Five LaPorte Men Arrested on Federal Drug Charges

Richard Ruiz, Oscar Arzate, Leobardo Campos, Juan Gallardo, Zacharias Cisneros

Five LaPorte men were taken into custody Tuesday night on federal drug charges.

Richard “Ricky” Ruiz and Zacharias Cisneros were arrested on charges of Distribution of Cocaine and Conspiracy to Manufacture, Distribute and Possess Cocaine; Oscar Arzate and Juan Gallardo were arrested on charges of Distribution of Cocaine, and Possession with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine, Conspiracy to Manufacture, Distribute and Possess Cocaine; and Leobardo Campos was arrested on charges of Possession with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Conspiracy to Manufacture, Distribute and Possess Cocaine.

All were arrested without incident. They were initially transported and held in the LaPorte County Jail. They will be transported to South Bend to appear in U.S. District Court on the federal charges.

These arrests were the result of a multi-year and multiple jurisdictional investigation that targeted traffickers of illicit substances in LaPorte County. Investigators believe this investigation and subsequent arrests have disrupted a large scale distribution ring in LaPorte County.

The DEA, Indiana State Police, and police agencies in LaPorte and Michigan City were involved in this raid.