Joaquin “Kino” Gonzalez, 40, of Emmaus, is accused of leading the operation, which investigators said trafficked large quantities of narcotics into Pennsylvania through connections in Southern California linked to a Mexican trafficking organization, according to the attorney general’s office.
Ten people were charged in the case following arrests made in recent days. Gonzalez was taken into custody with assistance from the Allentown Police Department over the weekend, authorities said.
Each defendant is charged with corrupt organizations, possession with intent to deliver, conspiracy, and related offenses.
The defendants charged are:
- Joaquin Gonzalez, 40, of Emmaus
- Danny Cancel, 25, of Bethlehem
- Joel Castro, 41, of Orefield
- Sally Garcia-Colon, 39, of Emmaus
- Jorge Marrero-Rodriguez, 60, of Allentown
- Jordan Pagan, 37, of Leola
- John Pagan DeJesus, 49, of Whitehall
- Israel Perez, 45, of Bethlehem
- Anthony Planas, 42, of Bethlehem
- Hanzel Rivera, 37, of Bethlehem
The investigation began in 2024 and involved searches at numerous locations, along with large narcotics seizures, according to the release.
Investigators said Gonzalez delivered six pounds of methamphetamine to Jordan Pagan during one observed transaction in 2024. In another incident, authorities allegedly found approximately four pounds of methamphetamine, seven pounds of marijuana, and $2,500 in cash during a traffic stop involving Rivera.
During the investigation, authorities seized:
- 5 pounds of fentanyl
- 1.7 pounds of heroin
- 3,000 fentanyl pills
- 4.48 pounds of methamphetamine
- 4.6 pounds of cocaine
- 11.2 pounds of marijuana
“This was a high-level, cross-country operation that polluted neighborhoods across the eastern part of the Commonwealth with deadly poisons,” Sunday said. “Closing down drug-trafficking pipelines remains a top priority for my office, as these traffickers value dollars over human lives, and we have seen, time and time again, the deadly violence attached to drug trafficking groups.”
Gonzalez’s bail was set at $1 million. The remaining defendants are also being held in custody, according to the attorney general’s office.
Preliminary hearings are scheduled for Tuesday, May 12.
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