Seven Defendants Charged With Wide-Scale Narcotics Conspiracy, Racketeering Conspiracy, And Murder

Press Release Seven Defendants Charged With Wide-Scale Narcotics Conspiracy, Racketeering Conspiracy, And Murder Tuesday, August 26, 2025 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Christopher G. Raia, announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging CARLOS MOLINA RODRIGUEZ; SAMUEL BLAIN, a/k/a “Lobo,” a/k/a “Snipes,” a/k/a “Loboferoz”; CARLOS MARTINEZ, a/k/a “Bway”; KALIF COX, a/k/a “Leef,” a/k/a “LG”; JUSTICE BEARD, a/k/a “Just”; CALVIN LEWIS, a/k/a “Ski”; and EMMANUEL IDYIS with narcotics distribution, narcotics importation, continuing criminal enterprise, racketeering conspiracy, murder, and other related charges in and around Middletown and Newburgh, New York. MOLINA, MARTINEZ, COX, BEARD, LEWIS, and IDYIS were arrested earlier this year in New York, California, and North Carolina. On August 22, 2025, BLAIN was expelled from Mexico and arrested at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. MOLINA, BLAIN, MARTINEZ, COX, BEARD, and LEWIS have been ordered detained pending trial. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Vincent L. Briccetti.“As alleged, these defendants operated a large-scale narcotics distribution, importation, and racketeering conspiracy to smuggle dozens of kilograms of illegal crystal methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl from Mexico and drive them in specially modified minivans all over the United States, including to New York,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “The defendants are also charged—in connection with their participation in a violent street gang—with murdering an innocent bystander during a gunfight in Newburgh, in September 2019, committing numerous robberies, illegally trafficking firearms, and creating child pornography. The wide-ranging criminal conduct described in this Indictment shows a troubling indifference to the safety of New Yorkers that cannot be tolerated. This Office and our partners will not rest until every individual responsible for these heinous crimes—wherever they may be hiding, whether in Mexico or New York—is brought to justice.”“These seven defendants allegedly used any illicit means necessary to support their criminal enterprise, including smuggling large amounts of narcotics into this country, trafficking illegal firearms, and shooting at rivals, which included the murder of an innocent bystander by one of the defendants,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia. “Their alleged nondiscriminatory criminality depicts a relentless appetite to promote the gang’s operations, regardless of the affected community left in its turmoiled wake. This Summer Heat indictment demonstrates the FBI’s steadfast dedication to crushing all forms of violent crime and eradicating any criminal organization using our communities to perpetuate their unlawful activities.”According to the allegations contained in the Indictment unsealed yesterday in White Plains federal court, court filings, and statements made in court proceedings:[1]MOLINA, BLAIN, MARTINEZ, COX, BEARD, LEWIS, and IDYIS are charged with running large-scale narcotics and racketeering conspiracies that involved the importation and cross-country movement of massive quantities of dangerous drugs, including crystal methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl.Between at least about 2022 and April 2025, the defendants ran and participated in a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization (the “MOLINA DTO”). The MOLINA DTO was led by MOLINA and BLAIN, among others. The MOLINA DTO recruited drivers from the U.S. to import narcotics from Mexico. At the MOLINA DTO’s direction, the drivers would make their way to California, where they would cross into Mexico and receive a specially modified minivan loaded with narcotics and/or narcotics proceeds. The drivers then drove those narcotics/narcotics proceeds-laden vehicles back across the U.S.-Mexico border and then across the country, including to Middletown, staying in regular contact with their MOLINA DTO recruiter to receive instructions about where next to take the vehicle. In total, the MOLINA DTO is responsible for smuggling dozens of kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl into the U.S. through this scheme.Between at least 2019 and April 2025, MARTINEZ led a highly organized gang known as the Forbes List, which was a subset of the national gang known as the Makk Ballas. MARTINEZ’s gang was based in Middletown and its members included COX, BEARD, LEWIS, and IDYIS, among others. Through BLAIN and MARTINEZ, the Forbes List was connected with the MOLINA DTO and began trafficking the MOLINA DTO’s drugs from Mexico into the U.S.Forbes List members also committed shootings, firearms trafficking, robberies, drug dealing, and fraud as part of their participation in the gang. Specifically, COX is charged with the murder of an innocent bystander, Amed Alberto Alvarado Baquedano, during a gang-related gunfight in Newburgh on September 21, 2019; inducing a minor victim to record herself engaging in sexually explicit conduct and then send that recording to him; illegally trafficking firearms across state lines; and committing a drug‑related shooting in the Bronx, New York, in July 2024. MARTINEZ is also charged with illegally possessing ammunition in Middletown in May 2024, and BEARD is additionally charged with possessing a firearm in connection with drug dealing in Yonkers, New York, and illegally possessing a firearm in Yonkers in July 2024.* * *A chart containing the defendants’ names, ages, charges, and maximum penalties is set out below.COUNTCHARGEDEFENDANTSMAX. PENALTIESINarcotics distribution conspiracy21 U.S.C. § 846CARLOS MOLINA RODRIGUEZ, 31SAMUEL BLAIN, a/k/a “Lobo,” a/k/a “Snipes,” a/k/a “Loboferoz," 36CARLOS MARTINEZ, a/k/a “Bway," 35KALIF COX, a/k/a “Leef,” a/k/a “LG," 28JUSTICE BEARD, a/k/a “Just," 36CALVIN LEWIS, a/k/a “Ski," 36EMMANUEL IDYIS, 25LifeIINarcotics importation conspiracy21 U.S.C. § 963CARLOS MOLINA RODRIGUEZSAMUEL BLAIN, a/k/a “Lobo,” a/k/a “Snipes,” a/k/a “Loboferoz”CARLOS MARTINEZ, a/k/a “Bway”KALIF COX, a/k/a “Leef,” a/k/a “LG”JUSTICE BEARD, a/k/a “Just”CALVIN LEWIS, a/k/a “Ski”EMMANUEL IDYISLifeIIIContinuing criminal enterprise21 U.S.C. § 848CARLOS MOLINA RODRIGUEZSAMUEL BLAIN, a/k/a “Lobo,” a/k/a “Snipes,” a/k/a “Loboferoz”CARLOS MARTINEZ, a/k/a “Bway”LifeIVRacketeering conspiracy18 U.S.C. § 1961(d)CARLOS MARTINEZ, a/k/a “Bway”KALIF COX, a/k/a “Leef,” a/k/a “LG”JUSTICE BEARD, a/k/a “Just”CALVIN LEWIS, a/k/a “Ski”EMMANUEL IDYISLifeVMurder in aid of racketeering18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(1)KALIF COX, a/k/a “Leef,” a/k/a “LG”LifeVIMurder through the use of a firearm18 U.S.C. § 924(j)KALIF COX, a/k/a “Leef,” a/k/a “LG”LifeVIIAttempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon in aid of racketeering18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(3), (a)(5)KALIF COX, a/k/a “Leef,” a/k/a “LG”20 yearsVIIISexual exploitation of a child18 U.S.C. §§ 2251(a), (e)KALIF COX, a/k/a “Leef,” a/k/a “LG”30 yearsIXReceipt of child pornography18 U.S.C. §§ 2252A(a)(2)(B), (b)(1)KALIF COX, a/k/a “Leef,” a/k/a “LG”20 yearsXFirearms trafficking conspiracy18 U.S.C. § 933KALIF COX, a/k/a “Leef,” a/k/a “LG”15 yearsXIDischarge of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i), (ii), (iii)KALIF COX, a/k/a “Leef,” a/k/a “LG”LifeXIIPossession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i)JUSTICE BEARD, a/k/a “Just”LifeXIIIPossession of a firearm after a felony conviction18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)JUSTICE BEARD, a/k/a “Just”15 yearsXIVPossession of ammunition after a felony conviction18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)CARLOS MARTINEZ, a/k/a “Bway”15 yearsThe statutory maximum and minimum sentences are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force. Mr. Clayton also thanked the FBI Los Angeles Office; the FBI Dallas Office; Mexican law enforcement partners and the FBI Mexico Legal Attache; the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of California, Northern District of Texas, and Eastern District of North Carolina; the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; the Drug Enforcement Administration; U.S. Customs and Border Patrol; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the New York State Police; the City of Newburgh Police Department; the Town of New Windsor Police Department; the Middletown Police Department; the New York Police Department; and the Kingston Borough Police Department for their assistance in the investigation.This case is being prosecuted by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan W. Allison, Justin L. Brooke, Jennifer N. Ong, and Margaret N. Vasu are in charge of the prosecution. u.s._v._molina_et_al_indictment.pdf [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth in this release constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation. Contact Nicholas Biase, Shelby Wratchford(212) 637-2600 Updated August 26, 2025 Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 25-197

Press Release Seven Defendants Charged With Wide-Scale Narcotics Conspiracy, Racketeering Conspiracy, And Murder Tuesday, August 26, 2025 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Christopher G. Raia, announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging CARLOS MOLINA RODRIGUEZ; SAMUEL BLAIN, a/k/a “Lobo,” a/k/a “Snipes,” a/k/a “Loboferoz”; CARLOS MARTINEZ, a/k/a “Bway”; KALIF COX, a/k/a “Leef,” a/k/a “LG”; JUSTICE BEARD, a/k/a “Just”; CALVIN LEWIS, a/k/a “Ski”; and EMMANUEL IDYIS with narcotics distribution, narcotics importation, continuing criminal enterprise, racketeering conspiracy, murder, and other related charges in and around Middletown and Newburgh, New York. MOLINA, MARTINEZ, COX, BEARD, LEWIS, and IDYIS were arrested earlier this year in New York, California, and North Carolina. On August 22, 2025, BLAIN was expelled from Mexico and arrested at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. MOLINA, BLAIN, MARTINEZ, COX, BEARD, and LEWIS have been ordered detained pending trial. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Vincent L. Briccetti.“As alleged, these defendants operated a large-scale narcotics distribution, importation, and racketeering conspiracy to smuggle dozens of kilograms of illegal crystal methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl from Mexico and drive them in specially modified minivans all over the United States, including to New York,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “The defendants are also charged—in connection with their participation in a violent street gang—with murdering an innocent bystander during a gunfight in Newburgh, in September 2019, committing numerous robberies, illegally trafficking firearms, and creating child pornography. The wide-ranging criminal conduct described in this Indictment shows a troubling indifference to the safety of New Yorkers that cannot be tolerated. This Office and our partners will not rest until every individual responsible for these heinous crimes—wherever they may be hiding, whether in Mexico or New York—is brought to justice.”“These seven defendants allegedly used any illicit means necessary to support their criminal enterprise, including smuggling large amounts of narcotics into this country, trafficking illegal firearms, and shooting at rivals, which included the murder of an innocent bystander by one of the defendants,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia. “Their alleged nondiscriminatory criminality depicts a relentless appetite to promote the gang’s operations, regardless of the affected community left in its turmoiled wake. This Summer Heat indictment demonstrates the FBI’s steadfast dedication to crushing all forms of violent crime and eradicating any criminal organization using our communities to perpetuate their unlawful activities.”According to the allegations contained in the Indictment unsealed yesterday in White Plains federal court, court filings, and statements made in court proceedings:[1]MOLINA, BLAIN, MARTINEZ, COX, BEARD, LEWIS, and IDYIS are charged with running large-scale narcotics and racketeering conspiracies that involved the importation and cross-country movement of massive quantities of dangerous drugs, including crystal methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl.Between at least about 2022 and April 2025, the defendants ran and participated in a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization (the “MOLINA DTO”). The MOLINA DTO was led by MOLINA and BLAIN, among others. The MOLINA DTO recruited drivers from the U.S. to import narcotics from Mexico. At the MOLINA DTO’s direction, the drivers would make their way to California, where they would cross into Mexico and receive a specially modified minivan loaded with narcotics and/or narcotics proceeds. The drivers then drove those narcotics/narcotics proceeds-laden vehicles back across the U.S.-Mexico border and then across the country, including to Middletown, staying in regular contact with their MOLINA DTO recruiter to receive instructions about where next to take the vehicle. In total, the MOLINA DTO is responsible for smuggling dozens of kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl into the U.S. through this scheme.Between at least 2019 and April 2025, MARTINEZ led a highly organized gang known as the Forbes List, which was a subset of the national gang known as the Makk Ballas. MARTINEZ’s gang was based in Middletown and its members included COX, BEARD, LEWIS, and IDYIS, among others. Through BLAIN and MARTINEZ, the Forbes List was connected with the MOLINA DTO and began trafficking the MOLINA DTO’s drugs from Mexico into the U.S.Forbes List members also committed shootings, firearms trafficking, robberies, drug dealing, and fraud as part of their participation in the gang. Specifically, COX is charged with the murder of an innocent bystander, Amed Alberto Alvarado Baquedano, during a gang-related gunfight in Newburgh on September 21, 2019; inducing a minor victim to record herself engaging in sexually explicit conduct and then send that recording to him; illegally trafficking firearms across state lines; and committing a drug‑related shooting in the Bronx, New York, in July 2024. MARTINEZ is also charged with illegally possessing ammunition in Middletown in May 2024, and BEARD is additionally charged with possessing a firearm in connection with drug dealing in Yonkers, New York, and illegally possessing a firearm in Yonkers in July 2024.* * *A chart containing the defendants’ names, ages, charges, and maximum penalties is set out below.COUNTCHARGEDEFENDANTSMAX. PENALTIESINarcotics distribution conspiracy21 U.S.C. § 846CARLOS MOLINA RODRIGUEZ, 31SAMUEL BLAIN, a/k/a “Lobo,” a/k/a “Snipes,” a/k/a “Loboferoz," 36CARLOS MARTINEZ, a/k/a “Bway," 35KALIF COX, a/k/a “Leef,” a/k/a “LG," 28JUSTICE BEARD, a/k/a “Just," 36CALVIN LEWIS, a/k/a “Ski," 36EMMANUEL IDYIS, 25LifeIINarcotics importation conspiracy21 U.S.C. § 963CARLOS MOLINA RODRIGUEZSAMUEL BLAIN, a/k/a “Lobo,” a/k/a “Snipes,” a/k/a “Loboferoz”CARLOS MARTINEZ, a/k/a “Bway”KALIF COX, a/k/a “Leef,” a/k/a “LG”JUSTICE BEARD, a/k/a “Just”CALVIN LEWIS, a/k/a “Ski”EMMANUEL IDYISLifeIIIContinuing criminal enterprise21 U.S.C. § 848CARLOS MOLINA RODRIGUEZSAMUEL BLAIN, a/k/a “Lobo,” a/k/a “Snipes,” a/k/a “Loboferoz”CARLOS MARTINEZ, a/k/a “Bway”LifeIVRacketeering conspiracy18 U.S.C. § 1961(d)CARLOS MARTINEZ, a/k/a “Bway”KALIF COX, a/k/a “Leef,” a/k/a “LG”JUSTICE BEARD, a/k/a “Just”CALVIN LEWIS, a/k/a “Ski”EMMANUEL IDYISLifeVMurder in aid of racketeering18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(1)KALIF COX, a/k/a “Leef,” a/k/a “LG”LifeVIMurder through the use of a firearm18 U.S.C. § 924(j)KALIF COX, a/k/a “Leef,” a/k/a “LG”LifeVIIAttempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon in aid of racketeering18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(3), (a)(5)KALIF COX, a/k/a “Leef,” a/k/a “LG”20 yearsVIIISexual exploitation of a child18 U.S.C. §§ 2251(a), (e)KALIF COX, a/k/a “Leef,” a/k/a “LG”30 yearsIXReceipt of child pornography18 U.S.C. §§ 2252A(a)(2)(B), (b)(1)KALIF COX, a/k/a “Leef,” a/k/a “LG”20 yearsXFirearms trafficking conspiracy18 U.S.C. § 933KALIF COX, a/k/a “Leef,” a/k/a “LG”15 yearsXIDischarge of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i), (ii), (iii)KALIF COX, a/k/a “Leef,” a/k/a “LG”LifeXIIPossession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i)JUSTICE BEARD, a/k/a “Just”LifeXIIIPossession of a firearm after a felony conviction18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)JUSTICE BEARD, a/k/a “Just”15 yearsXIVPossession of ammunition after a felony conviction18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)CARLOS MARTINEZ, a/k/a “Bway”15 yearsThe statutory maximum and minimum sentences are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force. Mr. Clayton also thanked the FBI Los Angeles Office; the FBI Dallas Office; Mexican law enforcement partners and the FBI Mexico Legal Attache; the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of California, Northern District of Texas, and Eastern District of North Carolina; the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; the Drug Enforcement Administration; U.S. Customs and Border Patrol; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the New York State Police; the City of Newburgh Police Department; the Town of New Windsor Police Department; the Middletown Police Department; the New York Police Department; and the Kingston Borough Police Department for their assistance in the investigation.This case is being prosecuted by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan W. Allison, Justin L. Brooke, Jennifer N. Ong, and Margaret N. Vasu are in charge of the prosecution. u.s._v._molina_et_al_indictment.pdf [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth in this release constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation. Contact Nicholas Biase, Shelby Wratchford(212) 637-2600 Updated August 26, 2025 Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 25-197