Charges are the result of an undercover investigation following a spike in opioid overdoses in Marlborough, Hudson and surrounding communities
Boston – More than 30 individuals have been arrested in a widespread takedown of a heroin and fentanyl distribution ring in Marlborough, Hudson and surrounding communities, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.
The arrests are the result of a large-scale joint investigation involving AG Healey’s Enterprise, Major and Cyber Crime Division, the State Police Gang Unit and the Marlborough Police Department.
The investigation was initiated in response to a spike in opioid overdoses in the area. According to authorities, this distribution network was dealing drugs in local parks, restaurants and other public places in the area. Authorities arrested the defendants in connection with sales to an undercover officer.
“Through the extensive efforts of this joint investigation, we were able to dismantle a major heroin and fentanyl distribution ring that brought these deadly drugs into several local communities,” said AG Healey. “Thank you to our state and local law enforcement partners for their assistance in targeting these traffickers and making sure these drugs are no longer on our streets.”
“As the state of Massachusetts and the entire country continue to grapple with the heroin epidemic, law enforcement wants to send a strong message that dealing deadly opiates will not be tolerated and serious consequences can result,” said Marlborough Police Chief David Giorgi. “The Marlborough Police Department wants thank our law enforcement partners who helped in this effort and we are all committed to keeping our communities safe.”
The following individuals were arrested and arraigned Monday in Marlborough District Court:
Ramon Cruz, 30, of Marlborough
Distribution of a Class A Substance (Heroin) (two counts)
Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (two counts)
Daniel Dixon, 28, of Marlborough
Distribution of a Class A Substance (Heroin) (one count)
Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (one count)
Nicholas Harris, 27, of Marlborough
Distribution of a Class A Substance (Heroin) (one count)
Ramos Matos, 31, of Hudson
Distribution of a Class A Substance (Heroin) (three counts)
Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (two counts)
Adeline Ogden, 22, of Hudson
Distribution of a Class A Substance (Heroin) (six counts)
Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (two counts)
Possession of a Class A Substance (Heroin) with Intent to Distribute within a School / Park Zone (one count)
Possession of a Class C Substance (Alprazolam) with Intent to Distribute within a School / Park Zone (one count)
Shane Perry, 19, of Marlborough
Possession of a Class A Substance (Heroin) (one count)
Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (one count)
Stephanie Riley, 48, of Marlborough
Distribution of a Class A Substance (Heroin) (two counts)
Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (two counts)
Nelsy Rodriguez, 29, of Marlborough
Distribution of a Class A Substance (Heroin) (two counts)
Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (two counts)
Rolando Velasquez, 36, of Framingham
Distribution of a Class B Substance (Cocaine) within a School / Park Zone, Subsequent Offense (one count)
Anna Santiago, 58, of Marlborough
Distribution of a Class A Substance (Heroin), Subsequent Offense (one count)
Distribution of a Class B Substance (Cocaine), Subsequent Offense (four counts) Distribution of a Class B Substance (Cocaine) within a School / Park Zone, Subsequent Offense (one count)
Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (four counts)
Wardell Washington, 41, of Worcester
Distribution of a Class A Substance (Heroin) (one count)
Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (one count)
Coreena Weller, 39, of Hudson
Distribution of a Class A Substance (Heroin) (one count)
Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (one count)
Kevin Weller, 38, of Hudson
Distribution of a Class A Substance (Heroin) (one count)
Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (one count)
The following individuals were arrested Monday and were arraigned in Marlborough District Court on Tuesday*:
Eric Busuito, age 28, of Milford
Distribution of a Class A Substance (Heroin) (one count)
Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (one count)
Enrique Gonzalez, age 40, of Framingham
Distribution of a Class B Substance, (Cocaine) Subsequent Offense (one count)
Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (one count)
Ngocvan Huynh, 33, of Worcester
Distribution of a Class B Substance (Cocaine) (one count)
Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (one count)
Angelee McBride, 44, of Worcester
Distribution of a Class A Substance (Heroin) (one count)
Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (one count)
Jeffrey Renna, 26, of Mattapan
Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class A Substance (Heroin) (one count)
Distribution of Class B Substance (Cocaine) (one count)
Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (one count)
Suquie Shorrow, 35, of Worcester Distribution of a Class A Substance (Heroin), Subsequent Offense (one count)
Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (one count)
*Defaulted for his arraignment Tuesday
Jarelis Ayra-Velez, 42, of Marlborough
Distribution of a Class B Substance (Cocaine) (one count)
Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (one count)
Franklin Moreta, 27, of Worcester
Distribution of a Class A Substance (Heroin) (one count)
Isaac Delgado, 35, of Framingham
Distribution of a Class A Substance (Heroin) (one count)
Brianna Lacey, 21, of Marlborough
Distribution of a Class A Substance (Heroin) (one count)
Possession with Intent to Distribute Class B (Cocaine) (one count)
Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (one count)
Robert McGovern, 23, of Marlborough
Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class A Substance (Heroin) (one count)
Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (one count)
Crystal Alden, 39, of Waltham
Distribution of a Class A Substance (Heroin) (one count) Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (one count)
Andrew Medeiros, 26, of Hudson
Distribution of a Class A Substance (Heroin) (two counts)
Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (two counts)
The following individual was arrested on Monday and defaulted on his arraignment in Westborough District Court on Tuesday:
Thomas Holm, age 28, of Westborough
Distribution of a Class A Substance (Heroin) (one count)
Defaulted on his arraignment in Westborough District Court Tuesday
The following individual was arrested on Monday and was arraigned in Marlborough District Court today:
Jacob Apodaca, 27, of Marlborough
Distribution of a Class A Substance (Heroin) (one count) Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class A Substance (Heroin), (one count)
Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (two count)
The following defendants were arraigned in Marlborough District Court in May and June as part of this investigation:
Ashley Harding, 24, of Hudson
Knowingly Being Present where Heroin is Kept (one count)
Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (one count)
Vincente Rodriguez, 36, of Manchester, N.H. Possession of a Class A (Heroin) (one count)
Tyler Samuelson, 26, of Sterling Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class A Substance (Heroin), Subsequent Offense (one count) Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (one count) Resisting Arrest (one count)
AG Healey’s Office has been working closely with its federal, state and local partners to combat illegal drug trafficking. The AG’s Office is using a multi-faceted approach that includes education for prescribers, pursuing illegal drug traffickers and pill mills, and expanding access to recovery and treatment programs.
The AG’s Office has committed a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to form a new Fentanyl Strike Force. In partnership with the Massachusetts State Police, the task force will target heroin and fentanyl traffickers and dismantle their distribution networks across Massachusetts. The funds will expand the AG’s Office’s own drug enforcement work and has helped build enhanced partnerships with federal, state, and local law enforcement. This investigation is ongoing. These charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Lynn Brennan, of AG Healey’s Enterprise, Major and Cyber Crime Division, with assistance from Assistant Attorneys General Cesar Vega and Gina Masotta, both of AG Healey’s Criminal Bureau, and with assistance from the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office. The case is being investigated by the AG’s Enterprise, Major and Cyber Crime Division, the State Police Gang Unit and the Marlborough Police Department.
The following agencies assisted with the takedown Monday: State Police assigned to the AG’s Office, the State Police Transportation Drug Unit, the State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Squad, the State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Hudson Police, Northborough Police, Framingham Police, Sudbury Police and Worcester Police.
