Last updated : November 11, 2024
A federal grand jury indicted two men who were characterized in court documents as “main suppliers” of both heroin and cocaine in the Cleveland area.
The grand jury indicted Francisco Javier Sanudo, 37, and 50-year-old Jairo Colon, both of Cleveland, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and heroin, distributing and possessing heroin as well as three counts of distributing and possessing cocaine.The indictments, unsealed Thursday, April 9, showed that the joint investigation by Cleveland’s drug task force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation has yielded over 77 pounds of cocaine, more than 24 pounds of heroin and about $418,000 in cash.Authorities discovered some of the drugs while executing search warrant, but a criminal complaint indicates agents also used a “confidential source” who purchased drugs on behalf of the officers.
The criminal complaint, dated March 6, stated law enforcement uncovered evidence that the duo netted more than $1 million as a result of the drug distribution scheme. Sanudo was allegedly awaiting the arrival of about 440 pounds of cocaine from California just prior to his arrest. Sanudo also told the confidential source that he had just recently sold off about 70 kilograms.
Sanudo and Colon were scheduled to go before U.S. Magistrate Judge Greg White for arraignment last Friday afternoon. Both men remain in federal custody.
Attorneys for Sanudo and Colon opted not to comment on their clients’ arrests. FBI spokeswoman Vicki Anderson declined to comment because the investigation is ongoing.
In March, the confidential source informed authorities that he had purchased “kilogram quantities of heroin and cocaine” from Colon and Sanudo at residences located on Castle and Trowbridge avenues. He further stated the men completed the transactions out of a tan minivan.
Investigators spotted a vehicle belonging to Colon when they went to the Trowbridge Avenue residence.
The informant purchased over two pounds of cocaine on March 2 from Colon and Sanudo during a transaction on West 32nd Street, at which time Colon and Sanudo arrived in a tan minivan. The pair presented the drugs to the informant in a black bag secured with layers of duct tape and plastic. The package carried a label that read “lexus.”
This transaction prompted federal authorities to secure a warrant to track the van.
On March 4, the informant again met with Sanudo and Colon, at which time they gave the informant a black bag containing 11 pounds of heroin. Sanudo also told the informant that he would sell him another 11 pounds the following day as long as the source was able to move it all by way of street sales. Further, he offered over two pounds of cocaine for $37,000, and the same quantity of heroin at a cost of $75,000.
Agents arrested Sanudo and Colon after the informant purchased the drugs. A ledger agents found in Colon’s wallet detailed his earnings totaling $1,465,370 over a particular period of time, which included references to “boy” and “girl,” which are known street names for cocaine and heroin.
At Colon’s residence on Berry Avenue, authorities located over 24 pounds of heroin, as well as more paperwork and cash.
The complaint also stated that Sanudo’s brother, Alejandro, assists with the shipments of the drugs from his home in Detroit.
