18 indicted by federal grand jury on drug, fraud charges

July 16, 2003

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Eighteen people were named in four separate indictments returned the week of June 30 by a federal grand jury sitting in Martinsburg, U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Johnston said in a news release.

The first indictment was for Jose Absalon Aldana, 22, of Norcross, Ga., Ulises Aviles-Flores, 21, of Gerrardstown, W.Va.; Luis Carbajal-Estrada, 23, of Kearneysville, W.Va.; Obed Cardenas-Sosa, 23, of Gerrardstown; Gloria Jones, 36, of Gerrardstown; Carlos Alberto Soto-Chaves, 33, of Gerrardstown; Javier Peralta-Velazquez of Mexico; Ogliber Peralta-Velazquez of Martinsburg; and Jorge Luis Peralta-Hernandez, 32, of Kearneysville, Johnston said.

They were named June 3 in a one-count indictment alleging they knowingly conspired to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, in excess of 1,000 kilograms of marijuana and more than five kilograms of cocaine from January 1998 to June 2003, Johnston said.

The new indictment adds allegations, including that individual defendants possessed and distributed illegal drugs on particular dates, he said.

The defendants face a maximum of 10 years to life imprisonment plus fines, he said.

The second indictment is for Paul Frazier, 35, of Hedgesville, W.Va. and David Frazier, 36, of Hedgesville.

The indictment alleges that at their place of business, a pawn shop, they accepted merchandise and "unauthorized access devices" which were stolen or obtained with intent to defraud, Johnston said.

The indictment says the two men trafficked in gift cards from various businesses, Johnston said.

A 21-count indictment named David Bryan Fultz, 25, Augusta, W.Va., and a man named Chris whose last name was unknown.

The indictment alleges the two men conspired to distribute more than 50 kilograms of marijuana and more than 5 kilograms of cocaine, from 1991 to July 2003, Johnston said.

Fultz is named in 20 additional counts on other drug allegations while the other man was named in two other counts.

A 15-count indictment named Samuel Burnette, Symoene Burnette, Walter Corriea, Dewayne Johnson and Gregory Taylor as having conspired to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base, also known as crack, from September 1995 to July 2003. Ages and addresses were not given for those in the 15-count indictment.

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