On July 3, 2024 a kilogram cocaine deal drug bust occurred in the parking lot of El Rincon Catracho restaurant located at 204 W. Woodlawn Rd. Charlotte, NC. The drug deal was right next to a strip club. Angel Reillo, 38, Jose Ramos, 19, Cristian Blandon Lopez, 19, Essejay Agostini Lugo, 19, and Jose Blandon, 26, were arrested on July 4, 2024 after the cocaine drug deal.
Jose Ramos is accused of selling cocaine to undercover Detective Rodriguez on multiple occasions from May 2024 to June in total of 151 grams of cocaine for $4,250.
Detective Rodriguez was acting like a real cartel drug dealer and buyer, speaking street slang and dressing gangster, but it was all a trick and lies orchestrated by the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department’s Vice and Narcotics Unit.
Detective Rodriguez asked Jose Ramos for street credit and kilograms of cocaine on future deals, and Jose is accused of saying, “Bigger cocaine deals are no problem.”
In the mean time Detective Rodriguez had already obtained 11 warrants for trafficking cocaine related offenses against Jose Ramos behind his back.
But the big deal came on July 3, 2024 right next to the Gentlemen’s Club strip club in the parking lot of El Rincon Catracho restaurant.
Detective Rodriguez arranged for the purchase of 1 kilogram of cocaine from Jose Ramos for $22,500. At 3:31 pm, Detective Rodriguez arrived at the El Rincon Catracho restaurant deal location.
Prosecutors say, Jose Ramos was in a white van with several other suspects. Detective Rodriguez walked towards the van to make the deal. Angel Reillo is accused of driving the van.
Jose Ramos was sitting in the front passenger seat of the van, officials say.
The back passenger identified as Agustino Lugo Essejay Dangel was wearing all black clothing and a black mask, Agustino handed a kilogram of cocaine to Jose Ramos, authorities say. Agustino had a gun in his waistband, according to police.
Jose Ramos showed the cocaine to the undercover cop. Detective Rodriguez then lied and said he was going to get the money and that he would be back.
Jose Ramos sensed a suspicious police set up and the van began to drive away. Cops from the police department Crime Reduction Unit attempted to stop the white work van. Jose Ramos jumped out and got in the back seat of a Honda Accord.
Cops pointed guns and all of the suspects were then arrested. A loaded gun was located in the Honda next to Jose Ramos. A .45 caliber gun with live rounds was located in the white van.
Jose Blandon was in the front passenger seat of the Honda. Cristian Blandon Lopez was driving the Honda. A rifle was in the front of the Honda.
The suspects were interrogated for hours, they were finally officially arrested in the early morning hours of July 4, 2024.
At the conclusion of the investigation, Jose Ramos was charged with 4 counts of trafficking cocaine and 1 count of carrying a conceal gun.
Angel, Jose Blandon, Agustino, and Cristian were all charged with conspiracy to trafficking cocaine and some were charged with gun charges.
