Thread: Dozens arrested on drug, guns, immigration charges after massive drug sweep

Dozens arrested on drug, guns, immigration charges after massive drug sweep


Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News-6 hours ago

Feds seize enough fentanyl to kill half the state in massive Lawrence-area drug sweep


Feds seize enough fentanyl to kill half the state in massive Lawrence-area drug sweep


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Frank O'Laughlin | Steve Cooper


LAWRENCE, MASS. (WHDH) - Dozens of individuals with various criminal backgrounds were arrested Thursday on federal drug, firearms, and immigration charges, as well as state warrants, after authorities say they seized enough fentanyl to kill half the state of Massachusetts.

The sweep, which was part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhood Initiative, netted more than 35 criminals in and around Lawrence, according to United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling.

“Lawrence is a clearing house for for illegal drugs pouring into New Hampshire and Maine,” United States Attorney Andrew Lelling said.

Thirteen criminal aliens were arrested by ICE and will be processed for removal from the United States, the attorney’s office said. Nine wanted criminals are said to be still at large, in addition to 14 illegal aliens.

The sweep comes on the heels of a number of federal investigations dubbed “Operation Law and Order,” which the attorney’s office said targeted “impact players and repeat offenders,” all of whom have prior convictions for acts of violence, firearm offenses, and drug trafficking violations.”

Ten kilos of fentanyl was seized as a result of the investigation, which included 200 federal law enforcement agents from across New England.

“Synthetic opiods, like fentanyl, is manufactured death,” officials said.

Last year nearly 2,000 people died of an opiod overdose in Massachusetts. Nationwide, opiods claimed the lives of 72,000.

According to federal officials, taking this amount of drugs off the street is a step in the right direction.

“Every gram of fentanyl or heroin we take off the street is a gram that is not going to contribute to killing somebody,” Lelling said.

Lawrence Police Chief Roy Vasque said he plans to crack down on drug dealers in the weeks and months ahead.

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Steve Cooper

✔@scooperon7


US Attorney for Boston says agents have seized 10 kilos of fentanyl..enough to kill half the state #7News

12:50 PM - Oct 4, 2018

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The following defendants were charged in federal court:
1) Johan Abreau, 23, a Dominical national, of Lawrence, charged with various drug offenses, including conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl
2) Sabrina Aixa Ramos, 27, of Lawrence, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl, two counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl and heroin – aiding and abetting
3) Carolina Alonzo, 36, of Lawrence, charged with one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments
4) Oscar Antigua, 37, of Lawrence, charged with the distribution of 40 or more grams of fentanyl
5) Jose Aquino Camilo, a/k/a “Keko,” a/k/a “Kiko,” 39, of Lawrence, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and one kilogram or more of heroin
6) Santo Eulogio Baez-Calbojal, a/k/a “Jamaican Freddy,” 47, of Haverhill, charged with distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl
7) Juan Brito, a/k/a “Juan Bota,” a/k/a “Manual Lugo,” a/k/a “One Eye,” a/k/a “Bolivar Cruz,” a/k/a “Roberto Quinonez-Pomale,” 36, a Dominican national residing in Lawrence, currently in state custody, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and one kilogram or more of heroin and one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien
8) Edilberto Calle-Alvarez, 23, of Lowell, charged with various drug offenses, including conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl
9) Antonio Camillo, 21, of Lawrence, charged with distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl
10) Rafael Cintron, 25, a Dominican national residing in Lawrence, charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl
11) Carlos Cosme Cuevas, 34, of Lawrence, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and one kilogram or more of heroin
12) Caonabo Cruz, 52, a Dominican national residing in Lawrence, charged with possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl
13) Yunior De La Cruz-Zapata, 20, a Dominican national residing in Lawrence, currently in state custody, charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl
14) Jesus Figueroa , a/k/a “Chuy,” a/k/a “Chuito,” 28, of Lawrence, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and one kilogram or more of heroin
15) Cesar Franco Lara, 34, Dominican national residing in Lawrence, charged with one count of misuse of Social Security number and aggravated identity theft
16) Identity unknown, of Lawrence, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and one kilogram or more of heroin and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments
17) Jose Hernandez, a/k/a “Fatty Mexicano,” 40, of Lawrence, charged with various drug offenses, including conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl
18) Elvi Lajara, 23, of Lawrence, currently in state custody, charged with various drug offenses, including conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl
19) Franklyn Laras, 21, of Lawrence, currently in state custody, charged with felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition
20) Sergio Manuel Lara-Suarez, a/k/a “Sergio Manuel Lara-Juarez,” 42, of Lawrence, currently in state custody, was charged with charged with heroin and fentanyl distribution offenses
21) Alan Christopher Pascual Sanchez, 30, a Dominican national formerly residing in Lawrence, currently in ICE custody, charged with one count of illegal reentry
22) Juan Algenis Perez Bernabel, 36, a Dominican national residing in Lawrence, charged with drug offenses, including heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine
23) Kadeem Pimentel, 23, of Haverhill, currently in state custody, charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and possession of an unregistered sawed-off shotgun
24) Jonathan Platon, 31, of Lawrence, charged with various drug offenses, including conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl
25) Daniel De Jesus Polonia Morillo, 57, a Dominican national residing in Lawrence, charged with one count of false statement on an application for Social Security benefits and aggravated identity theft
26) Manuel Rivera, 35, of Lawrence/Lynn, for a federal probation violation resulting from a felon in possession of a firearm convictions
27) Wilmer Rogue, 22, of Lawrence, currently in state custody, charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm
28) Leonardo Santos, 47, a Dominican national residing in Lawrence, charged with a drug offense, specifically cocaine
29) Isua Torres-Pineda, a/k/a “Edwin Carmona,” 26, of Salem, charged with possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl
The following defendants were arrested on state charges:
30) Nick Castillo, 29, a Canadian national, charged with fentanyl conspiracy
31) Celestino Escalera, 24, of Lawrence, for assault to murder – firearm
32) Luis Enrique Herrera, 26, a Dominican national residing in Lawrence, charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl
33) Roberto Estrada-Alfaro, 54, of Haverhill, for failure to register as a sex offender
34) Paul Lapointe, 55, of Lawrence, for failure to register as a sex offender
35) Jose Mulero-Nieves, a/k/a “Flaco,” 37, of Methuen, charged with drug offenses
The following defendants, all of whom have prior convictions for offenses ranging from drug distribution to assault and battery, were arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and will be processed administratively:
1) Juan Camilo-Paulino, 51, a Dominican national residing in Lawrence;
2) Lini Castillo-Soto, 22, a Dominican national residing in Lawrence;
3) Anthony Gil Jimenez, 23, a Dominican national residing in Andover;
4) Francis Guerrero Lugo, 37, a Dominican national residing in Lawrence;
5) Eddy Rafael Lara-Suarez, a/k/a “Eddy Lara,” 37, a Dominican national residing in Lawrence;
6) Margarito Manuel Lopez, 35, a Guatemalan national residing in Lawrence;
7) Carlos Martinez, 25, a Dominican national residing in Lawrence;
8) Segundo Maza-Leon, 44, an Ecuadoran national residing in Lawrence;
9) Edwin Pena, 35, a Dominican national residing in Lawrence;
10) Felix Perez-Almonte, 43, a Dominican national residing in Lawrence; and
11) Ramon Soto-Tejeda, 45, a Dominican national residing in Lawrence.

Dozens arrested on drug, guns, immigration charges after massive drug sweep.

Thirteen criminal aliens were arrested by ICE and will be processed for removal from the United States, the attorney’s office said. Nine wanted criminals are said to be still at large, in addition to 14 illegal aliens.

The sweep comes on the heels of a number of federal investigations dubbed “Operation Law and Order,” which the attorney’s office said targeted “impact players and repeat offenders,” all of whom have prior convictions for acts of violence, firearm offenses, and drug trafficking violations.”

Ten kilos of fentanyl was seized as a result of the investigation, which included 200 federal law enforcement agents from across New England.

“Synthetic opiods, like fentanyl, is manufactured death,” officials said.

Illegal aliens delivering deadly addictive chemical weapons, usually manufactured with aid and materials from our enemy China, straight to American children.

The Lowell Sun
UPDATED: 10/07/2018 06:59:43 AM EDT

Where are the Safe Community Act advocates now? Anyone hear from state Sen. Jamie Eldridge, state Rep. Juana Matias and the rest of the Massachusetts Legislature's progressive lawmakers who want to weaken municipal law enforcement efforts to control serious neighborhood crime?

It's clear Massachusetts is a much safer place today than it was a month ago, after federal officials executed two major drug, firearms and illegal immigration sweeps in which scores of foreign men were arrested.

According to U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling's office, a majority of suspects were identified from Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Vietnam, Portugal, Brazil, Jamaica, Cuba, Ireland and Ecuador.

Our hats go off to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and Lelling's investigators for their painstaking and courageous efforts to truly keep our neighborhoods safe.

This wasn't the outgrowth of fancy sloganeering and a legislative campaign to mislead the public. That's what the so-called Safe Communities Act is all about. No, "Operation Law and Order" is pure and simple hunting down criminals the old-fashioned way.

Since mid-September, federal agents have arrested 90 people and are still hunting dozens more who remain at large. The arrests have come in Boston, Chelsea, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, Quincy, Revere, Somerville and Woburn, and extended across the border to New Hampshire, Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Needless to say, the operations were carried out without the help of any local law enforcement agency.

It means the federal agencies knew these thugs were operating right under everyone else's noses -- some being violent criminals who were aided and abetted by the sanctuary status policies adopted in several of the targeted Massachusetts communities.

What an outrage.

According to Lelling's office, the suspects' past criminal records could likely wallpaper an entire prison wing. They had prior convictions for assault, burglary, drug trafficking, possession of narcotics, domestic violence, sexual exploitation of a minor, weapons possession, fraud, hit and run, larceny, and sex crimes.

The kicker is that eight of the 40 men arrested in the first sweep had illegally re-entered the U.S. after having been deported.

In the second sweep, conducted exclusively in Lawrence this past week, federal officials said they uncovered enough fentanyl to "kill half the state" while arresting 35 suspects -- 11 of whom are illegal immigrants and 14 more who are still on the run.

Sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers are dying daily in communities all across the state because of illegal opioid trafficking. Yet it just doesn't seem to register with some elected officials that foreign cartels and their mules are a main source of the problem. And they continue to ply their deadly stash of drugs where they can stay below the radar, protected by policies that handcuff local police from doing their jobs.

"Efforts like ours today (in Lawrence) are about saving people's lives," said U.S. Attorney Lelling. "Every gram of fentanyl we take off the street is a gram that is not going to contribute to killing somebody."

Lelling could have added that every illegal criminal taken off the streets creates a better chance for a neighborhood to become safe and secure.

Too bad that in some places, ICE and the U.S. Attorney's Office have to do this important job alone. That being said, we commend their hard work and hope it continues.

http://www.lowellsun.com/opinion/ci_...federal-agents