
texted CS-1 a photograph of a clear plastic bag that contained an
unknown amount of blue pills, which based on my training and
experience, I believe to be counterfeit oxycodone M30 pills, which
are pills laced with fentanyl.

h. On or about October 2 5, 2021, CASTRO
ARRENDONDO, who was using the Phone Number, and CS-1, had a series
of phone calls, which CS-1 recorded. Specifically, CS-1 told
CASTRO ARRENDONDO, in substance and in part, that he would meet
CASTRO ARRENDONDO that day at or near a location in Manhattan
("Location-1") at approximately 4:00 p.m. Further, CS-1 informed
CASTRO ARRENDONDO, in substance and in part, that his worker would
meet CASTRO ARRENDONDO at Location-1 in a black Toyota in order to

4
Case 1:21-mj-10255-UA Document 1 Filed 10/26/21 Page 5 of 6

veri f y t h e narcotics and that CS - 1 would be nearby with the money
for the transaction .

i. Later that day, at approximately 5 : 00 p . m.,
law enforcement observed CASTRO ARRENDONDO , as well as two
unidentified males ( the " Indi victuals") in the vicinity of
Location- 1 . CAS TRO ARRENDONDO and the Individuals appeared to be
engaged in countersurveillance of the area. At approximately 5 : 45
p . m. , CS - 1 called CASTRO ARRENDONDO , who was using the Phone
Number , and had a phone call , which CS - 1 recorded , in which CS - 1
directed CASTRO ARRENDONDO to meet him at a second location
("Location-2 " ) , which is in the immediate vicinity of Location - 1.
Subsequently , law enforcement observed CASTRO ARRENDONDO reach
into a vehicle and pull out a black backpack ( the "Backpack") .
CASTRO ARRENDONDO then approached a black Toyota (the "Vehicle")
in which CS-2 was located and entered the rear passenger side of
the Vehicle. CS - 2 inquired whether CASTRO ARRENDONDO had the "blue
buttons," which based on my training and experience , I understand
to be a reference to fentanyl pills. CASTRO ARRENDONDO responded
affirmatively and handed CS-2 the Backpack , in which CS - 2 observed
blue pills . Further , CS - 2 inquired about the incoming shipment of
six kilograms of fentanyl and CASTRO ARRENDONDO stated , in
substance and in part , that the narcotics were on their way and
wou l d be arriving in New York that evening or the following day .
I n addition , CS - 2 inquired whether CASTRO ARRENDONDO could procure
an additional one-hundred - thousand fentanyl pills , to which CASTRO
ARRENDONDO responded affirmatively but stated that it would take
some time . CASTRO ARRENDONDO was subsequently placed under arrest .

j . Law enforcement seized the Backpack, which was
found to contain approximately sixty- thousand blue pills (the
"Pi l ls " ) in plastic Ziploc bags , depicted in the photo below :

5
Case 1:21-mj-10255-UA Document 1 Filed 10/26/21 Page 6 of 6

k. Based on the appearance of the Pills,
statements made by CASTRO ARRENDONDO regarding the consistency of
the Pills, and my training and experience, I believe the Pills to
be fentanyl pills. The Pills weighed approximately 4.66 kilograms.

1. At the time of the arrest, CASTRO ARRENDONDO
had in his possession two cellphones, one of which rang when law
enforcement officers dialed the Phone Number, as well as two
identification documents with the name "Ariel Castro Arrendondo."

WHEREFORE, I respectfully request that ARIEL CASTRO
ARRENDONDO, the defendant, be imprisoned or bailed, as the case
may be.

Williameddin
Detective
DEA New York Drug Enforcement
Task Force

Sworn to me through the transmission of this
Complaint by reliable electronic means, pursuant to
Federal Rules of Cri ·l nal Procedure 41 ( d) ( 3) and 4. 1 this
of Octob r 21

THE HONORABLE BARBARA MOSES
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

File and source

File: 1.pdf
Size: 429,263 bytes
SHA-256: 019ff3356e5a1303d812770c931e4acf8408bc71cd120f49ce9c7b11dbd43c2f
Our copy: 1.pdf
Original: No public link identified.