Code used in drug transactions revealed

Surveillance equipment was used at one house to detect law enforcement.

YOUNGSTOWN — The government says large quantities of heroin and cocaine came from New York, Texas and Philadelphia for distribution in the Youngstown-Campbell area.

The drug dealers used code on cell phones, referring to cocaine as pop singer Christina Aguilera, the government said.

Court papers show that, in one taped phone conversation, an unidentified man said he needed “at least a number” (a price for the drugs) and Ismael “Chico” Camacho III asked, “Which you talking about, the white b----, Christina Aguilera?” and got the response “Yes, sir.”

Camacho then said: “Probably like, she’s probably like 28 or 29,” meaning $28,000 or $29,000 for a kilogram (2.2 pounds) of cocaine, the government said.

A federal grand jury in Cleveland returned a 29-count drug conspiracy indictment against Camacho, 26, of Youngstown and nine others, six from Campbell, in late November. The indictment was placed under seal until arrests were made last week. Not all defendants are charged in every count.

The others indicted from Youngstown are: Anthony Peeples, 19; Brian Ivory, 49; and Brian Gatewood, 27.

Those indicted from Campbell are: Jonathan “Josh” Centeno, 23; Angel, last name and age unknown; Peter S. Prato, 55; Nicholas Badila, 27; Kristina Rodriquez, 19; and Randy Michaels, 19.

As of Tuesday, all but Gatewood and Michaels were in federal custody.

The government is asking that Centeno, Camacho, Peeples, Ivory and Angel be held in custody pending trial. A Spanish interpreter was appointed for Angel.

The case is being prosecuted by Robert F. Corts, an assistant U.S. attorney, after a 19-month investigation that included wiretaps on cell phones used by Centeno and Camacho. The investigation was conducted by agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration, bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Immigration Customs Enforcement, Youngstown and Campbell police and the Youngstown city prosecutor’s office.

Centeno and Camacho and their associates arranged for large quantities of heroin and cocaine to be brought from New York, Texas and Philadelphia for distribution in the Youngstown-Campbell area, the government said. The time frame in the indictment is March 2005 through September 2007.

The indictment alleges that Centeno installed video and audio monitors at his 10th Street home in March 2006 to detect law enforcement. Also that month, Camacho had more than $67,000 and two guns as he rode in a Ford Expedition, the government said.

In October 2006, Centeno was sentenced to one year’s probation after pleading guilty in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to resisting arrest, reduced from assault on a police officer. The case originated in Youngstown in March 2006.

Also that month, in an unrelated case, Centeno was sentenced to three years’ probation for trafficking in marijuana. The charge originated in Boardman in October 2004.

Three months ago, a probation violation was filed in both cases. His probation was revoked Monday, court records show.

This isn’t the first time Camacho has been charged with distributing heroin.

In June 2002, he was indicted by a Mahoning County grand jury on five counts of trafficking in heroin and one count each of having a weapon under disability and receiving stolen property. The case originated in Austintown. In a plea agreement in May 2003, three trafficking counts were dismissed and he pleaded guilty to the rest.

In July 2003, Camacho was sentenced to three years in prison and given credit for 402 days he spent in jail awaiting disposition of the case, records show.

Four months ago, Camacho was indicted by a Mahoning County grand jury and charged with improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle. The case is pending. The charge originated in Youngstown.