District of Massachusetts

www.justice.gov/usao/ma

For Immediate Release

Friday, April 29, 2011

Carmen M. Ortiz, United States Attorney

Contact: Christina DiIorio-Sterrling
(617)748-3356
usama.media@doj.gov

Undercover Gun and Drug Investigation Nets 32 Arrests and 47 Firearms

BOSTON, Mass. – Thirty-two individuals were charged today on federal and state gun and drug charges, stemming from a long term investigation into gun trafficking and narcotics sales in the Brockton area. Recorded undercover purchases of firearms and narcotics from gun suppliers netted 47 weapons during the investigation.

It is alleged that during the investigation, recorded undercover purchases revealed that between May 2010 and the present, the individuals arrested today either purchased or sold firearms and narcotics, in Brockton, to cooperating witnesses and undercover officers. The following individuals were arrested this morning and have been charged with federal firearm and narcotics violations:

The following individuals, arrested this morning, have been charged with state firearm and narcotics violations:

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Guy N. Thomas, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – Boston Field Division; Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz; Brockton Police Chief William Conlon; and Massachusetts State Police Colonel Marian McGovern, made the announcement today. Assistance was also provided the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office.

The federal cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys in Ortiz’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit. The state defendants will be prosecuted by District Attorney Cruz’s Office.

The details contained in the indictments and complaint are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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