New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
Eleven individuals from Cape Cod and Rhode Island were arrested on Monday, May 20 and charged in federal court in Boston in a wide-ranging heroin conspiracy.
The following individuals were charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin:
Edwin Otero, 29, of Hyannis;
Justin Joseph, 32, of Pawtucket, R.I.;
Anthony Basilici, 35, of Pawtucket, R.I.;
Vinicius Zangrande, 35, of Centerville;
Krymeii Fray, 23, of Hyannis;
Brooke Cotell, 25, of Hyannis;
Ronny Baams, 37, of South Yarmouth;
Tony Johnson, 35, of Hyannis;
Eric Brando, 27, of Osterville;
Joshua Johnson, 31, of Mashpee; and
Kimberly Lopes, 49, of Hyannis
According to court documents unsealed yesterday, in 2018, federal, state and local law enforcement began investigating Edwin Otero, an alleged leader of a Cape Cod-wide drug trafficking organization. It is alleged that the investigation revealed Otero and his 10 co-defendants distributed large quantities of heroin and other controlled substances throughout Cape Cod, including in Hyannis, Mashpee, Centerville, Osterville, and in Pawtucket, R.I.
On May 8, 2019, Otero, Joseph, and Basilici were allegedly involved in a shooting at Fray’s residence related to a drug debt Fray owed. Agents intercepted Otero discussing the fact that he was involved in the shooting.
As a result of search warrants executed yesterday, heroin, packaging materials, scales, a finger press, and three firearms and ammunition, including a 9-millimeter assault-style weapon, were seized. A bullet hole in Fray’s home, consistent with the reported May 8 shooting, was also observed.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute heroin provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, a minimum of three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million. 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; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Barnstable Police Chief Paul MacDonald made the announcement yesterday. Valuable assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Office; U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Field Office; U.S. Secret Service, Boston Field Office; Federal Bureau of Investigations, Boston Field Office; Massachusetts State Police; Rhode Island State Police; Massachusetts Department of Corrections; Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office; and the Pawtucket (R.I), Providence (R.I), Falmouth, Mashpee, Yarmouth, Dennis, Sandwich, and Brewster police departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Lauren Graber of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
