Thirty-Two Indicted in Major Fitchburg Crack
Cocaine and Heroin Investigation, Reports U.S.
Attorney
WORCESTER, Mass., Dec. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Six indictments were unsealed today in
federal district court charging a total of thirty-two individuals with trafficking in crack cocaine
and heroin.
United States Attorney Donald K. Stern; Special Agent in Charge John E. Gartland of the New England Field Office of the
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Special Agent in Charge Raymond Carolan of the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development, and Chief Edward Gallant of the Fitchburg Police Department, announced today the unsealing of seven
indictments which charge a total of thirty-two people with crack cocaine, heroin and cocaine trafficking.
The indictments capped a six-month undercover investigation led by the Fitchburg Police Department in conjunction with the
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's Mobile Enforcement Team and other federal agencies into narcotics trafficking in the
Fitchburg area. The investigation focused on cocaine base, or ``crack,' dealing in Fitchburg, and heroin dealing at two of the
area public housing developments, Meadowbrook Village Apartments and the Green Acres Housing Development. This
morning, the investigation ended with early morning raids and the execution of six search warrants at locations in Fitchburg used
during the charged narcotics conspiracies.
During the investigation, over 80 purchases were made by undercover DEA agents for a combined total of more than a
kilogram of crack cocaine. Undercover agents also purchased heroin that, in some instances, was more than 80 percent pure.
U.S. Attorney Stern stated that the indictments represent a major blow to illegal drug dealing in Fitchburg.
United States Attorney Donald K. Stern commented: ``Today's indictments underscore our commitment to attacking drug
trafficking in all of the Commonwealth's cities and towns. Cases such as these have a palpable impact on the quality of life in the
affected communities.'
Special Agent in Charge Gartland stated, ``This case is another example of the success of DEA's Mobile Enforcement Team,
which is a specialized enforcement group designed to respond to requests from local police chiefs for assistance in combating
narcotics trafficking and its associated violence. I would like to commend the Fitchburg Police Department for their dedication
and goal of reducing drug crime and violence in their community. Outstanding team work successfully brought this case to
fruition.'
According to Stern, in the first indictment, three men and four women were charged with conspiring to distribute, and
distributing, crack cocaine between May and December, 1999. This group operated out of 187 Summer Street in Fitchburg,
among other locations. All of the defendants face maximum life sentences, with ten-year minimum mandatory sentences,
followed by at least five years of supervised release, and fines of up to $4 million, in addition to other possible penalties. Those
indicted were:
1. Juan Quinones, a/k/a ``Javier';
2. Zoraida Escobar, a/k/a ``Amanda';
3. Jessica Ortiz, a/k/a ``Marta';
4. Rosa Marie Cruz-Monge, a/k/a ``Helen';
5. Antonio Luciano;
6. Jose Castillo; and
7. Maresala Segura, a/k/a ``Nadia'.
In the second indictment arising from the investigation, eight men and two women, including Segura, from the first indictment,
were charged with conspiring to distribute crack cocaine, and distributing crack, from August through December, 1999. All of
the defendants face maximum life sentences, with ten-year minimum mandatory sentences, followed by at least five years of
supervised release, and fines of up to $4 million, in addition to other possible penalties. Crack cocaine sales were made by
members of this conspiracy from apartments located at 187 Summer Street, 10 Pleasant Street and other sites in Fitchburg.
Charged in the second indictment were:
1. Albert Johnny Torres, a/k/a ``Alex';
2. Dilson Ventura, a/k/a ``Jason';
3. Junior Santana;
4. First Name Unknown Last Name Unknown, a/k/a ``The Godfather';
5. Alex Last Name Unknown;
6. Richard Ruiz, a/k/a ``David';
7. Javier Rivera;
8. Victor Santiago;
9. Maresala Segura, a/k/a ``Nadia'; and
10. Yajairo Collazo, a/k/a ``J.J.', a/k/a ``Baby Crazy'.
In the third indictment, nine men and one woman were charged with conspiring to distribute, and distributing, crack cocaine
during the period May through December, 1999. All defendants face potential life sentences, with ten-year minimum mandatory
sentences, followed by at least five years of supervised release, and up to $4 million in fines, in addition to other penalties. The
alleged conspirators charged in this indictment operated out of 160 Laurel Street and 77 Plymouth Street in Fitchburg, among
other locations. Charged were:
1. Angel Adorno;
2. Anthony Castro; a/k/a ``Luis Rivera,' a/k/a ``Tony';
3. Robert Rodriguez; a/k/a ``Dominican';
4. Angel Luis Rodriguez;
5. Walter Rodriguez;
6. Angel Castro, Sr.;
7. Javier Rivera;
8. Alex Rivera;
9. Jose Delgado; and
10. Iris Rodriguez
In the fourth indictment, five men, including Anthony Castro, charged in the third indictment mentioned above, were charged
with crack conspiracy and distribution, largely from 27 Payson Street. These defendants also face potential forty-year
sentences, with five-year minimum mandatory sentences, followed by at least four years of supervised release, and up to $2
million in fines, in addition to other penalties. They are:
1. Reinaldo Egipciaco, a/k/a ``Theo';
2. Wandy Henriquez-Rodriguez;
3. Luis Martinez Torres;
4. Dawn Sargent; and
5. Anthony Castro, a/k/a ``Luis Rivera,' a/k/a ``Tony'
In the fifth and sixth indictments, three men were charged with heroin conspiracy and/or heroin dealing. These defendants face
up to twenty years, imprisonment, to be followed by at least three years of supervised release, and up to $1 million in fines.
Included in those two indictments were:
1. Hector Santiago,
2. Jose Rohena; and
3. Juan Mendez
The investigation leading to the indictments was conducted by Special Agents of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's
Mobile Enforcement Team and officers of the Vice Unit of the Fitchburg Police Department, in conjunction with the U.S.
Attorney's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task force. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael
Ricciuti and David Hennessy of Stern's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force. |
