PHILADELPHIA, PA — Two members of the violent Reading-based Trinidad Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) have been sentenced to life in prison for their involvement in a series of brutal crimes, including murder, kidnapping, and large-scale drug trafficking. U.S. District Court Judge Juan R. Sánchez handed down the sentences this week to Dewayne Quinones, 30, and Mayco Alvarez-Jackson, 27, following a trial in which both were convicted of federal murder, weapons charges, and other offenses.
The defendants’ crimes stem from their roles in a DTO that was active in Reading, Pennsylvania, and implicated in widespread drug distribution and acts of violence between 2017 and 2018. The organization’s activities included the sale of methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and crack cocaine. The case marks the conclusion of years of investigation and prosecution, with over 15 individuals charged as part of the federal crackdown.
“The Trinidad organization thoroughly terrorized the Reading area for years,” said U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero. “Through remorseless violence they controlled their turf, to keep pushing their poison and making their money. As this case shows, my office, the FBI, and our local law enforcement partners will never cede control of our communities to violent drug gangs.”
The Trinidad DTO was responsible for a string of violent crimes. Among the most egregious were the quadruple homicides of Jarlyn Lantigua-Tejada, Juan Rodriguez, Nelson Onofre, and Joshua Santos on January 28, 2018. Additionally, the organization conspired to kill Miguel Reyes on December 13, 2017, and kidnapped and murdered Hector Gonzalez-Rivera on January 24, 2018. Prosecutors detailed how the group’s reign of terror involved coordination, repeated acts of violence, and the use of firearms to maintain control over drug distribution within the region.
Quinones and Alvarez-Jackson, alongside organization leader Jesus Feliciano-Trinidad, were convicted of these crimes in October 2022. Feliciano-Trinidad received a life sentence in December of 2022, while this week’s sentencing formally concludes legal proceedings against the DTO’s most prominent members.
Law enforcement agencies worked tirelessly to investigate and dismantle the DTO. The effort, led by FBI Philadelphia’s Allentown Resident Agency in partnership with the Berks County District Attorney’s Office, Reading Police Department, and other local and state agencies, demonstrated the commitment of officials to reclaiming communities shaken by violence and the drug epidemic.
Berks County District Attorney John Adams reinforced the gravity of these sentences, stating, “The life sentences imposed by the Federal District Court… ensure that these defendants will never again be a threat to our community. These sentences should send a message that we will not tolerate violence or drug trafficking and we’ll work with our state and federal partners to combat this type of activity in our community.”
The Trinidad DTO’s dismantling represents a significant victory in the ongoing battle against drug-fueled violence. Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies emphasized their shared resolve to hold offenders like Quinones and Alvarez-Jackson accountable, ensuring safety and stability in neighborhoods long overshadowed by such threats.
This case, investigated and prosecuted at multiple levels, emphasizes the collective power of cooperation in addressing organized crime and protecting public safety. The sentences handed down reflect a firm stance against violence and drug trafficking, signaling that justice will be pursued and achieved for those affected by such criminal enterprises.
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