Two Guns and More than a Million Dollars in Narcotics Seized
On March 2, an indictment filed in Manhattan Supreme Court charges two men in connection with a kidnapping and assault that allegedly occurred on January 31, 2022 in the Morris Park neighborhood of the Bronx. An investigation revealed that the alleged incident stemmed from a theft of narcotics that investigators believe occurred on or about January 29, 2022 in the Bronx. Portions of the kidnapping incident were captured in audio and video recordings recovered on the defendants’ cellphones, and from a surveillance system at the basement apartment where the kidnapping and assault is alleged to have occurred.
RONNY JIMENEZ PERALTA and CESAR JIMENEZ ALONSO face charges of Conspiracy in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First and Third Degrees, Kidnapping in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second and Third Degrees, Assault in the Second Degree, Unlawful Imprisonment in the First Degree, and Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree.
The investigation by DEA New York Division, the New York City Police Department (NYPD), CBP New York Field Operations and the New York State Police involved a court-authorized search of a basement apartment located at 1853 Bronxdale Avenue that served as an alleged drug stash location. The investigation revealed that the defendants also allegedly used the apartment to kidnap and assault an individual identified in the indictment as MALE-1.
The search resulted in the seizure of approximately 4.2 kilograms of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and para-fluorofentanyl. Most of the narcotics and narcotics paraphernalia were recovered from a bag in the living room and from beneath the bed of the one-bedroom apartment. The DEA estimates the street value of the narcotics at approximately one million dollars.
Also, agents and officers recovered from inside the apartment items allegedly used during the kidnapping and assault, including plastic handcuffs, an iron, and duct tape. A loaded gun was found in a dresser drawer.
During the charged conspiracy, which ran from on or about January 29, 2022 to February 1, 2022, RONNY JIMENEZ PERALTA and CESAR JIMENEZ ALONSO allegedly made threats against two people, including the alleged victim of the kidnapping, identified in the indictment as MALE-1, and an unidentified individual referred to as MALE-2.
On January 31, 2022, agents and officers established surveillance on RONNY JIMENEZ PERALTA and CESAR JIMENEZ ALONSO as part of an ongoing investigation. Data extracted from telephones seized after the defendants were arrested revealed the pair had allegedly confronted MALE-1 at approximately 3:21 a.m. in the vicinity of West 183rd Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard in the Bronx.
“There is no consideration in this situation. Because of this, brothers will end up killing each other,” CESAR JIMENEZ ALONSO allegedly stated as he threatened MALE-1, according to the indictment.
RONNY JIMENEZ PERALTA and CESAR JIMENEZ ALONSO allegedly bound MALE-1, covered his head in a ski mask, and transported him to the basement apartment at 1853 Bronxdale Avenue. Inside, CESAR JIMENEZ ALONSO allegedly placed a heated iron on the bare buttocks of MALE-1, while MALE-1’s ankles and hands were bound.
The indictment charges that RONNY JIMENEZ PERALTA and CESAR JIMENEZ ALONSO were both armed at the time. They allegedly escorted MALE-1 outside on foot at approximately 11:51 a.m. on January 31, 2022.
Later that afternoon, as charged in the indictment, RONNY JIMENEZ PERALTA threatened MALE-2, stating in substance, “If you are interested in keeping your family and yourself safe, all you have to do is get what belongs to me.”
RONNY JIMENEZ PERALTA and CESAR JIMENEZ ALONSO were arrested on February 1, 2022 at approximately 11:16 a.m. RONNY JIMENEZ PERALTA was driving a black Dodge Ram pickup with Florida license plates, with CESAR JIMENEZ ALONSO as a passenger. A gun was recovered from behind the driver’s seat of the pickup truck. RONNY JIMENEZ PERALTA was allegedly in possession of keys to the 1853 Bronxdale Avenue apartment.
Later in the investigation, DEA agents recovered an additional kilogram of alleged narcotics from a badly damaged Toyota Highlander which had been abandoned in the Bronx. Investigators have linked that Toyota Highlander to the overall investigation.
Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan said, “As this investigation demonstrates, we and our law enforcement partners work tirelessly to protect all from the violence often employed by drug traffickers in pursuit of profits. Our commitment to protecting the health and safety of all New Yorkers is unwavering.”
Special Prosecutor Brennan thanked Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark and commended SNP’s Special Investigations Bureau, DEA New York Division, the NYPD, CBP New York Field Operations and the New York State Police for their work on the investigation. Assisting in the investigation were DEA Philadelphia Division, DEA Miami Division, HSI New York, HSI Miami, New York/New Jersey Port Authority Police Department, the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, the Yonkers Police Department and the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark said, “This case shows that the illegal narcotics trade not only brings deadly fentanyl to the Bronx, but guns and brutality. Fortunately investigators intercepted the drugs before they hit the streets where they would have sold for $1 million and wrought inestimable damage to the community. The defendants will be held accountable for the drug possession and for kidnapping and assault. I want to thank Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan and her team for the tremendous work on this case. We will continue to collaborate with our federal and local partners to stem the flow of illegal narcotics and its attendant violence.”
“This kidnapping exposes the brutality associated with drug trafficking,” said DEA Acting SAC Tim Foley. “DEA is focused on bringing to justice the drivers of violence and drug overdoses in our communities, like Jimenez-Peralta and Jimenez-Alonso. This two-day enforcement operation took law enforcement throughout New York City and surrounding counties to unmask the kidnappers and seize over a million dollars’ worth of cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin. I applaud the heroic efforts by the DEA, NYC Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor and all our law enforcement partners who assisted with these arrests.”
Police Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell said, “Today, New York City is safer because of the exceptional effort and steadfast dedication of everyone involved in this investigation and indictment. The NYPD and our law enforcement partners remain focused on the small number of people who are responsible for the crime and disorder in our city, and we are working tirelessly to identify them and get them off our streets. As demonstrated by this case, the dangerous combination of illicit drugs, illegal guns, and brutal violence will never be tolerated in New York City – and I want to thank the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York, the New York Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the New York Field Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the New York State Police, and everyone else who contributed to this important investigation.”
