Yesterday at about 6:00 p.m., a motor vehicle stop in Revere led to the arrest of three men on gun and drug charges.

Trooper Christopher Kane stopped a 2007 Hyundai Sonata on Broadway Street in Revere for having unlawful window tint. Trooper Kane determined that the driver, HERIBERTO FELIX, 21, of Lynn, was unlicensed. He also observed an item inside the vehicle consistent with the appearance of packaged, illegal drugs. Further investigation led to the discovery of quantities of substances believed to be fentanyl and marijuana, as well as a fully loaded (15 rounds), Ruger 9mm handgun inside the vehicle.

FELIX and his two passengers, RICARDO BRATINI-PEREZ, 20, of Lynn, and ALFRED RODRIGUEZ-FERMIN, 29, of Revere, were all placed under arrest on the following charges:
1. Unlawful possession of a firearm
2. Unlawful possession of a firearm during a felony
3. Possession of a large capacity weapon or feeding device
4. Carrying a loaded firearm
5. Possession of Ammunition without an FID card
6. Possession of a Class A substance (Fentanyl) with intent to distribute

FELIX was additionally charged with the following offences:
1. Unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle
2. Unlawful window tint
3. Possession of a Class D substance with intent to distribute

All three men were denied bail and held pending their arraignment in Chelsea District Court this morning.

As the result of an investigation, on Tuesday, December 18, 2018, members of the Dartmouth Police Department Detective Division arrested Cary PACHECO, Jr., 22, of Fall River on numerous narcotics charges.

As a result of the arrest, detectives seized approximately thirty (30) grams of Fentanyl with a street value estimated at $7,500, as well as $2,113 in cash.

PACHECO, Jr. was charged with trafficking in Fentanyl, three (3) counts of distributing Fentanyl, and three (3) counts of conspiracy to violate drug laws.

Dartmouth detectives were assisted by members of the Bristol County Sheriff’s Department Warrant Apprehension Unit.

On Monday, December 17, at about 6:25 p.m., Wareham Police responded to the Cumberland Farms store on Depot Street for a report of an armed robbery. Upon arrival of Officer Charles Pillsbury, it was determined that a male handed the clerk a note saying he had a gun, and then verbalized that he had a gun, demanding all of the money. He then fled the store on foot in an unknown direction with a small amount of cash. An extensive area search by patrol officers and detectives, unfortunately, did not yield any clues.

Later at about, 9:50 p.m., a second robbery was reported at Dollar General on Cranberry Highway. It appears as though the same male came into that store, demanded money threatening to have a pistol. The male reached over the counter and grabbed money in the drawer, then fleeing the area in an unknown direction. Again Wareham officers, assisted by the Plymouth County Sheriff’s department checked the area with negative findings. Both of the cases are under investigation by the Detective division and there were no injuries in either robbery.

On Tuesday morning at 8:33 a.m., Wareham Police Communication Officer Sabina Flaherty received an emergency 911 call from the Dollar General store at 3137 Cranberry Highway for a robbery and a suspect armed with a handgun. Communication Officer Flaherty continued to get information while simultaneously Communication Officer Christian Tobia dispatched the call to police officers in the field. The description was given out that a white male with a bandana around his face, and blue coat armed with a handgun just fled the store. At that moment, Officer Stephen Joy, who was responding observed the suspect crossing the roadway from the Dollar General. Officer Joy further observed a handgun in the suspects back pants pocket. Officer Joy ordered him to the ground at gunpoint, and when approaching, the suspect resisted violently. Officer Joy began struggling with him, when a citizen, Joseph Parent, came over and held the suspect’s legs, allowing Officer Joy to handcuff the suspect. Officer Christopher Smith then arrived to assist Officer Joy. After the suspect was subdued, the firearm, which turned out to be a pellet gun was secured, and a Dollar General bag with money in it was found in his front pocket.

The suspect, James Demers, 46, of East Wareham was arrested and transported to police headquarters, processed then taken to Wareham District Court. Demers is charged with, armed robbery and resisting arrest. Wareham police detectives believe this is unrelated to the robberies on Monday night.

Acting Chief John Walcek said, “This great arrest is the result of the excellent teamwork by members of the Wareham Police department. From the moment the call was received with the immediate action of our communications officers, quickly obtaining and disseminating key information, Officer Steve Joy was able to make an arrest, without any injury within minutes.” He further added, “Mr. Joseph Parent saw Officer Joy struggling with a potentially armed man, and his willingness to provide aid to the officer, greatly assisted in this apprehension and we are very grateful. Cleary, that was a brave and selfless act.” Finally he said, “Steve Joy is a veteran police officer with 25 years’ experience and continues to make a positive impact for the town.”

A member of MS-13’s Eastside Locos Salvatrucha (ESLS) clique was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boson for his role in a 2014 murder.

Luis Solis Vasquez, a/k/a “Brujo,” 27, a Salvadoran national, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 35 years in prison and five years of supervised release. In April 2018, Solis Vasquez and co-defendants Noe Salvador Perez Vasquez, a/k/a “Crazy,” 27, a Salvadoran national, and Hector Enamorado, a/k/a “Vida Loca,” 39, a Honduran national, were convicted by a federal jury of conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy, and of committing or knowingly participating in murder as part of the racketeering conspiracy. Perez Vasquez was also found guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute marijuana. Perez Vasquez and Enamorado were both previously sentenced to life in prison.

On Dec. 14, 2014, Solis Vasquez, Perez Vasquez and Enamorado conspired to murder a 29-year-old man in Chelsea, Mass. Enamorado and the victim had engaged in a gang-related fight the night before the murder, and when Enamorado encountered the victim again the following night, Enamorado called Perez Vasquez and asked him for a gun. Perez Vasquez delivered the murder weapon, a .380 caliber pistol, to Enamorado in Chelsea. Solis Vasquez also armed himself with a gun and went with Enamorado into the victim’s apartment to provide backup and necessary support for the attack. Enamorado used Perez Vasquez’s gun to fatally shoot the victim three times. Enamorado also shot and wounded a second victim who was inside the apartment at the time of the murder.

Solis Vasquez was one of 49 defendants convicted as part of this case. All nine defendants who went to trial were convicted and 40 others pleaded guilty. In all, 16 defendants, including Solis Vasquez, were found to have committed or knowingly participated in murders.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Commissioner Thomas Turco of the Massachusetts Department of Corrections; Essex County Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger; Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Thompkins; Suffolk County District Attorney John P. Pappas; Middlesex County District Attorney Marian T. Ryan; Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett; Boston Police Commissioner William Gross; Chelsea Police Chief Brian A. Kyes; Everett Police Chief Steven A. Mazzie; Lynn Police Chief Michael Mageary; Revere Police Chief James Guido; and Somerville Police Chief David Fallon made the announcement today. The U.S. Marshals Service has provided crucial assistance with the case.

A Leominster woman was sentenced on Friday, Dec. 14, 2018, in federal court in Worcester for stealing Social Security and Veterans Affairs benefits.

Joyce Progin, 71, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to time served, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution of approximately $325,245. In August 2018, Progin pleaded guilty to two counts of theft of public funds. She was arrested and charged in January 2018.

In November 2009, Progin’s former father-in-law passed away. At the time of his death, the father-in-law was receiving monthly retirement benefits from Social Security and monthly benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Neither agency was advised of his death and continued to deposit his benefit payments into a bank account he held jointly with Progin, who was his caregiver. Although she admitted knowing that she was not entitled to the money, from November 2009 through March 2017, Progin received approximately $55,267 in Social Security benefits, and from November 2009 through November 2017, she received approximately $269,978 in benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs, in total, stealing over $300,000 in public funds.

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; and Sean Smith, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Field Office, made the announcement today. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Burzycki of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

Prosecutors with the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, in conjunction with Massachusetts State Police Troopers assigned to this office, are engaged in an investigation into the non-fatal police shooting, which occurred in the Town of Easton Sunday afternoon.

Although we are unable to release any information about the facts of the investigation itself while it remains active and ongoing, we can now identify the suspect/shooting victim as 29-year-old Serge J. Andre Jr. of Hyde Park. Mr. Andre is currently in serious condition at Boston Medical Center.

Easton Police, late this afternoon, filed preliminary criminal complaints at Taunton District Court, charging Mr. Andre with Attempt to Commit a Crime-Breaking and Entering, Failure to Stop for Police, Reckless Operation of a Motor Vehicle and Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Suspended License–subsequent offense. The defendant could potentially face further charges as a result of our ongoing investigation.

The Taunton District Court clerk’s office has indicated it may wish to arraign the defendant via videoconference later this afternoon or tomorrow. Our office has no confirmation of this at this time and does not control arraignment times or dates. For media questions regarding videoconference arraignments, please contact the Clerk’s Office.

On Saturday (Dec. 8), at 2:30 a.m., Daniel Chapman Jr., 23, of New Bedford, was arrested for disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace on Main Street in Wareham.

Mr. Chapman was placed into custody by Wareham police officers Calib Larue and Ryan Gomes following a disturbance in which he is suspected of striking a wall with his head, in a common area of an apartment building causing damage.

According to the New Bedford Police Department, 69-year old Ken Vercammen of New Bedford was charged with OUI drugs and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle on Sunday just after 4pm.

New Bedford police officers responded to a motor vehicle crash in the area of 360 Ashley Blvd. Sunday, Dec. 16. The driver was unlicensed and further investigation determined he was under the influence of pills.

On Saturday morning, detectives at Massachusetts State Police Troop F received intelligence from law enforcement officials in Sacramento County, California, about two people flying into Logan International Airport transporting a large quantity of marijuana in several suitcases.

The suspects, a man and a woman arriving on an American Airlines flight out of Sacramento, were identified as JERRY McNAIR, 48, and LADONNA HARDMAN, 57, both of California.

Based on the intelligence received, Massachusetts State Police Troopers, along with two federal Homeland Security Investigations agents, initiated surveillance at a gate in Terminal B in advance of the flight’s 6 p.m. arrival. Other Troopers set up surveillance at the secure side baggage area awaiting arrival of the flight’s luggage.

The surveillance team at the gate identified McNAIR and HARDMAN as they exited the flight and surveilled them to the baggage claim area, where the suspects met with an unidentified woman.

Once the suspects retrieved their luggage, investigators approached and identified themselves. They also observed the third person retrieve her own luggage, which bore striking similarities in appearance to the luggage retrieved by the two known suspects. Based on those observations, investigators approached that woman as well.

McNAIR and HARDMAN refused to consent to a search of their luggage. At that time both were placed under arrest for possession of a Class D substance, marijuana, with intent to distribute, and were transported along with their luggage to the State Police-Logan barracks. The third person consented to come back to State Police Logan to be further interviewed.

At State Police-Logan, the third traveler was identified as SAUDIA WATSON, 37, also of California. WATSON consented to a search of her two pieces luggage; inside her luggage Troopers found 51 clear plastic bags containing marijuana with an approximate weight of more than 50 lbs. Troopers arrested WATSON for trafficking marijuana.

Next, Troopers wrote and were granted two search warrants for the luggage secured from McNAIR and HARDMAN. That search resulted in the discovery of 49 additional plastic bags of marijuana, also with an approximate weight of more than 50 lbs., in HARDMAN’s luggage and the same approximate amount — 50 plastic bags containing more than 50 lbs. in marijuana — in McNAIR’s luggage.

As a result of those discoveries, Troopers charged McNAIR and HARDMAN with trafficking marijuana as well. All three suspects were additionally charged with conspiracy to violate drug laws. They were held at the barracks and are expected to be arraigned today in East Boston District Court.

A 59-year-old California woman who, earlier this year, left the scene of a fatal motor vehicle crash in Dartmouth was convicted of leaving the scene—death resulting in Fall River Superior Court, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Natalie Vieira pleaded guilty to the single count indictment on Wednesday afternoon and was sentenced by Judge Mark Hallal to two-and-a-half years in the Bristol County House of Corrections. The defendant was ordered to serve 20 months of the jail sentence, with the balance of the jail term suspended for three years.

On March 3, 2018 at approximately 7pm, 33-year-old Westport resident Stasha Faria was struck by a vehicle while walking eastbound on State Road in Dartmouth. She was struck by the motor vehicle from behind. And was struck with such force that she was propelled in an easterly direction and hit a utility pole, causing severe head and bodily injuries. The motor vehicle that struck the victim, however, did not stop at the scene.

Police recovered evidence at the scene suggesting the motor vehicle involved was a Chevrolet Uplander for Model years 2005-2009. On March 6th, police learned that a Chevy Uplander was being stored at Mike’s Auto Body, located at 535 Bay Street in Fall River. The owner of Mike’s Auto Body told police he towed the motor vehicle on March 5th from a home on Highland Avenue in Westport. When police arrived at the home where the defendant was staying with a relative and questioned the defendant, she initially denied driving the vehicle on the date of the incident. The defendant, after being pressed by investigators, later confessed to driving the vehicle, said she thought she hit a light pole and didn’t stop because she panicked.

Further investigation revealed the defendant was not texting while driving and was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the hit and run. Accident reconstruction also determined that the defendant could not have avoided or prevented the collision with the victim. The defendant was not speeding, the roadway was poorly lit and the Accident Reconstructionist opined that the victim crossed the roadway prematurely.

The case was prosecuted by Co-First Assistant District Attorney Karen O’Sullivan.

“This was a tragedy for the victim and her family. All the defendant had to do was stop, but instead she took off and left victim in the street,” District Attorney Quinn said. “The police had to come find the defendant. There needs to be accountability.”