Thirteen charged in Massachusetts-Puerto Rico cocaine trafficking network
Thirteen people face federal charges for distributing cocaine, meth, fentanyl and marijuana between Puerto Rico and Central Massachusetts. Over 10 kg of cocaine and eight firearms were seized.
Thirteen charged in Massachusetts-Puerto Rico drug trafficking ring
Thirteen individuals have been charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances — including cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl and marijuana — as part of a transnational drug trafficking organization operating across Central Massachusetts and Puerto Rico, justice.gov reported.
According to charging documents, Jack Saez Jr., 34, of Dayville, Connecticut, led the operation. His organization received kilogram quantities of cocaine shipped through the mail from Puerto Rico to addresses in Worcester County. Investigators seized more than 10 kilograms of cocaine in transit over the course of the investigation. The organization also distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl.
The twelve other defendants charged are:
- Christopher Rivera Rodriguez, 32, Puerto Rico
- Jan Carlos Martinez Mendez, 23, Puerto Rico
- Dayanara Mendez, Dayville, Conn.
- Shaquille De Jesus Torres, 32, Puerto Rico
- Gerardo Villegas Rodriguez, 28, Dominican Republic
- Sheldon Herring, 48, Worcester, Mass.
- Duamel Ocasio, 55, Worcester, Mass.
- Anthony Hines, 57, Worcester, Mass.
- Stephen Bandilla III, 55, East Brookfield, Mass.
- Justin Gilchrest, 34, Webster, Mass.
- Alondra Daleishka Cruz Mendoza, 23, Puerto Rico
- Ushuuaniliz Hernandez Rios, 21, Puerto Rico
Searches of multiple stash houses and residences in Massachusetts and Puerto Rico resulted in the seizure of eight firearms and additional distribution quantities of narcotics.
Each defendant faces one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is determined by a federal district court judge under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
United States Attorney Leah Foley announced the charges alongside Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration's New England Field Division, and Jason Buckley, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service's Boston Division. Assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms, the Southern Worcester County Drug & Counter Crime Task Force, the Puerto Rico Police Bureau, Massachusetts State Police and multiple local police departments.
The case was investigated and prosecuted by the Boston Homeland Security Task Force as part of Operation Take Back America. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Robinson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra Gonzalez Sanchez of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the matter.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: Google News DM — Crime