UPDATE:

Geraldo Rivera, the alleged leader of a drug trafficking ring which was operating in the Greater New Bedford Area until many of its members were arrested last Friday, has been found dangerous by a New Bedford District Court judge and ordered held without bail. A photo of some of the evidence seized during the raid is attached to this email.

Massachusetts State Police photo.

Previous version of the article:

Investigators concluded a multi-year, joint agency investigation into the Geraldo Rivera Drug Trafficking Organization, which has been operating in the greater New Bedford area. The investigation, dubbed “Operation Lunch Break” is a joint investigation led by Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III’s office, the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to District Attorney Quinn’s office, and the Office of Attorney General Maura Healey, which included assistance from members of the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office, Dartmouth and Fall River Police Departments, as well as the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Rhode Island HIDTA Task Force These agencies worked together to dismantle the Geraldo Rivera Drug Trafficking Organization, the members of which distributed large amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, marijuana and opioid pills throughout the greater New Bedford area. Throughout this long-term investigation, investigators utilized a variety of resources which included information through the interception of certain oral and wire communications occurring over four different phone lines. Authorization for the wiretaps of these phone lines was granted by the Bristol County Superior Court.

The communications intercepted from the wiretaps were monitored and classified with the assistance of professional linguists. The intercepted information was relayed to surveillance officers, who in turn, observed drug distribution and trafficking by the members of the Geraldo Rivera Drug Trafficking Organization. Further, significant events, relating to drug purchases, were documented by officers and captured by camera in video recordings. Throughout the investigation, police learned that many of the individuals who are part of the Geraldo River Drug Trafficking Organization are experienced drug traffickers. Investigators determined that Geraldo Rivera, along with other members of the organization, were responsible for distributing approximately two kilograms of fentanyl and one kilogram of cocaine to drug distributors in the New Bedford area on a monthly basis.

“I want to commend the various law enforcement agencies who worked in a cooperative effort to investigate the Geraldo Rivera Drug Trafficking Organization, which has resulted in serious charges being brought against more than a dozen defendants. I especially want to thank the Attorney General’s Office for their ongoing support of these types of investigations,” District Attorney Quinn said. “Fentanyl has been the primary cause of the increase in fatal overdoses in Bristol County during the past seven years. Through a cooperative law enforcement effort, we will continue to work to interrupt and dismantle these drug trafficking organizations who profit off the addiction and misery of our fellow citizens.”

During the early morning hours of Friday, June 11, authorities executed multiple search and arrest warrants throughout the cities of New Bedford and Providence, Rhode Island. The arrests followed a year-long operation dubbed “Operation Lunch Break” that investigated a drug trafficking organization in New Bedford headed by Geraldo Rivera.

The investigation identified many individuals involved in Rivera’s criminal enterprise. Five residential search warrants in New Bedford and two in Rhode Island were executed, as well as fourteen arrest warrants. Investigators seized more than 100 grams of suspected fentanyl and more than 50 grams of suspected cocaine during the New Bedford searches, along with roughly $14,000 in cash. Rhode Island HIDTA simultaneously conducted a search warrant in Providence at the residence of the primary drug courier for the drug trafficking organization. This search yielded approximately one-and-a-half kilograms of cocaine and half a kilogram of high-grade fentanyl, which this drug trafficking organization would convert to four and a half kilograms prior to distribution. Rhode Island HIDTA also seized $10,000 in cash during the search and arrested the alleged drug courier, 34-year-old Hector Concepcion. Since his arrest occurred in Rhode Island, he will go through the Rhode Island court system before being transported to Massachusetts to face other charges here.

“The opioid crisis is continuing to devastate communities across our state, and it’s only worsened during the pandemic,” said Attorney General Healey. “My office is committed to tackling this crisis from all angles, including disrupting dangerous drug trafficking networks like this one. We’re grateful for DA Quinn’s partnership in getting these deadly drugs off our streets.”

Target residences in New Bedford included apartments on Acushnet Avenue, Walker Street, George Street, Durfee Street and County Street..

The defendants arrested in New Bedford during Friday’s sweep are:

– Geraldo Rivera, 35, four counts of conspiracy to violate the drug laws.

– David Cruz, 26, four counts of conspiracy to violate the drug laws

– Nyel Paris-Villanueva, 23, distribute class B drug; trafficking in excess of 36 grams of a Class A drug and six counts of conspiracy to violate the drug laws

– Sergio Velasquez, trafficking in excess of 18 grams of cocaine and conspiracy to violate the drug laws.

– Jessenia Camacho, 27, conspiracy to violate the drug laws.

– Jose Quinones, 34, conspiracy to violate the drug laws,.

– Jack Neves, 25, conspiracy to violate the drug laws

– Edgar Hernandez-Casiano, 30, conspiracy to violate the drug laws

– Courtney Reynolds, 22, conspiracy to violate there drug laws

– Xavier Thompson, 27, conspiracy to violate the drug laws

– Flor Echevarria, 69, conspiracy to violate the drug laws

“Calling for help!! This piece of crap [allegedly] walked onto my property and stole a generator from my yard.

If anyone knows him or seen him please message me or New Bedford Police case #21-6461-0f.”-<a href="https://www.facebook.com/justin.allain.90"Justin Allain.

Photo by Justin Allain.

New Bedford Police Department patrol units responded to the area of Russell Street/Acushnet Ave. in regards to shots fired at 9:15pm on Saturday. Upon arrival, shots were confirmed to have been fired in the area of Monte’s Playground. No victim has been discovered at this time. The investigation remains active.

“ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION:

An investigation into an accident is underway involving a vehicle that hit a pedestrian at the Willow St./Richmond St. intersection.

The vehicle initially fled the scene but was later located and the operator was taken into custody. The pedestrian was transported to St Luke’s Hospital with serious injuries.”

“Congratulations to 8 newly-sworn members of the NBPD.

In the back: Stelvio Neto, Quinn Fallon, Michael MacDonald and Alexander Polson In front: Jonathan Miranda, Cameron Gullo, Stephanie Connolly and Bryan Hurley. On hand to welcome them were Acting Chief Paul Oliveira, Mayor Jon Mitchell, Rev. David Lima, Rev. Brian Dube, and PIO Lt. Scott Carola.

#lawenforcement #communitypolicing #CommunityPolice”

New Bedford Police Department photo.

“ACTIVE INVESTIGATION:

The New Bedford Police Department is currently seeking the whereabouts of Kassandra Martinez-Fernandez, 27, 111 Harwich St., in relation to a stabbing incident on June 9 that is circulating via video on social media.

Others involved in the incident have been identified and police are continuing this active investigation.”-New Bedford Police Department.

You can view the stabbing incident here.

A former member of the New Bedford Chapter of the Massachusetts Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (Latin Kings) was sentenced today on racketeering charges.

Kevin Guadalupe, a/k/a “King K-Milly,” 19, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel to time served (14 days) and three years of supervised release. On March 3, 2021, Guadalupe pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy.

Guadalupe participated in an unarmed robbery committed in November 2019 by members of the Latin Kings in New Bedford. During the robbery, which was captured on video, the victim was chased down in the middle of a busy street, thrown to the ground and kicked and beaten by six members of the Latin Kings. At the end of the beating, an item believed to be a wallet or cell phone was taken from the victim’s pants pocket.

The Latin Kings are a violent criminal enterprise comprised of thousands of members across the United States. The Latin Kings adhere to a national manifesto, employ an internal judiciary and use a sophisticated system of communication to maintain the hierarchy of the organization. As alleged in court documents, the gang uses drug distribution to generate revenue, and engages in violence against witnesses and rival gangs to further its influence and to protect its turf.

In December 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment alleging racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy and firearms charges against 62 leaders, members and associates of the Latin Kings. Guadalupe is the 31st defendant to be sentenced in the case.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Correction; and New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro made the announcement. Valuable assistance was also provided by the FBI North Shore Gang Task Force and the Bristol County and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip A. Mallard and Lauren Graber of Mendell’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.

The operation was conducted by a multi-agency task force through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. More information on the OCDETF program is available here: https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf/about-ocdetf.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

A New Jersey man was found guilty by a federal jury in Boston on Friday, June 4, 2021 in connection with attempting to retrieve narcotics from two Stoughton storage units.

Carlos Miguel Concepcion-Guilam, 30, was convicted following a three-day trial of one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for Oct. 5, 2021.

On June 19, 2019, staff at a storage facility in Stoughton opened a storage unit to auction its contents and found drug paraphernalia inside. During a search of that unit and a second, related storage unit, nearly two kilograms of fentanyl, nearly a kilogram of cocaine and drug-distribution paraphernalia including cutting agents, blenders, and packaging materials were recovered. Agents began surveilling the units to identify the owner of the drugs.

On June 20, 2019, Concepcion-Guilam arrived at the storage facility and opened the door to the unit that previously had contained nearly three kilograms of narcotics. After seeing that the drugs had been seized, he sprinted away from the storage facility and attempted to flee in his vehicle. Concepcion-Guilam deliberately crashed his vehicle into a marked police cruiser before he was arrested.

The charge of attempted possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to a lifetime in prison, five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of $10 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division; and Stoughton Police Chief Donna McNamara made the announcement today. Special assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Hassink, Lauren Graber, and Benjamin Tolkoff of Mendell’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.

A former Leader of the Massachusetts Department of Correction Chapter of the Massachusetts Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (Latin Kings) was sentenced today on racketeering charges.

Vincent Dzierwinski, a/k/a “King Vice,” was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel to 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On March 4, 2021, Dzierwinski pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy.

As detailed in court filings, the Latin Kings carry disputes and related gang violence into jails and prisons where Latin Kings members are incarcerated. Dzierwinski participated in three violent incidents in Massachusetts Department of Correction facilities from 2016 through 2019, while he was incarcerated on various state court sentences. These incidents involved participating in beatings and multiple incidents where victims were stabbed by other Latin Kings members. Following Dzierwinski’s release from his state court sentences, he has been held in federal custody.

The Latin Kings are a violent criminal enterprise comprised of thousands of members across the United States. The Latin Kings adhere to a national manifesto, employ an internal judiciary and use a sophisticated system of communication to maintain the hierarchy of the organization. As alleged in court documents, the gang uses drug distribution to generate revenue, and engages in violence against witnesses and rival gangs to further its influence and to protect its turf.

In December 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment alleging racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy and firearms charges against 62 leaders, members and associates of the Latin Kings. Dzierwinski is the 29th defendant to be sentenced in the case.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Correction; and New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was also provided by the FBI North Shore Gang Task Force and the Bristol County and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip A. Mallard and Lauren Graber of Mendell’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

A New Bedford man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to illegally possessing a Mustang .380 pistol and ammunition.

Victor Morales, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a firearm and ammunition while being a convicted felon. U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for Sept. 10, 2021. Morales was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2020.

On approximately July 20, 2020, Morales possessed a Colt MK IV Mustang .380 loaded pistol and 12 rounds of .380 caliber ammunition in his apartment. Federal law prohibits Morales from possessing a firearm or ammunition due to a prior felony conviction.

The charge of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth G. Shine and Evan Gotlob of Mendell’s Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.