Philadelphia, PA — Authorities have announced charges against five Philadelphia men accused of operating a complex drug trafficking ring responsible for distributing fentanyl-laced heroin that led to several fatal overdoses, including that of an 8-year-old boy. The group reportedly packaged and transported the narcotics from Philadelphia to locations in Chester County.
The accused, identified as David Arroyo, 27, Miguel Jorge-Ortiz, 35, Neil Perez, 29, Jose Guzman, 49, and Curtis Lake, 50, face a slew of charges including operating a corrupt organization, conspiracy, and various drug-related offenses. They allegedly marketed their products using the stamp “Bad Bunny.” As of Wednesday, all five men were held in custody pending their preliminary hearings scheduled for Nov. 12.
The arrests resulted from a detailed investigation initiated in March 2023 following the discovery of the branded narcotics at the site of a fatal overdose in Phoenixville. The victim, 32-year-old Tyler Stout, was found to have ingested fentanyl among other drugs. The trail of “Bad Bunny” heroin also linked back to another death — that of an 8-year-old boy, Hunter Hawa, who suffered a tragic fatal overdose under his father’s care in their Coatesville home.
Law enforcement officers recovered 1.5 kilograms of bulk fentanyl and multiple firearms during raids at several residences associated with the suspects in North and Northeast Philadelphia. These findings underscored the large scale and deadly impact of the operation.
Chester County District Attorney Chris de Barrena-Sarobe emphasized the relentless efforts to combat drug trafficking across county lines, “Drug trafficking does not stop at the Chester County border,” he stated, highlighting the importance of collaboration among local, state, and federal agencies in tackling such extensive criminal networks.
Further investigations revealed connections involving local residents and the drug ring’s broader network. Mousa Hawa, 41, already facing charges related to his son’s death and Stout’s fatal overdose, purportedly received the heroin from Curtis Lake. Another local dealer, Karen Tucker, 44, is awaiting trial on charges connected to drug delivery resulting in Stout’s death.
Jorge-Ortiz and Arroyo were pinpointed as leaders of the trafficking operation. The distribution network largely relied on Herman “Pluck” McMullin to move drugs from Philadelphia to Chester County. McMullin, apprehended in a separate incident, faces trial on drug charges following his arrest in Coatesville where he was found in possession of significant quantities of fentanyl-laced heroin.
The Chester County detectives’ ongoing efforts to dismantle the “Bad Bunny” distribution ring are aided by the cooperation from Philadelphia police. Undercover operations and controlled purchases have allowed authorities to trace narcotics back to key locations used by the suspects.
As this case develops, the focus remains on the devastating consequences of drug trafficking and the dedicated push by law enforcement to prevent further tragedies. The Chester County community continues to recover and reassess their approach to the opioid epidemic that plagues many regions across the country.