A month-long investigation by the Massachusetts State Police Commonwealth Interstate Narcotics Reduction and Enforcement Team (CINRET) resulted yesterday in the seizure of approximately 2.5 kilograms of suspected fentanyl and the arrest of a Lawrence-based supplier.

The MSP CINRET investigation, which was assisted by the State Police Gang Unit and members of the Southeastern Massachusetts Gang Task Force, initially targeted the distribution of fentanyl and cocaine by two suspects in Fall River. The investigation, which included a series of controlled purchases of fentanyl from the two targets, allowed Troopers to obtain search warrants for an apartment in Fall River and two vehicles.

Narcotics and currency seized during Fall River search warrants. Massachusetts State Police photo.

Thursday morning Troopers from the MSP CINRET South Team, MSP Gang Unit, and MSP Troop D Community Action Team, along with Fall River Police Gang Unit Officers, established surveillance of the Liberty Avenue apartment. Shortly before 9 a.m. surveillance teams observed two individuals leave the apartment and drive away in a Chevrolet Malibu. Investigators followed and stopped the Malibu on Broadway in Fall River.

Troopers and Officers then returned to the apartment and executed a search warrant, leading to the seizure of a digital scale consistent with use for drug distribution, US currency, and documents establishing residency of the apartment.

The team also executed a search warrant on a Cadillac Escalade parked at the apartment. That search led to the seizure of the following:

• Eight bricks of suspected fentanyl wrapped in cellophane and weighing approximately 814 grams;
• Two plastic baggies containing suspected fentanyl weighing approximately 97 grams and 44 grams;
• A revolver-style firearm and ammunition;
• A pill bottle containing numerous light blue pills, stamped M30; and
• A purse holding plastic baggies, a digital scale, and a knife.

A search warrant executed on the Malibu that was stopped led to the recovery of a backpack containing approximately $11,600 in US currency. The cash was seized as suspected proceeds of illicit drug sales.

During the execution of the search warrants, Troopers and Officers developed information identifying a Lawrence-based supplier of the narcotics seized in Fall River. MSP CINRET and Gang Unit investigators were then able to arrange for a delivery of fentanyl by the supplier to a restaurant in Fall River on Thursday night.

The investigative team, which also included Brockton Police Officers, set up surveillance of the prearranged delivery location, an Applebee’s restaurant in Fall River.

At approximately 9:15 p.m. surveillance teams observed an older model Honda CRV pull into the parking lot of the restaurant. Team members approached the CRV and placed the lone male occupant, JOSE BAEZ-LARA, 32, of Lawrence, into custody. Troopers and Officers immediately located a gift bag on the front seat. Inside the gift bag was a shoebox that contained 15 block-shaped packages that contained suspected fentanyl. The suspected fentanyl weighed approximately 1,534 grams with packaging.

Troopers transported BAEZ-LARA was transported to the State Police-Dartmouth Barracks, where he was booked on narcotics trafficking charges. The State Police Narcotics Inspection Unit secured the narcotics as evidence.

The two individuals at the Fall River motor vehicle stop will also face drug charges. No further information about them is being released at this time.

A Dennis Port man pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges of receipt and possession of child pornography.

Sean Gleason, 36, pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for Dec. 18, 2020. On Sept. 10, 2019, Gleason was arrested and charged by criminal complaint and has been in custody since.

Following an investigation into the use of a messaging application in the exchange of child pornography, a federal search warrant executed on Sept. 10, 2019 at a residence in Dennis Port revealed hundreds of images of child pornography on Gleason’s cell phone. A full forensic review of the phone revealed at least 498 images and at least one video of child pornography. The cache of child pornography included images depicting the abuse of infants, toddlers and prepubescent minors.

The charges of receipt and possession of child pornography each carry a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, and the charge of receipt of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison. Both charges provide for a mandatory 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 and Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam W. Deitch of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

The case is 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 the 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.

Mayor Jon Mitchell and the Board of Health have updated New Bedford’s strong public health measures to protect senior living facilities, nursing homes, and long-term care facilities.

Under an updated emergency order in effect August 24, visitation is allowed by appointment only and a daily log must be maintained at these facilities, with contact tracing steps included. All nursing home and long-term care facility visits must also comply with the state’s guidance.

The update also allows for several large housing units to be utilized for in-person voting for the upcoming election, as some are designated polling places in the city. Precautions including compliance with state mandates and city regulations around social distancing, the use of masks and/or face coverings, and strict hygiene and sanitation requirements, must remain in effect.

The strong public health measures first announced on April remain in place. Senior living facilities and nursing homes conduct regular wellness checks of all residents including phone calls or door checks, depending on the type of facility, and notification to the Health Department and resident’s emergency contact if there is an inability to confirm the resident’s wellness. Mandatory stringent hygiene and sanitation precautions remain in effect.

A 57-year-old Taunton man who broke into his ex-girlfriend’s home, set her personal property on fire and violently assaulted her, was sentenced Tuesday in Fall River Superior Court to serve up to five years in state prison, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Isidro Batista pleaded guilty to indictments charging him with aggravated assault and battery with serious bodily injury, malicious destruction of property, breaking and entering, and domestic assault and battery.

The defendant and victim were in a six-month dating relationship that recently ended at the time of the May 13, 2018 incident.

On this date, the defendant broke into her house and started a fire in her home while she was at her daughter’s First Communion. The defendant then brutally beat her once she got home.

The victim arrived to her home in disarray. She immediately smelled smoke and saw papers that had been placed on the stove, smoldering and turning to ash. The papers burning were her immigration documents, passport, airline tickets to Portugal and cash. As she walked through the house, she noticed that pictures were knocked from the walls and the bedroom mattress was flipped over. When she went into the bedroom, she discovered the defendant hiding behind the bedroom door.

The defendant covered the victim’s mouth and stated repeatedly that he was going to kill her. The victim broke from his grasp and ran outside. The defendant chased after her, slapped the victim’s phone away when she attempted to call the police, tackled her and pinned the victim to the ground. While on the ground, he grabbed her by the hair and pulled out large clumps. He proceeded to punch her in the face with a closed fist multiple times while repeating that he was going to kill her. The victim does not recall anything beyond this point.

A male neighbor witnessed the incident occurring and ran over to intervene. The witness was able to overcome the defendant and subdued him until police arrived.

The victim sustained several broken bones in her face, lost two teeth and had severe bruising on her face and neck.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Courtney Cahill, the chief of DA Quinn’s Domestic Violence Unit. ADA Cahill argued for a more severe eight to ten year state prison term due to the vicious nature of the attack. The defense, however, recommended a more lenient two year state prison term.

Judge Thomas J. Perrino sentenced the defendant to serve four-and-a-half to five years in state prison, to be followed by three years of supervised probation. Probationary terms include wearing a GPS monitoring device, staying away from the victim and completing a domestic batterers counseling program.

“This was a brutal case of domestic violence. The defendant even chased the victim outside and continued to pummel her. Fortunately, a witness had the courage to intervene and stop the violent assault. I commend him for that. This defendant clearly belongs off the street based on his very violent conduct,” District Attorney Quinn said.

The victim of​ the pedestrian/motor vehicle crash involving a Fairhaven Police cruiser on Tuesday evening died at the hospital last night.

The victim is 32-year-old Christian Lapaz-Dejesus, who was living in New Bedford. He died around 8:30 pm Thursday night at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

Massachusetts State Police are currently investigating the incident.

At around 11 p.m. Tuesday, a Fairhaven Police cruiser was being driven westbound on Route 6 when it struck a pedestrian in the roadway just west of the 7-Eleven convenience store.

Lapaz-Dejesus was rendered aid by the officer driving the cruiser, and was then rushed to St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford after sustaining serious injuries. He was later transferred to the hospital in Boston.

The police cruiser involved in the crash was a 2014 Ford Explorer.

The investigation into this crash is being conducted by Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the district attorney’s office and accident reconstruction is being conducted by the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section.

A former probationary member of the New Bedford Chapter of the Massachusetts Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (“Latin Kings”) pleaded guilty yesterday to racketeering charges.

Emanuel Lopez-Velez, a/k/a “King Manny,” 22, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel scheduled sentencing for Dec. 10, 2020. Lopez-Velez was arrested and charged in December 2019, at which time he was a probationary member of the New Bedford Chapter of the Latin Kings.

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.

As detailed during the plea hearing, Lopez-Velez admitted that on Sept. 30, 2019, he was one of multiple members of the Latin Kings who travelled to Ruth Street and McGurk Street in New Bedford in order to confront and rob rival gang members, and was provided with a firearm to do so by another member of the gang. The Latin Kings members approached one of the rival gang members, surrounded him, pointed a firearm at the victim and demanded the victim’s phone. During the gunpoint robbery, the victim ran from the Latin Kings, and Lopez-Velez was ordered by another to “get him.” Lopez-Velez chased the rival gang member and fired one shot, hitting the victim in the back. The victim fell to the ground and was transported to the hospital, where he was treated and ultimately survived the incident.

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. Lopez-Velez is the ninth defendant to plead guilty in the case.

The RICO conspiracy charge provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $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; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field 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. Attorney Philip A. Mallard and Mark Grady of Lelling’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

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.

On August 26, New Bedford Police Narcotics Detectives seized a 9MM Taurus firearm with 11 rounds of ammunition as the result of executing a search warrant.

26-year old Ailton Pina of 138 Deane St. Apt. 1W, was charged with firearms offenses.  
Detective Kevin Barbosa conducted this investigation. 

If you have any information on criminal activity in your community, the New Bedford Police Dept. wants to hear from you. You can leave an anonymous tip on our voicemail at (508) 991-6300 Ext. 1.

Here’s Pablo’s story:

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He works a lot with the community most of you probably know him as the umpire Pablo or coach Pablo. To us, he’s our world and we are reaching out asking for help to spread the word to help find him a kidney to save his life.

I will post links below explaining The surgery and info you will need if you are interested. This is a big commitment and we understand. This man deserves people to fight for him he has the brightest soul. Thank you for your time and your shares to get his store across thank you from the bottom of my heart for the help and support.

His blood type is B+. Blood types he can receive B-, B+, O-, O+.

If you would like to see if you are a match for Pablo Zayas take the questionnaire. The link is below his birthday is May 7, 1963.

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Facebook Page: facebook.com/Pablo-Needs-a-Kidney-101203008385065/
EMail: dixiezayas2893@gmail.com

A Dominican national pleaded guilty today to unlawful re-entry of a deported alien. After reentering the United States within months of being removed, the defendant was charged with a heroin-related offense and was in possession of a phone that had been used in a drug transaction with an individual who died of an apparent overdose.

Joel Perez Matos, 35, who resided in Boston, pleaded guilty to unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. Perez Matos will be sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani on Nov. 19, 2020. He has been detained since his arrest in April 2020 and will be subject to deportation following his sentence.

Perez Matos unlawfully re-entered the United States after being deported in December 2019. He had previously been removed in February 2016, and had unlawfully returned to the United States later that year.

On March 22, 2020, within a few months of having been removed from the United States, Perez Matos was arrested by local law enforcement in Stow and charged with a heroin-related offense. At the time of his arrest, Perez Matos was in possession of a cell phone that had been used the previous day to set up a drug transaction with a Massachusetts resident. On March 22, 2020, that resident died of an apparent drug overdose. When arrested, Perez Matos presented police with an out-of-state driver’s license in a fake name.

Perez Matos faces a sentence of up to 20 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 on the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Todd Lyons, Field Office Director, Enforcement and Removal Operations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Boston, made the announcement today. The Stow Police Department also provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Abely, Deputy Chief of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit, is prosecuting the case.

The City of New Bedford has roadwork sites for the upcoming week of August 31, 2020 –September 4, 2020 and they are as follows:

Eversource:

Eversource will replace the gas mains and service at the following locations:

• Cottage St. From Parker St. – Sycamore St. (Main)
• Myrtle St. from Sawyer St. to Cedar Grove St. (Main)
• Peckham St. from Mt. Pleasant St. to County St. (Main)
• Bannister St. from Coggeshall St. to Peckham St. (Main)
• Hathaway Rd. from Town Line to Rockdale Ave. (Services)
• Hathaway Rd. from Highland St. to Nauset St. (Main)
• Davis St. from Riverside Ave. to 389 Davis St. (Services)
• Hatch St. from Acushnet Ave. to Belleville Ave. (Services)
• Summer St. from Durfee St. to Locust St. (Main)
• Woodlawn St. – from Brock Ave. to W Rodney French Blvd. (Services)

Eversource will be doing final street and sidewalk restoration at various locations city wide.

Other:

• Contractor (PA Landers) to continue drainage work at Mass DOT Project #606709, New Bedford – Roadway Reconstruction and Related Work (including signals) along a section of Kings Highway and Tarkiln Hill Road. Construction to take place during regular working hours (Monday – Friday), police details and traffic controls will be in place.
• Contractor (PA Landers) to continue road reconstruction at Valentine St. from Brock Ave. to West Rodney French Blvd. to prepare for final paving Monday, August 31st. PA Landers and PJ Keating will pave Valentine St.
• The contractor (Private Contractor: Southcoast Development) will be conducting some roadway work at the intersection of Acushnet Ave. and Ashley Blvd. for the new Cumberland Farms project.
• Mass DOT will be making repairs on the bridge at I-195 eastbound over Route 18 ramp. Work will be from August 18th to November 30th.
• Department of Public Infrastructure will be filling potholes on a continuous basis throughout the city.
• Department of Public Infrastructure conducting its annual street sweeping program city-wide.
• The contractor (WES Construction) is scheduled to continue landscaping and begin final paving at the Front St./ Elm St. site. Elm St., between JFK Memorial Highway (RTE 18) and MacArthur Dr. will be closed to westbound traffic. Westbound traffic will be detoured via MacArthur Drive. There will be detour signage and traffic controls in place.
• The contractor (Bay State Wind Water) is scheduled to replace municipal interconnecting water meters at Coggeshall St. and Marine Park.
• Due to ongoing construction at the High Hill Reservoir residents may experience discolored water. The water is safe, and the discoloration will be temporary. We recommend allowing the water to settle for a few hours and then flushing your service line by letting the bathtub run for a few minutes until the water clears.

** Please note: Contractors will continue to follow guidelines and protocol regarding COVID-19 social distancing while conducting work in construction zone.

Due to the current COVID-19 situation the Department of Public Infrastructure will be closed to the public entry. Office staff is available to assist by email and telephone.