Four New Bedford men federally charged with Fentanyl distribution

Five men and one woman have been charged in three indictments with drug and firearm offenses following an investigation of a drug ring operating in and around Wareham and New Bedford.

Steven Miranda, 52, of Wareham; Manuel Pina-Agee, 32; Clifford Gomes, 53; and Casey Andrade, 37, all of New Bedford, were each charged with conspiring to distribute fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and marijuana. The indictment alleges the conspiracy involved more than 40 grams of fentanyl and more than 10 grams of furanyl fentanyl, a fentanyl analogue. All four men are also charged with possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute it in April of 2019. In addition, Pina-Agee and Gomes are charged with possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison.

Jarrett Galloway, 28, of New Bedford, was charged in a separate indictment with distributing and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl on Jan. 29, 2019, and possessing cocaine with intent to distribute it on April 25, 2019.

Jodi Smith, 33, formerly of Wareham, was charged in a third indictment with three counts of distributing fentanyl in January and February 2019.

Pina-Agee, Andrade, and Smith were arrested on April 25, 2019, and charged by criminal complaint. Pina-Agee is detained and Andrade and Smith were released on conditions. Gomes, Miranda, and Galloway were arrested on state charges on April 25, 2019. The state charges are expected to be dismissed in lieu of federal prosecution.

For Pina-Agee, Gomes, Miranda, and Andrade, the conspiracy charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison, a minimum of four and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of $5 million. For Pina-Agee, the charge of possession with intent to distribute carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison, a minimum of four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5 million. The other drug charges each carry 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 $1 million. The firearm charges carry a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, 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.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Agency, New England Field Division; Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Acting Wareham Police Chief John Walcek made the announcement. The Sandwich, Carver, Middleboro, and New Bedford Police Departments also participated in the investigation, as did the Internal Revenue Service and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ted Heinrich of Lelling’s Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants remain innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.