A Springfield man was charged in federal court in Springfield Thursday with sex trafficking.

William Coleman, 48, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and nine counts of sex trafficking. Coleman was arrested on Dec. 23, 2018, and has been in custody since.

According to court documents, William Coleman ran a prostitution business and used violence, as well as the drug addictions – primarily heroin – of female victims to coerce them into engaging in commercial sex acts with paying customers. The women were typically required to turn over all of their earnings to Coleman, while being subject to his tight control over their daily lives. Most of the women were not allowed to keep any of the money they earned, and they were only allowed to obtain the drugs they were addicted to from Coleman. Victims who did not engage in prostitution for Coleman, or who did not follow his rules, were subjected to physical assaults, sexual violence and the withholding of drugs. Coleman allegedly used websites to post prostitution advertisements for the victims working for him. His business covered the greater Springfield and Hartford areas, and other parts of Connecticut.

The maximum sentence for sex trafficking and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking is life in prison, five years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The Sex Trafficking statute also imposes a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years for offenses committed by means of force, threats of force, fraud or coercion. 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; Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Hampden County District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni; Colonel Kerry Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Acting Springfield Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex J. Grant of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

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

A Greenfield man was charged in federal court in Springfield on Wednesday with sexual exploitation of children and receipt of child pornography.

Charles Fox, 44, was charged with one count of sexual exploitation of children and one count of receipt of child pornography. Fox was arrested yesterday and appeared in federal court in Springfield. He was remanded to custody while the Judge takes the matter of detention under advisement.

According to the charging document, Fox induced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing an image or video of that conduct. It is also alleged that Fox received child pornography.

As a previously-convicted sex offender, Fox faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years and up to 50 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of receipt of child pornography, carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 40 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. 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 Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex J. Grant of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

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

A U.S. Postal Service (USPS) employee was arrested Thursday and charged with embezzling over $20,000 in payments from customers for money orders and stamps.

Austin Correia, 22, of New Bedford, was indicted on one count of embezzlement and theft of public money, property or records. Correia will appear later today in federal court in Boston.

According to the indictment, Correia began working for USPS at the end of 2017 as a Sales & Service Distribution Associate at both the Mount Pleasant and North Street Post Offices in New Bedford. In this role, Correia had the ability to issue foreign and domestic postal money orders and sell stamps to customers. Correia engaged in a scheme in which he received a cash payment from customers to purchase stamps or money orders, but voided out the valid transactions to make it appear as if they did not occur. Correia provided the customer with the USPS product, but took the cash payment for his own personal use either by pocketing the money or by purchasing gift cards sold at the Post Office. It is alleged that Correia’s scheme cost the USPS over $20,000.

The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison. 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 Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Office, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia M. Carris of Lelling’s Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting the case.

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

On Thursday, June 27, the New Bedford Narcotics Division arrested three adults and one juvenile in two separate fentanyl trafficking cases, which resulted in close to 600 grams of fentanyl and over $4,600 in U.S. currency being confiscated.

In the first case, Detectives conducted a traffic stop based on an investigation and discovered over 490 grams of fentanyl in the vehicle. The occupants, later identified as Robinson Paradisfeliz, 44, of 800 West Street, Braintree, Massachusetts and Luz M. Caban, 60, also of 800 West Street, Braintree, Massachusetts were arrested and charged with trafficking fentanyl and conspiracy to violate drug laws. Both are due to be arraigned in Third District Court on Friday. The lead investigator was Detective Timothy Soares.

In the second case, Detectives conducted a traffic stop based on an investigation and discovered over 100 grams of fentanyl. Two occupants were arrested as a result, the operator was identified as Jose Sanchez, 40, of 121 Mashpee Court, New Bedford and the occupant, who was a juvenile. Jose Sanchez and the juvenile were charged with trafficking fentanyl and conspiracy to violate drug laws. Both are due to be arraigned in Third District Court on Friday. The lead investigator was Detective Sasha Vicente.

Fentanyl was responsible for 90% of all overdose deaths in Massachusetts in 2018. This picture shows you the amount of fentanyl it takes to overdose.

Anyone with information regarding drug activity please contact the Narcotic Division at (508) 991-6300 ext. 79534

“We need your help identifying the suspect! On 6/26 police units were dispatched to Country Hardware for a report of a larceny. A paying Customer came in to pick up a chain saw that they had left for repairs.

Unfortunately, the workers could not locate it.

The surveillance video was checked. The “gentleman” shown in these pictures had pulled into the Country Hardware parking lot on Monday 6/24 @ approximately 2:00 PM. The suspect entered the garage empty handed and exited with a chainsaw. The only problem…this wasn’t his chainsaw!!!! The suspect then took off in a motor vehicle.

The motor vehicle appears to be a late model Oldsmobile Alero or Intrigue.

If you know this person please call the APD (508) 998-0240!!” -Acushnet Police Department.

A 21-year-old New Bedford man described by city police as the most dangerous gang member in New Bedford was convicted of an illegal firearm-related offense in Fall River Superior last week and sentenced to serve five years in state prison, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Rayshond Lewis pleaded guilty to indictments charging him with carrying an illegal firearm-subsequent offense and unlawful possession of a loaded firearm.

On January 28, 2017, New Bedford Police stopped a car for motor vehicle violations. Rayshond Lewis, who was in the rear seat of the vehicle, was known to police as a Monte Park gang member who had just been released from prison. According to offices, Rayshond refused to make eye contact with the officers, and was breathing heavily. As the officers were discussing his behavior, the windows of the vehicle began to go up. Police had all the parties exit and they found a .25 caliber firearm loaded with six rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber in a holster clipped to the front waistband of Rayshond Lewis.

After initially being found dangerous and held without bail in this case by a District Court judge, the defendant was released by a Superior Court judge on $5,000 cash bail. Within a month of having his bail reduced, he was once again arrested, this time for allegedly breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s home and strangling her. That domestic violence case is still pending. After his arrest on the domestic violence case, his bail was revoked and he was held without bail.

The defendant also has a previous conviction for carrying an illegal firearm in 2014 and is a suspect in a number of violent incidents in New Bedford. During a recent murder trial, a witness testified under oath that this defendant shot the witness in the leg and an associate of hers in the facial area. He has not been charged criminally in that matter at this time due to a lack of corroborative evidence.

“This is a very dangerous defendant who had previously been convicted of a gun offense and was clearly up to no good with a loaded illegal gun in his waistband. Unfortunately, he was released on a bail review despite his record and the facts,” District Attorney Quinn said. “It comes as no surprise that he was re-arrested a month later for allegedly breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s house and strangling her. He never should have had that opportunity. The citizens of New Bedford are much safer with this defendant off the street.”

The original article reporting that police were searching for him can be read here.

Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni announced today the apprehension of Kaevon Brimfield, 26, of Springfield in connection with the fatal shooting of Mr. Charles White, 27, of Springfield.

Extensive efforts have been made to seek and apprehend Brimfield since detectives identified him as a suspect in the June 9 murder in Chicopee. At the request of District Attorney Gulluni, Brimfield was added to the Massachusetts State Police Most Wanted List and is considered a person of interest in two other murders, one a home invasion in Springfield and another in Atlanta, GA, both occurring in February of 2019.

Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni stated, “I thank all the members of law enforcement, specifically the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section and the U.S. Marshals’ New York & New Jersey Taskforce, who worked on this case and ultimately apprehended this dangerous and violent fugitive. Upon his return to Massachusetts, we will work to ensure that justice is served for the victim and his family and that Kaevon Brimfield is held accountable for the heinous acts he allegedly committed.”

Three other suspects have been arrested in connection with this investigation: Daniel Caldwell, 27, of Agawam, Namel Clark, 26, of Springfield, and Gilfrey Gregory, 27, of Springfield.

Daniel Caldwell was arrested on June 12, 2019 by members of the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section in Agawam. He was transported to the Chicopee Police Department and was arraigned on June 13, 2019 in Springfield District Court on a charge of murder. He is currently being held without the right to bail; his next court date is on July 17, 2019.

Namel Clark was taken into custody, without incident, on June 13, 2019 from a home on Standish Street in Springfield. He was arraigned the same day in Springfield District Court on a charge of murder. He is currently being held without the right to bail; his next court date is on July 10, 2019.

After investigators learned Gilfrey Gregory had rented a car and was most likely headed to Arizona. Detectives immediately contacted the New Mexico Highway Patrol who then conducted a motor vehicle stop on the afternoon of June 13, 2019. During the stop he was placed under arrest and transported to the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Department. He is currently going through the process of extradition in order to be returned to Massachusetts.

This is an active investigation being conducted by the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Hampden District Attorney’s Office, the Murder Unit of the Hampden District Attorney’s Office, and the Chicopee Police Department.

A retired Massachusetts State Police Trooper was sentenced Monday, June 24 in connection with collecting over $29,000 in overtime pay that he did not work.

Paul Cesan, 51, of Southwick, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to one day in prison (deemed served), one year of supervised release, a fine of $5,500 and restitution in the amount of $29,287. In November 2018, Cesan pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from an agency receiving federal funds.

Cesan was a Massachusetts State Police (MSP) Trooper assigned to Troop E, which was responsible for enforcing criminal and traffic regulations along the Massachusetts Turnpike, Interstate I-90. In 2016, Cesan earned $163,533, which included approximately $50,866 in overtime pay. Cesan was paid for overtime shifts that he did not work at all or from which he left early. Cesan concealed his fraud by submitting fraudulent citations designed to create the appearance that he had worked overtime hours that he did not actually work. He falsely claimed in MSP paperwork and payroll entries that he had worked the entirety of his overtime shifts. Cesan admitted collecting $29,287 for overtime hours that he did not work in 2016.

The overtime in question involved the Accident and Injury Reduction Effort program (AIRE) and the “X-Team” initiative, which were intended to reduce accidents, crashes, and injuries on I-90 through an enhanced presence of MSP Troopers who were to target vehicles traveling at excessive speeds.

In 2016, MSP received annual benefits from the U.S. Department of Transportation in excess of $10,000, which were funded pursuant to numerous federal grants.

Cesan is the seventh trooper to be sentenced. Last week, former trooper Gary Herman was sentenced to one day in prison (deemed served), one year of supervised release with the first three months to be served in home confinement and restitution of $12,468; in June 2019, retired Lieutenant David Wilson was sentenced to one day in prison (deemed served), two years of supervised release with the first six months to be served in home detention, and restitution of $12,450; suspended Trooper Heath McAuliffe was sentenced to one day in prison (deemed served), one year of supervised release with the first six months to be served in home detention, a fine of $4,000, and restitution of $7,860; in May 2019, suspended Trooper Kevin Sweeney was sentenced to two months in prison, one year of supervised release with the first three months to be served in home detention, a fine of $4,000, and restitution of $11,103; in March 2019, former Trooper Gregory Raftery was sentenced to 90 days in prison, one year of supervised release, and restitution of $51,377; suspended Trooper Eric Chin was sentenced to one day in prison (deemed served), one year of supervised release with three months to be served in home detention, and restitution of $7,125; and retired Trooper Daren DeJong has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Douglas Shoemaker, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dustin Chao and Mark Grady of Lelling’s Public Corruption Unit prosecuted the case.

A 34-year-old Central Falls, RI man who was arrested in Attleboro in November 2018 for dealing crack cocaine in a motel parking lot was sentenced to serve a year behind bars, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Gary Hernandez Vasquez pleaded guilty in Fall River Superior Court to an indictment charging him with possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine.

On November 28. 2018, the defendant was observed by Attleboro Police in a vehicle with four other people in the parking lot of the Attleboro Motor Inn. Police witnessed furtive movements in the car and when officers walked over to the car, they saw drug paraphernalia in plain view. When police asked everyone in the car to exit, they witnessed the defendant trying to hide something under the seat. Officers found two digital scales and 10 corner bags containing crack cocaine.

After accepting the defendant’s guilty plea, Judge William Sullivan sentenced him to two years in the house of corrections, with one year to serve and the balance of the sentence suspended for two years. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Melissa Hendrie.

A 37-year-old New Bedford woman became the first defendant to be convicted of drug crimes related to the year-long wiretap investigation dubbed Operation High Stakes, which concluded two years ago, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Crystal Hinson pleaded guilty last week in Fall River Superior Court to an indictment charging her with conspiracy to distribute heroin.

The defendant was a distributor who purchased heroin from the Ortiz Drug Trafficking Organization and was identified during the Operation High Stakes Wiretap Investigation. On two separate occasions in June of 2017, the defendant contacted the leader of the organization for the purpose of ordering 15 grams of Heroin. On each occasion she placed her order and was then directed to a meet location where an exchange of drugs and money occurred. Surveillance units observed the deliveries. Over the course of a little more than a week, the defendant purchased 85 grams of heroin from the Ortiz Drug Trafficking Organization. The defendant has an 11-page criminal record.

On June 16, 2017, a task force of law enforcement agencies completed a long-term investigation into the distribution of heroin and fentanyl by a drug distribution organization operating in the New Bedford area. The investigation was dubbed “Operation High Stakes” and it resulted in charges against 21 individuals and the seizure of approximately 400 grams of heroin and fentanyl and a large amount of US Currency believed to be the proceeds of illegal drug sales.

The investigation included the interception of thousands of communications on four different phone lines associated with the organization. As a result, investigators identified many individuals involved in the alleged criminal enterprise, including alleged drug distributors, drug couriers, money couriers, drug customers, and other co-conspirators.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Stephen Butts and the 18 to 30 month state prison term was imposed by Judge Gregg Pasquale.

“The defendant received heroin on a number of occasions during the pendency of the Operation High Stakes, which was a lengthy drug dealing investigation extending from 2016 into 2017. After being arrested in this case, she was charged and convicted of dealing heroin in Falmouth. She is currently serving a three to five year state prison sentence for those offenses and will serve the Bristol County sentence concurrently. She is the first defendant convicted in superior court from this wiretap investigation,” District Attorney Quinn said.