A Honduran national was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for illegal reentry.

Hermes Noel Vasquez-Espinal, 42, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to six months in prison and one year of supervised release. Vasquez-Espinal will be subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence. In February 2019, Vasquez-Espinal was charged and has been in custody since.

Between March 2006 and July 2015, Vasquez-Espinal was deported from the United States on four separate occasions. Sometime after a July 2015 deportation, Vasquez-Espinal reentered the United States, and in January 2019, he was encountered by law enforcement in Lawrence and determined to be illegally present in the country.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Marcos D. Charles, Acting Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

The City of Boston’s Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, Timothy Sullivan, and Kenneth Brissette, the Director of the City’s Office of Tourism, Sports and Entertainment were convicted today by a federal jury in Boston in connection with extorting a music festival production company operating on City Hall Plaza.

Brissette and Sullivan both were convicted of Hobbs Act conspiracy, and Brissette was also convicted of Hobbs Act extortion. The Court has not yet scheduled sentencing dates.

“This afternoon, a federal jury convicted Kenneth Brissette and Timothy Sullivan of extorting a private business to hire union labor that they did not want or need,” said United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. “Private companies that want to do business in Boston have the right to hire anyone they want – union or not – without fear of being threatened with economic disaster by government officials. That is the law. This was a hard fought victory, and one that reaffirms our commitment to take on cases that are in the public interest.”

“The FBI thanks the jury for their service and thoughtful deliberations,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division. “Today’s verdicts show that public officials cannot use their positions to extort those who choose to use non-union labor. The FBI will not stand idly by while hard-working individuals are bullied and strong-armed by public servants. Everyone deserves access to a level playing field, and the excuse of “business as usual” isn’t good enough to earnest citizens who rely on their own local governments to do right by them and their families. Let this case be a warning to municipal workers everywhere, it is the taxpayers they serve and answer to at the end of the day.”

“Today’s convictions affirm the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General’s commitment to protecting the American workers from extortion and unlawful influence. The defendants used threats of financial harm to obtain wages from a television production company for services that were not needed or required. We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to combat this type of criminal activity,” said Michael C. Mikulka, Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.

Between June and September 2014, while a music festival production company was awaiting the issuance of certain permits and approvals required for its event, and seeking an agreement from the City of Boston to use City Hall Plaza for events beyond 2017, Brissette and Sullivan repeatedly advised the company that it would need to hire members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 11 to work the event. Local 11 had attempted to obtain work from the production company since March 2013. The production company told Brissette and Sullivan that it had already entered into a contract with a non-union company and hired all of its labor. Nevertheless, on Sept. 2, 2014, three days before the music festival was scheduled to begin, Brissette and Sullivan insisted that half of the production company’s labor force consist of union members. The production company agreed to hire nine members of Local 11 and entered into a contract with the union because they feared the company would be financially ruined if they did not accede to the these City officials’ demands.

The charge of extortion provides a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of conspiracy to extort provides 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.

U.S. Attorney Lelling, FBI SAC Joseph R. Bonavolonta, and DOL OIG SAC Mikulk Splagounias made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura J. Kaplan and Kristina E. Barclay of Lelling’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

A 54-year-old East Bridgewater man who shot a man while sleeping in his bed in Easton on Christmas morning of 2017 was convicted at trial this week and sentenced to serve up to 20 years in state prison, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Lee Fruzzetti was convicted Tuesday of aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon after a five-day trial in Fall River Superior Court. The trial was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Michael Sheehan and the 15 to 20 year state prison term was imposed by Judge Thomas McGuire.

On December 25, 2017 at around 3 a.m., Easton Police responded to a home on Massapoag Avenue for a report of a male victim who had been shot twice while he slept in bed. The victim was located and rushed to Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton, where he was treated for a gunshot wound to his shoulder and hip.

An investigation revealed that the victim had been sleeping in his parents’ pool house when the defendant walked onto the property and shot at him twice while he slept. During the course of the investigation, it was learned that the defendant had been engaged in a previous relationship with the victim’s ex-wife and that an antagonistic relationship had developed between the two men. Surveillance video from the area showed that a vehicle matching the defendant’s vehicle was seen driving to the home. Additional, cell phone location data proved that the defendant was in the immediate vicinity of the shooting at the time it occurred. The defendant, several weeks after the shooting, also called the victim and told him, “Sleep with one eye open. I’m going to finish you off.”

“Shooting the victim in bed on Christmas Day speaks for itself. Fortunately, the victim was not killed by the defendant, who has a history of breaking the law,” District Attorney Quinn said. “The only alternative is to keep this defendant off the street for a long time to protect the victim and the public.”

On Sunday, August 4, 2019, Massachusetts Environmental Police Officers conducted uniformed and plain-clothes patrols of the Cape Cod Canal area, targeting striped bass violations.

Throughout the early morning and into Sunday night, Officers seized in excess of 50 striped bass, issued nearly $8000 in citations and made one arrest. All salvageable fish were donated to the Plymouth Area Coalition – For the Homeless.

A Worcester man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Worcester to Social Security fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Jose Lopez Rosado, 51, pleaded guilty to one count of false representation of a Social Security number and one count of aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for Oct. 31, 2019. Lopez Rosado was arrested and charged in a July 2018 federal law enforcement sweep of 25 individuals accused of document and benefit fraud.

According to court documents, the defendant escaped from prison in Puerto Rico in 1994 while serving a 40-year sentence for second degree murder. He is currently in state custody on unrelated charges. His true identity was not known until he was arrested in July 2018.

Dubbed “Double Trouble,” the July 2018 investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigation’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF), comprised of local, state and federal agencies with expertise in detecting, deterring and disrupting organizations and individuals involved in various types of document, identity and benefit fraud schemes.

On Feb. 9, 2016, Lopez Rosado applied for a duplicate Massachusetts driver’s license using the name and Social Security number of another U.S. citizen. Based on the application, Lopez Rosado was issued a duplicate driver’s license in the name of the other U.S. citizen. Lopez Rosado also used that name and Social Security number to receive MassHealth benefits.

The charge of false representation of a Social Security number provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory sentence of two years in prison, one year 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; Jason Molina, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Phillip Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General; Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division; Christina Scaringi, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Regional Office; Michael Mikulka, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations; William B. Gannon, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office; Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Massachusetts State Auditor Suzanne M. Bump made the announcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Burzycki of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

Just before 10 p.m. yesterday Trooper Anthony Lavigne, assigned to State Police-Shelburne Falls, was patrolling Route 91 in Greenfield. After taking Exit 26 to Route 2 he observed a black Chevrolet Cruze speeding in the rotary. Once the Cruze exited the rotary Trooper Lavigne activated his blue lights and initiated a motor vehicle stop.

Upon the vehicle coming to a stop, Trooper Lavigne approached to speak with the operator, identified as DANIEL ANGOVE, 35, of North Adams. ANGOVE informed Trooper Lavigne that his driver’s license was currently suspended and he was removed from the vehicle then placed under arrest. After securing ANGOVE Trooper Lavigne returned to the vehicle to speak with the front seat passenger. After some conversation, Trooper Lavigne suspected the passenger provided him with a false name and date of birth prompting him to request additional troopers to respond for assistance. After additional questioning on the scene, the passenger admitted to providing a false name as he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. He was identified as EDDYLBERTO HURTADO, 23, of Springfield, and was also placed under arrest.

While troopers removed HURTADO from the vehicle they observed drug paraphernalia along with items commonly used in the packaging and sale of narcotics. Upon HURTADO being secured troopers conducted a search of the vehicle. They were able to locate approximately 700 bags of heroin with a combined weight of approximately 18 grams along with 28 grams of crack cocaine.

ANGOVE and HURTADO were transported to SP Shelburne Falls where bail was set at $75,000. They were eventually transported to the Franklin County House of Correction prior to their arraignment today at Greenfield District Court on the following charges.

DANIEL ANGOVE:

1. Trafficking in Heroin;
2. Trafficking in Cocaine;
3. Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law;
4. Operating a Motor Vehicle while Suspended for OUI; and
5. Speeding.

EDDYLBERTO HURTADO:

1. Trafficking in Heroin;
2. Trafficking in Cocaine;
3. Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law; and
4. Furnish a False Name to Police.

A law enforcement officer from Texas has been charged in federal court in Worcester for cyberstalking a minor female residing in Worcester County.

Pasquale T. Salas, 25, a/k/a Gino, a deputy sheriff with the Matagorda County Sheriff’s Office, was arrested in Bay City, Texas, this morning. He will appear in federal court in the Southern District of Texas tomorrow and will appear in federal court in Worcester at a later date.

According to the charging document, Salas met the victim through an online video game website in 2014, when the minor was 12 years old. Salas and the girl communicated on a private chat room and then moved those communications to various other platforms, including text messaging, Skype and Snapchat. Salas repeatedly solicited the minor to transmit sexually explicit images and videos of herself.

Beginning as early as 2016, it is alleged that Salas intimidated the victim into maintaining contact with him and sending additional sexually explicit material by threatening that he would publish the minor’s sexually explicit images and videos to her family and her friends. As recently as May 2019, when the victim attempted to terminate contact with Salas, he repeatedly sent threatening communications to the victim, using web-based applications to disguise the source of the communications.

Members of the public who have questions, concerns, or information about this case should contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 617-748-3274.

The charge of cyberstalking carries a sentence of up to five 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 U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Douglas Police Chief Nick Miglionico made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Houston Field Office, the Matagorda (Texas) County Sheriff’s Office, and the Worcester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Noto from Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office 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/.

The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

So far in 2019, New Bedford Police officers were called 14 times to 11 Vial Street in New Bedford’s south end for drug dealing related calls. According to the New Bedford Police and mayor’s office, it was officially designated a “problem property” by the City of New Bedford on July 23. The “problem property” designation means the City of New Bedford can now bill future police costs associated with calls to the property to the landlord. The problem with this action against the property owner is the vast majority of those arrested do not live at 11 Viall Street and the landlord seems to be making an effort to secure the property.

According to the New Bedford Police Department, the 15 calls resulted in 19 drug-related arrests and 54 charges to those individuals. The latest arrest was on Friday, July 19, when New Bedford police arrested 59-year old Victor Medina who is being charged with possession of heroin.

On May 22, New Bedford police arrested four individuals in the driveway of 11 Viall Street on drug charges to include fentanyl distribution. The individuals arrested live on Central Ave, Sawyer Street, County Street, and Holly Street.

On July 2, New Bedford police arrested four individuals on various drug charges to include fentanyl distribution making it the third fentanyl/heroin distribution arrest made at 11 Viall Street since March 2 of 2019. The individuals arrested live on Stuart Street in Fall River and Gardner Street, County Street and Phillips Ave. in New Bedford.

The property is owned by Robert Amaral, who according to New Bedford Assessor records owns 17 properties in New Bedford. Ronald Oliviera, who owned several properties through a trust with Amaral, says he sold the 11 Viall Street property and other properties to Amaral and removed himself as a trust on the property in early July. Robert Amaral confirms that, but says he’s only been given a warning by the city.

The vast majority of those arrested on drug charges at 11 Viall Street do not live at the property. The driveway and yard seem to be used for drug transactions according to both Amaral and the New Bedford police. Mr. Amaral states that he has spent thousands of dollars securing the property and that police continue to make arrests, but the dealers keep coming back.

Viall Street is part of The South End of New Bedford’s Drug Dealer Mile – a 1-mile area where 17 drug dealers were arrested in a 5 month period.

Just before 6 p.m. yesterday Trooper Tyler Hopkins and his Field Training Officer, Trooper Christopher Keane of State Police-Sturbridge, were conducting speed enforcement on Route 84 in Sturbridge. While in the area of Exit 3A they observed a gray Honda Accord traveling at a speed of 65 miles per hour where the posted speed limit is 50 miles per hour. Trooper Hopkins activated the cruiser’s blue lights and initiated a motor vehicle stop on the Honda.

Upon the vehicle stopping both troopers approached it to speak with the operator, identified as DAVID BAEZ-VEGA, 28, of Springfield, informed him why he was stopped and gathered his information. Through further investigation on scene troopers built probable cause and received consent to search the vehicle. The results of the search revealed BAEZ-VEGA was concealing over one kilogram of a substance believed to be cocaine tightly wrapped in plastic. He was immediately placed under arrest and his vehicle was towed from the scene after a thorough search.

BAEZ-VEGA was transported to SP Sturbridge for booking where bail was set at $2,500, which he was able to post. He was arraigned today at Dudley District Court on the following charges:

• Trafficking in Cocaine; and
• Speeding.

A Fitchburg woman was arrested yesterday and charged in federal court in Boston with fraudulently receiving Social Security disability benefits, MassHealth, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

Rhonda Bernal, 60, was charged with three counts of theft of public funds and two counts of making false statements. She appeared before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Jennifer Boal and was released on conditions.

According to the indictment, over a period of approximately eight years, Bernal stole $71,462 in Social Security benefits, $6,444 in MassHealth benefits, and $13,505 in SNAP benefits (previously known as Food Stamps). In February 2015, she allegedly falsely informed the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance that she was the only person in her household when, in fact, she was living with her husband. In addition, Bernal allegedly falsely told Social Security in April 2016 that she and a relative, who was not her husband, were the only members of her household.

The charges of theft of public funds provide for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charges of making false statements provide for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. 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; Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division; Phillip M. Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s Boston Regional Office; and Suzanne M. Bump, State Auditor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, made the announcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Burzycki of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.