Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley and Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis today announced the indictments and arrests of 18 alleged drug dealers in Operation Tanglewood, a long-term investigation into cocaine and heroin distribution in the area of the Lenox Street Housing Development.

Police Commissioner Ed Davis stated, “This should serve as a clear message to any individuals engaging in violent activity in our communities. We will continue our relentless efforts to hold violent perpetrators accountable. We will not allow these individuals to destroy quality of life for hard-working, law-abiding community members.”

District Attorney Conley said, “The ease with which plainclothes officers bought cocaine and heroin over and over again shows just how brazen these defendants were. The density of drug retailers in this area forced residents to walk a gauntlet every time they left for school, came home from work, or went out to the store. They brought us their concerns, we acted, and the result is safer streets, homes, and parks for families and businesses.”

The Suffolk County Grand Jury on Monday returned the following indictments against the following defendants:

1. RICHARD ALLEN (D.O.B. 5/6/70) of Roxbury: one count of distributing a Class B substance, one school zone violation;
2. RASHAWN BANKS (D.O.B. 8/6/90) Dorchester: two counts of distributing a Class B substance, two school zone violations, two counts of distribution as a second or subsequent offense, and federal drug distribution charges;
3. WILLIAM CORDERO (D.O.B. 12/4/65) of Roxbury: one count of distributing a Class A substance, one school zone violation, one count of distribution as a second or subsequent offense;
4. EMILIO DeJESUS (D.O.B. 12/11/65) of Roslindale: one count of distributing a Class B substance, one school zone violation, one count of distribution as a second or subsequent offense;
5. MELVIN ESCOBAR (D.O.B. 9/14/75) of Roxbury: one count of distributing a Class B substance, one school zone violation, one count of inducing a minor into drug distribution, three counts of distribution as a second or subsequent offense;
6. COURTNEY JACKSON (D.O.B. 5/16/86) of Roxbury: one count of distribution of a Class B substance, one school zone violation;
7. COREY JAMISON (D.O.B. 8/12/77) of Dorchester: one count of distributing a Class A substance, one school zone violation, one count of distribution as a second or subsequent offense;
8. RONALD JENKINS (D.O.B. 10/26/60) of Roxbury: one count of distributing a Class B substance, one school zone violation, one count of distribution as a second or subsequent offense;
9. JASON JULIAN (D.O.B. 2/17/81) of the South End: one count of distributing a Class B substance, one school zone violation;
10. JOSE MALDONADO (D.O.B. 1/3/75), no fixed address: one count of distributing a Class B substance, one school zone violation, one count of distribution as a second or subsequent offense;
11. JAIRO MORETA (D.O.B. 4/4/84) of Roxbury: four counts of distributing a Class B substance, three school zone violations;
12. AMIR RICHARDSON (D.O.B 3/16/91) of Brighton: one count of distributing a Class B substance, one school zone violation;
13. WILLIAM RIOS (D.O.B. 12/16/79) of Roxbury: three counts of distributing a Class A substance, three school zone violations; three counts of distribution as a second or subsequent offense;
14. ELIEZER SANTIAGO (D.O.B. 5/18/77) of Roxbury: one count of distributing a Class A substance, one school zone violation, one count of distribution as a second or subsequent offense;
15. JUSTIN SEARCY (D.O.B. 3/14/90) of Jamaica Plain: one count of distributing a Class B substance, one school zone violation, and federal drug distribution charges;
16. BERNARD SIMMONS (D.O.B. 4/30/61) of Dorchester: one count of distributing a Class B substance, one school zone violation, one count of distribution as a second or subsequent offense;
17. ROBERT SMITH (D.O.B. 6/12/60) of Roxbury: one count of distributing a Class B substance, one school zone violation; and
18. JOHNNY TORRES-SANTOS (D.O.B. 7/10/55) of the South End: two counts of distributing a Class A substance, two school zone violations, two counts of distribution as a second or subsequent offense.

About a dozen additional defendants were also charged in district court complaints for various drug offenses allegedly committed during the undercover operation. Those defendants will be arraigned today in the Central Division of the Boston Municipal Court, while the indicted defendants will be arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court.

Operation Tanglewood targeted drug distribution suspects in the areas of Shawmut Avenue and Tremont Street. Using previously recorded buy money, undercover officers purchased quantities of cocaine and heroin from offenders known to the Boston Police Drug Control Unit and Suffolk DA’s Gang Unit, as well as individuals who made themselves known as dealers in the course of the investigation. Those suspects sold drugs for cash and/or items they believed to be stolen goods such as cameras, DVD players, and gaming systems.

The operation was intended not only to address numerous citizen complaints and disrupt the local drug trade but also to thwart the violence and chaos that go hand-in-hand with drug distribution inside the development and at or near local businesses.

At least three drug sales were made at 18 Trotter Ct., the site of a 2009 murder over drug turf: the defendant in that case, GARRETT “G-WHIZ” JACKSON, is currently serving life without the possibility of parole for the shooting death of Tommy Speed.

View the map to see the dates and locations of the undercover purchases.