BOSTON, June 12, 2012—A long-term investigation into violent Charlestown drug dealers has led to 86 indictments against five main targets and 20 additional suspects arrested today by Boston Police, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley announced.
The Suffolk County Grand Jury on June 6 returned indictments against:
CARL BENOIT (D.O.B. 6/7/89) of Dorchester, charged with 12 counts each of distribution of a Class B substance and distribution of a Class B substance in a school zone, four counts each of trafficking in a Class B substance and trafficking in a Class B substance in a school zone, and three counts of distribution of a Class A substance and distribution of a Class A substance in a school zone;
KEVIN DENIS (D.O.B. 11/21/91) of Brockton, charged with two counts each of distribution of a Class B substance and distribution of a Class B substance in a school zone;
PRINCE DENIS (D.O.B. 11/7/90) of Brockton, charged with 13 counts each of distribution of a Class A substance and distribution of a Class A substance in a school zone and nine counts each of distribution of a Class B substance and distribution of a Class B substance in a school zone; and
MARVIN LAFONTANT (D.O.B. 9/24/87) of Hyde Park, charged with one count each of distribution of a Class A substance and distribution of a Class A substance in a school zone.
“Drug-dealing gangs like this one destabilize communities,” Conley said. “They bring fear and isolation where children, families, and the elderly deserve safety and freedom. We in law enforcement – whether at the local, state, or federal level – have an obligation to those good and decent people, and we’re going to honor it.”
The defendants above are already in custody on other matters and are expected to be arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court in the days to come. One additional defendant was indicted on one count each of trafficking in a Class B substance and trafficking in a Class B substance in a school zone. An arrest warrant has been issued in his name and he is expected to be arrested in the near future.
The indictments reflect a series of coordinated undercover buys by Boston Police detectives and FBI special agents assigned to the investigation. Most of those purchases were conducted in and around the area of the Bunker Hill Housing Development and in close proximity to Charlestown High School and the Harvard Kent Elementary School.
The same investigation yielded sufficient evidence to charge 20 additional defendants with various drug-related offenses for which they were arrested across the city today.
Arraigned in Charlestown District Court today were:
WILLIAM BENJAMIN, 20; DANIEL CAMPBELL, 49; ELISAMUEL COLON-PADILLA, 29; OSVALDO DIAZ, 35; NINA GARCIA, 41; JOHNNY GOMEZ, 64; RUTH LOPEZ, 36; RUDY MACHUCA, 43; MARK MOORE, 34; JOSE NAZARIO-MERCADO, 18; CHRISTOPHJER FREEMAN, 23; and JOSE WILLIAMS, 21.
All of the defendants above are charged with the distribution of heroin and/or crack cocaine except for Nazario-Mercado, who is charged with armed robbery. Prosecutors recommended bails ranging from $500 to $200,000. Judge Franco Gobourne imposed bails ranging from personal recognizance to $50,000. Additional defendants are expected to be arraigned tomorrow.
Arraigned in West Roxbury District Court today was JONATHAN ABREAU (D.O.B. 2/22/90) of Hyde Park, charged with one count each of trafficking in a Class A substance, trafficking in a Class A substance in a school zone, and possession of a Class B substance with intent to distribute. Initially charged via warrant on the trafficking charges in connection with Operation Tourniquet, Abreau was arrested at his Crown Point Drive residence with an additional bag of cocaine, two cell phones, multiple plastic baggies, a ski mask, and an inoperable replica firearm. He was held on a total of $10,100 cash bail.
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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
