According to Alarms.org, the official site of the National Council for Home Safety and Security, New Bedford is the 5th most dangerous city in Massachusetts. The organization produced a list of the “safest cities in Massachusetts for 2018” – ranking 172 Massachusetts towns and cities.

Of the 172 cities listed, New Bedford finished #168. In comparison, Fall River finished #163, Fairhaven #150, and Dartmouth #146.

Alarms.org referenced using the following methodology:

“To identify the safest cities in Massachusetts, we reviewed the most recent FBI Uniform Crime Report statistics along with our own population data and internal research. We eliminated any cities that failed to submit a complete crime report to the FBI and removed cities with populations under 10,000.

The remaining cities were ranked based on the number of reported violent crimes (aggravated assault, murder, rape, and robbery) and property crimes (burglary, arson, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft) per 1,000 people. These variables were then weighted, with violent crimes accounting for 1.5 of the total (due to their severity) than property crimes.”

The safest cities were:

#1 Wayland
#2 Norfolk
#3 Norton
#4 Sudbury
#5 Franklin

The five most dangerous cities listed were:

#172 Holyoke
#171 North Adams
#170 West Springfield
#169 Springfield
#168 New Bedford

New Bedford narcotics detectives took more than $30,000 worth of heroin and more than 80 grams of Fentanyl off the street Tuesday, Oct. 9 and made an arrest following an investigation into a heroin delivery service out of 598 Brock Ave., Apt. 3F.

Detectives executed a search warrant of the residence and a garage stall on Stapleton Street. A search of the residence yielded more than 311 grams of heroin, more than 80 grams of Fentanyl, a digital scale, packaging materials and nearly $300 in cash.

Orlando Rosario, 33, of 598 Brock Ave. Apt. 3F, New Bedford, was charged with trafficking in heroin, trafficking in Fentanyl and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. He was located driving away from the garage stall and was stopped by detectives at Cove Street and Route 18 north.

The arrest was made at 9:41 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 9.

A 48-year-old New Bedford narcotics trafficker was sentenced to serve up to five and a half years in state prison last week in Fall River Superior Court, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Michael Oliver pleaded guilty to a multi-count indictment, charging him with trafficking in heroin, trafficking in cocaine and possession of a class B drug with intent to distribute—subsequent offense.

On September 17, 2015, detectives with the New Bedford Police Department executed two search warrants on residences connected to the defendant’s ongoing narcotics trafficking enterprise. In one of the residences, police found seven grams of cocaine and $17,000 in cash in a hidden safe. In the second residence, police found more than 400 grams of heroin and 50 grams of cocaine in a lockbox.

The defendant had previously served committed time for assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, distribution of a class A drug and assault and battery of a police officer.

The four and a half year to five and a half year state prison sentence was handed down by Judge Renee Dupuis, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Michael Sheehan.

“This is another defendant with a long history of criminal behavior who does not belong out on the street,” District Attorney Quinn said.

Shortly after 2 p.m. yesterday, Trooper Dustin Shaw, who is assigned to State Police-Oak Bluffs, was on patrol when observed a 2012 Mazda sedan with no inspection sticker pass him on West Tisbury Road in Edgartown. Trooper Shaw stopped the car in the area of Bold Meadow Lane, approached, and began speaking with the driver, a 25-year-old Oak Bluffs woman.

When the passenger, WILLIAM J. FILENE, 30, of Edgartown, opened the glove box to get the registration, Trooper Shaw observed, inside the compartment, a clear plastic box containing firearm ammunition. Trooper Shaw determined that neither of the car’s occupants possessed a license to carry a firearm or a Firearm Identification Card. While speaking to the Trooper, both occupants initially stated there was no gun in the vehicle.

After the discovery of the ammunition, Edgartown Police responded to back up the stop. Upon further questioning and investigation, the Trooper and Officers learned that FILENE did indeed have a firearm in the car and recovered a Ruger LCP Auto handgun with a .380 caliber round in the chamber and a magazine holding six more rounds. Additionally, the box in the glove compartment contained six .40 caliber rounds.

FILENE was charged with illegal possession of a firearm and illegal possession of ammunition. He was transported to the Dukes County House of Correction and booked. The driver was issued a civil citation for driving without an inspection sticker.

On Sunday, October 7, at about 12:00 p.m. Wareham Police were requested to Walmart for a report of a shoplifter in the store being watched by loss prevention personnel.

Officer Nate Aronson arrived on location and the suspect was pointed out to him. Officer Aronson confronted the subject in the hardware section and he was initially cooperative. After being advised he was being placed under arrest, the suspect assaulted Officer Aronson and began running toward the front of the store. Officer Aronson gave chase, however, collided with a store display, but continued the foot pursuit, heading for the front entrance. The incident was causing a significant disruption to the business and many shoppers appeared shocked and alarmed by the suspect’s aggressive behavior.

Officer Aronson radioed for assistance, and the suspect proceeded on foot toward the area of JC Penny, where he was observed taking off his shirt. Officer Aronson drove to the area, and loudly ordered the suspect to the ground several times, however, he refused. Instead, the suspect took a fighting stance by blading his body and balling his fists. Officer Aronson deployed his Taser, which did not make contact with the suspect, however the suspect now submitted to the arrest.

Officer George Chandler arrived and assisted with placing the male in handcuffs. The suspect was transported to police headquarters where he lied about his identity. After investigation, officers were able to identify the male as Samuel Mills, 35, of 37 Sidewinder Road, East Falmouth. Officer Aronson was treated and released from Tobey Hospital for minor injuries incurred during the incident. Mills is being held at Wareham Police headquarters on $1,000 cash bail pending a court appearance on Tuesday morning at Wareham District Court. He is charged as follows;

• Disorderly conduct,
• Disturbing the peace,
• Assault and battery on a police officer
• Resisting arrest
• Shoplifting over $250.00
• Arrestee furnishing a false name

Acting Police Chief John Walcek said, “The suspect, when confronted, assaulted a police officer, fled, and when finally cornered appeared to be ready to fight again. This incident viewed by many shoppers on a Sunday afternoon is completely unacceptable. The officers of this department will continue to aggressively and relentlessly pursue criminals who not only want to steal from a business in our community, but are willing to fight with us when confronted. Officer Aronson did a great job in apprehending the suspect and we are appreciative of citizens who helped point out where the male ran after fleeing the store.”

From the New Bedford Police Department:

“Please be aware that the Department of Public Infrastructure has informed the Police Department that they have received reports of two men going door-to-door in the City, impersonating DPI staff in an attempt to gain access to houses. The two men, driving an unmarked silver van, have claimed that the houses’ water is compromised and that they work for DPI and will inspect it. Please know that DPI employees will ALWAYS have badges, and would drive a City vehicle, not an unmarked vehicle. The NBPD is investigating. Residents should contact communications at 508-991-6350 to report any similar suspicious activity to the police.”

A Newton man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for conducting an extensive cyberstalking campaign against his former housemate, her family members, co-workers, friends, and other unrelated individuals. The defendant hacked into his former housemate’s online accounts, posted fraudulent sexual solicitations in the victims’ names, sent unsolicited images of child pornography, and made over 120 hoax bomb threats.

Ryan S. Lin, 25, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young to 210 months in prison and five years of supervised release, after pleading guilty in April 2018 to seven counts of cyberstalking, five counts of distribution of child pornography, nine counts of making hoax bomb threats, three counts of computer fraud and abuse and one count of aggravated identity theft. Lin was arrested in October 2017, and has been in custody since.

From approximately May 2016 through Oct. 5, 2017, Lin engaged in a cyberstalking campaign against his housemate, a 25-year-old female victim. Lin hacked into the victim’s online accounts and devices and stole the victim’s private photographs, personally identifiable information, and private diary entries, which contained sensitive details about her medical, psychological and sexual history, and distributed the material to hundreds of people associated with her.

Lin also created and posted fraudulent online profiles in the victim’s name and solicited rape fantasies, including a “gang bang,” and other sexual activities, which in turn caused men to show up at the victim’s home. He also engaged in a number of other activities targeting the victim, including relentless anonymous text messaging and hoaxes.

In addition to his former housemate, Lin engaged in cyberstalking activity aimed at six other individuals. Some were associated with the primary victim, and others were unrelated. The additional victims include two women who were Lin’s housemates in Newton at the time of his arrest. On multiple occasions, Lin sent unsolicited sexually explicit images of prepubescent children to the primary victim’s mother, the victim’s co-worker and housemate, a friend of the victim who resided in New Jersey, and two of Lin’s former classmates in New York.

Furthermore, Lin falsely and repeatedly reported to law enforcement that there were bombs at the primary victim’s Waltham residence. Lin also created a false social media profile in the name of the primary victim’s housemate in Waltham and posted that he was going to “shoot up” a school in Waltham, stating that there would be “blood and corpses everywhere.” These threats became part of a prolonged pattern of threats in Waltham, and eventually in surrounding towns, including schools, homes, businesses and other institutions.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Office; and Waltham Police Chief Keith MacPherson made the announcement today. The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office and the Watertown, Newton and Wellesley Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Harman Burkart, Chief of Lelling’s Cybercrime Unit, and Senior Trial Attorney Mona Sedky of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section prosecuted the case.

A Worcester man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Worcester to possessing child pornography.

James M. Stoddard, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for Jan. 3, 2019. Stoddard was arrested and charged in federal court in June 2018.

In February 2018, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a CyberTip reporting that a file depicting apparent child pornography was uploaded from, what was later determined to be, an IP address associated with Stoddard. Further investigation led authorities to execute a state search warrant at Stoddard’s residence in Worcester, which revealed numerous videos and images of child pornography, including videos of girls as young as nine-years-old engaged in sex acts with adult men. Investigators also found a homemade child-like sex doll and several pairs of female, child-sized undergarments.

During the search, Stoddard was not present, but had contacted his first-floor tenant for a law enforcement phone number that he could contact. Stoddard then called an officer and informed him that he was in Natick, suicidal, and had climbed a tree. Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to Stoddard’s location and, after lengthy negotiations, Stoddard climbed down from the tree. He was subsequently arrested, charged in state court, and has been in state custody since.

Court documents also indicate that Stoddard is a Level 1 sex offender and failed to register his current address with the Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board as he is required to do given a prior conviction for a child pornography offense.

Due to a prior conviction, Stoddard faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to 20 years in prison, a minimum of five years and up to a lifetime 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.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Worcester Police Chief Steven M. Sargent made the announcement. The Worcester County District Attorney’s Office and the Natick Police Department provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Abely of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.

A member of MS-13 was sentenced yesterday to life in prison for racketeering conspiracy and murder.

Hector Enamorado, a/k/a “Vida Loca,” 39, a Honduran national, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to life in prison. In April 2018, Enamorado was convicted by a federal jury of conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy, and of committing or knowingly participating in murder as part of the racketeering conspiracy.

Co-defendants Noe Salvador Perez Vasquez, a/k/a “Crazy,” 27, a Salvadoran national, and Luis Solis Vasquez, a/k/a “Brujo,” 27, a Salvadoran national, were also convicted of RICO conspiracy and of committing or knowingly participating in murder. Perez was sentenced in July 2018 to life in prison and Solis is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 17, 2018.

At trial, Enamorado was identified as a homeboy with the Chelsea Locos Salvatrucha (CLS) clique. In furtherance of its mission, MS-13 members are required to commit acts of violence, specifically against rival gang members; kill informants; and support and defend fellow MS-13 members in attacks. MS-13 rewards members who commit acts of violence with promotions within the gang and punishes members who break gang rules.

On Dec. 14, 2014, Enamorado, Perez Vasquez and Solis Vasquez, murdered a 29-year-old male victim at an apartment in Chelsea. Enamorado and the victim had engaged in a gang-related fight the night before the murder, and when Enamorado encountered the victim again the following night, Enamorado called Perez Vasquez to ask him for a gun. Perez Vasquez delivered the murder weapon, a .380 caliber pistol, to Enamorado in Chelsea. Solis Vasquez armed himself with a gun and went with Enamorado into the apartment to provide backup and support for the attack. Enamorado used Perez Vasquez’s gun to fatally shoot the victim three times. Enamorado also shot and wounded a second victim who was inside the apartment at the time of the murder.

Enamorado was one of 49 defendants convicted as part of this case. All nine defendants who went to trial were convicted and 40 others pleaded guilty. In all, 16 defendants, including Enamorado, were found to have committed or knowingly participated in murders.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Commissioner Thomas Turco of the Massachusetts Department of Corrections; Essex County Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger; Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Thompkins; Suffolk County District Attorney John P. Pappas; Middlesex County District Attorney Marian T. Ryan; Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett; Boston Police Commissioner William Gross; Chelsea Police Chief Brian A. Kyes; Everett Police Chief Steven A. Mazzie; Lynn Police Chief Michael Mageary; Revere Police Chief James Guido; and Somerville Police Chief David Fallon made the announcement today. The U.S. Marshals Service has provided crucial assistance with the case.

Governor Baker is proposing legislation to make it more difficult for courts in Massachusetts to release dangerous defendants. We asked Mayor Mitchell, who was a former US prosecutor, if it will have an impact and if he supports the move.