Defendant agreed to pay $4,000 per murder.

“BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced yesterday for trying to hire a contract killer to murder his ex-wife and her boyfriend.

Mohammed Chowdhury, 47, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 92 months of incarceration followed by three years of supervised release. In January 2024, Chowdhury pleaded guilty to two counts of use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire.

“Mr. Chowdhury literally thought he could get away with murder,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Mr. Chowdhury’s disturbing conduct – in combination with the misogyny and dehumanization he expressed in trying to carry out this plot – speak volumes about how dangerous he is. This case represents the most extreme form of domestic violence and we will use all tools at our disposal to protect women in abusive relationships.”

“Anyone willing to hire a hitman to kill a once beloved family member and her new boyfriend is clearly a danger to the community,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Thankfully, the FBI Boston’s Violent Crimes Task Force was able to thwart this deadly and horrific plot. Violent criminals like Mohammed Chowdhury need to be locked up, for everyone’s safety, and today’s sentence ensures he won’t be able to harm anyone for a significant period of time.”

Massachusetts Dpeartment of Justice photo.

In November 2022, an individual notified law enforcement that Chowdhury was soliciting assistance in having his ex-wife murdered. The individual said that Chowdhury had paid someone to conduct the murder for hire, but that they took the money and did not follow through with Chowdhury’s request. Chowdhury subsequently told the individual that he needed the murder done as soon as possible and that he would get the money to do so, even robbing a store if necessary to obtain the funds. The individual provided Chowdhury’s phone number to law enforcement, who thereafter used an undercover agent posing as a contract killer, to communicate with Chowdhury about his murder for hire plot.

On numerous occasions in December 2022 and January 2023, Chowdhury met with undercover agents posing as the contract killer and their associates, to seek help with killing his ex-wife and her new boyfriend, whom she left him for. During these meetings and communications, Chowdhury explained that his ex-wife would not let him see his children; described his frustration with his ex-wife’s westernization and independent thinking; and expressed that he wanted the undercover agents to rob and beat his ex-wife and her boyfriend so that he would not be a suspect. Chowdhury asked, “So how we gonna disappear his, uh, body?” and stated, “No evidence. No evidence. No evidence from like, you know, that, uh, I did something, you know?” Chowdhury provided the undercover agents with photographs of his ex-wife and her boyfriend, where they lived, where they worked and their work schedules. Chowdhury ultimately agreed to pay $4,000 per murder, with a deposit of $500.

Image of defendant meeting with undercover agent
Chowdhury met with the undercover agents on Jan. 17, 2023, provided the $500 deposit and confirmed that he wanted the murders committed. Chowdhury was then immediately taken into federal custody.

According to court records, in October 2019, Chowdhury was charged in Boston Municipal Court – Roxbury Division with violating an Abuse Prevention Order prohibiting him from abusing, contacting, or coming within a certain distance of his ex-wife. Chowdhury pleaded to sufficient facts and received a continuance without a finding.

Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and FBI SAC Cohen made the announcement today. The Boston Police Department provided valuable assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Luke A. Goldworm and John T. Dawley of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.”-Massachusetts Dpeartment of Justice,

“The four men arrested this morning during a series of raids in Rhode Island — who are members of an organized burglary ring that victimized more than 40 homes in recent years — decided not to fight rendition.

This afternoon, Massachusetts State Troopers took custody of the four men and transported them to MSP Barracks in Millbury and Dartmouth. They are being booked and will be held in the Middlesex County House of Correction, most likely until their arraignments in Middlesex Superior Court next week.

JOVAN LEMON, 29, of Providence, R.I., his brother PAUL LEMON, 30, of Warwick, R.I., their father PAUL MILLER, 46, of Woonsocket, R.I., and STEVEN BERDUGO, 28, of Providence, R.I., were arrested this morning in connection with 43 burglaries and break-ins across 25 towns in Massachusetts between 2018 and 2024. Their criminal enterprise mainly targeted homes of people of Indian or Southeast Asian descent, often striking when they knew families would not be home and stealing large amounts of gems, jewelry, and currency.

The total value of all the stolen property has been estimated to exceed $4 million.

“The defendants in this case were very sophisticated. They targeted victims based on their ethnicity and then gathered information about their targets in order to strike when families were not at home. They were disciplined in concealing their identity, avoiding alarms and minimizing cell phone use before, during and after the breaks and using Wi-Fi jammers. Despite these challenges and the complicated nature and breadth of this investigation, law enforcement collaboratively and persistently worked to today begin the process of holding these four defendants accountable,” said District Attorney Marian Ryan.

Lieutenant Colonel Mark Cyr, commander of the Massachusetts State Police Division of Homeland Security, added: “The theft crew we arrested today stole countless items of great monetary, emotional, and cultural value from families in multiple states, and did so by violating the sanctity of their homes. Such brazen criminal actions will not be tolerated in our communities. This investigation highlights the dedication of our law enforcement partners to work collaboratively to take down complex criminal networks.”

Their arrests were the result of a painstaking investigation by the Massachusetts State Police Fusion Center, including its MACrimeNet intelligence sharing program, the State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, dozens of city and town police departments, Rhode Island and Connecticut State Police, and US Marshals. The defendants were indicted earlier this week, and are being prosecuted by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office.”-Massachusetts State Police.

NEW BEDFORD, Mass.: On Friday afternoon, the New Bedford Fire Department raced to a reported pier collapse on Antonio L. Costa Avenue. Fortunately, there have were no reports of injuries or that anyone was dumped into the water.

In October of 2023, there was collapse of a 225’ by 36’ section of bulkhead/pier which you can read about <a href="https://www.newbedfordguide.com/fire-department-update-injuries-new-bedford-pier-collapse/2023/10/12"<here. Five workers plungedinto the water in that incident and one worker had to be transported to St. Luke’s Emergency Department by NBEMS.

The 2023 incident was investigated by OSHA inspectors who found that Mohawk Northeast Inc. of Plantsville was at fault for not determining if the pier’s walking and working surfaces had the strength and structural integrity to support employees safely with the weight of materials and equipment on it.

OSHA issued the company a willful citation and assessed $161,323 in proposed penalties. The agency also proposed an additional $53,004 in penalties for four serious violations related to potential fall, drowning and struck-by hazards posed by the employer’s failure to do the following:

• Provide fall protection for employees working on the pier.
• Anchor or secure a crawler crane to the barge effectively to prevent its shifting.
• Provide life jackets for employees working on the pier and an adjacent barge.
• Protect or mark the crane’s swing radius to prevent it from striking employees.

The proposed penalties total $214,327.

October 2023 Collapse. Video by westislandweather.com.

“The City of New Bedford would like to remind residents of its Adopt-a-Tree program. The program, which kicked off in 2014 under Mayor Mitchell’s administration, invites residents to make a $150 contribution to the City of New Bedford which enables the Department of Public Infrastructure (DPI) to plant a tree on their street. Residents may select the species of their choice from a pre-approved list of tree types which DPI then plants per the resident’s direction.

Any resident interested in the Adopt-a-Tree Program may contact DPI at (508) 979-1550. The list can be found here: https://www.newbedford-ma.gov/special-announcements/adopt-a-tree-program/. If residents are interested in picking out a street tree, the City purchases shade trees through Sylvan Nursery, Inc. Any selection is subject to approval by DPI.”-City of New Bedford.

City of New Bedford photo.

City of New Bedford photo.

“Southcoast Health is hosting three open house hiring events for Registered Nurses, CNAs, ED Technicians and Nursing Students on April 30, May 2 and May 3, 2024.

There will be one event at each hospital location next week. Prospective candidates are invited to participate in on-the-spot interviews, hospital tours, and engage in conversation with managers and staff.

Register at www.southcoast.org/be-more/ to attend the events below, or reach out to recruit@southcoast.org to learn more.

Tobey Hospital
Tuesday, April 30
8-11am and 2-5pm
124 Main Street
Wareham, MA

St. Luke’s Hospital
Thursday, May 2
8-11am and 2-5pm
101 Page Street
New Bedford, MA

Charlton Memorial Hospital
Friday, May 3
8-11am and 2-5pm
363 Highland Ave
Fall River, MA

Careers at Southcoast Health offer professional growth opportunities and a highly supportive and respectful culture. Sign-on bonuses of up to $15,000 are available for some positions along with benefits, tuition assistance and federal loan forgiveness programs.

To learn more about all open positions at Southcoast Health, visit www.southcoast.org/careers/.

________________________________________________________________

About Southcoast Health

Founded in 1996, Southcoast Health serves communities across southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island as the largest provider of primary and specialty care in the region. The not-for-profit, charitable system includes three acute care hospitals – Charlton Memorial in Fall River, St. Luke’s in New Bedford (a Level II Trauma Center), and Tobey in Wareham, Massachusetts with a physician network of more than 675 providers.

With upward of 7,500 employees, Southcoast Health is the largest employer in southeastern Massachusetts, and one of the largest employers in the Commonwealth, according to the Boston Business Journal. More information is available online at www.southcoast.org.

During the Trump administration the annual cap of refugees that could be admitted into the country was lowered to 15,000. When President Biden came into office he raised that number to 125,000. In 2021 12,500 refugees arrived to U.S. and the following year, that number doubled. In 2023, the number exploded to 60,000 and in 2024 that number has increased exponentially surpassing the previous year’s numbers only months into the new year.

This year the nations with the most refugees coming to our shores starting with the most, hailed from the Congo, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Syria, and Venezuela. Which states receieved the most refugees in 2024?

#01. Texas
#02. California
#03. New York
#04. Pennsylvania
#05. Florida

Data compiled from the Refugee Processing Center reveals the top ten nations where migrants arriving to Massachusetts, hail from.

#01. Congo
#02. Afghanistan
#03. Burundi
#04. Central African Republic
#05. Eritrea
#06. Myanmar
#07. Syria
#08. Guatemala
#09. Sudan
#10. Kazakhstan

“Massachusetts Environmental Police Boat on scene assisting IFAW and Marblehead Harbormaster with a deceased 42′ Humpback Whale off Prescott Beach Marblehead.

The whale will be brought ashore for the IFAW team to perform a necropsy to determine the cause of death.”-Massachusetts Environmental Police.

Massachusetts Environmental Police photo.

“On Thursday, Hazmat Technicians from the New Bedford Fire Department took part in an Ammonia Emergency Response Training & Live-Release Drill in North Kingstown, Rhode Island.

The training program consisted of classroom instruction and practical evolutions where the Hazmat Technicians practiced leak mitigation techniques with actual anhydrous ammonia. Anhydrous ammonia is used extensively within the City of New Bedford by the seafood industry for cold storage of seafood.

The NBFD extends its thanks to Transcaer, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, and the North Kingstown Fire Department for this excellent training opportunity.

The NBFD currently employs over twenty firefighters who are trained and certified to the Hazardous Materials Technician level.”-New Bedford Fire Department.

New Bedford Fire Department photo.

New Bedford Fire Department photo.

New Bedford Fire Department photo.

New Bedford Fire Department photo.

New Bedford Fire Department photo.

New Bedford Fire Department photo.

New Bedford Fire Department photo.

“BOSTON – A Salvadoran man has pleaded guilty today to unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.

Melvin Alexander Orellana-Martinez, 54, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien before U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled by the Court.

On eight separate occasions between July 2007 and January 2020, Orellana-Martinez was removed from the United States. Between February 2008 and March 2019, Orellana-Martinez was convicted in California and Texas federal courts on five separate occasions of either illegal reentry or improper entry.

Orellana-Martinez was last deported from the United States on Jan. 14, 2020. Sometime after his January 2020 removal, Orellana-Martinez unlawfully reentered the United States. On Jan. 6, 2023, federal immigration authorities were notified that Orellana-Martinez had unlawfully reentered the United States after he was arrested on unrelated state charges.

The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant will be subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of the imposed sentence. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Todd M. Lyons, Boston’s Field Office Director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement today. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.”-Massachusetts Department of Justice.

Massachusetts has its first reported and confirmed case of the potentially deadly Powassan virus in Sharon. State officials are warning warns residents to take precautions against the tick-borne disease.

Mass.gov explains the virus,”Powassan virus causes a rare, but often serious disease, and is spread by the bite of tiny, infected black-legged (deer) ticks. There are two types of Powassan virus in the United States. One type is found in ticks that normally feed on woodchucks (groundhogs); the second type is carried by black-legged ticks, the same ticks that can also carry the germs that cause Lyme disease, babesiosis and anaplasmosis.”

Powassan virus is spread by the bite of an infected tick and can spread from the tick into a person after only a short time of attachment, so it’s crucial to check yourself frequently when walking, on hikes, gardening, etc. You may not notice symptoms since they take minimum of a week to manifest and in some cases, up to a month.

Symptoms/signs include confusion, fever, headache, loss of coordination, seizures, speech difficulties, vomiting, and weakness. In severe cases, one may experience encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain, or meningitis, an inflammation of the covering of the brain and spinal cord. 10% of those who contract the severe form of the disease will die and survivors may have long-term health problems.

Unfortunately, there is no treatment once infected and one can only drink lots of fluids to prevent dehydration and get plenty of rest.

The CDC tracks cases and provides data and maps. You can visit their page and see current data here.