BOSTON, Oct. 14, 2014—Two dozen men and women have been charged with drug distribution offenses after a months-long undercover operation by Chelsea Police and State troopers targeting drug activity in Bellingham Square, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

The charges came as the result of Operation Crackdown – a three-month undercover investigation conducted by Chelsea Police, Everett Police, and State Police assigned to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office on the street and by Suffolk prosecutors in the Grand Jury to address residents’ concerns over street-level drug dealing and associated quality-of-life issues.  Prosecutors assigned to the DA’s Narcotics Unit continued the investigation in the Grand Jury, securing indictments last week against several of the defendants.

Arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court on Friday and yesterday on those indictments were:

1. ANTHONY AGOSTINI (D.O.B. 6/15/65) of Chelsea, held on $15,000 bail on charges of distribution of a Class B substance as a subsequent offense and being an habitual offender;
2. SHAHEED BAKER (D.O.B. 6/17/85) of Chelsea, held on $5,000 bail on distribution of a Class B substance as a subsequent offense and distribution of a Class B substance within 100 feet of a park;
3. JONATHAN BELTON (D.O.B. 5/6/74), who lists a Boston homeless shelter as his residence, held on $10,000 bail on two counts of distribution of a Class B substance as a subsequent offense;
4. ASIA GALVIN (D.O.B. 6/17/86) of East Boston, held on $5,000 bail on two counts of distribution of a Class B substance as a subsequent offense and a single count of distribution of a Class B substance within 100 feet of a park, and an additional $3,000 bail for a probation violation;
5. JOSE PAGAN (D.O.B. 6/26/74) of Chelsea, held on $5,000 bail on three counts of distribution of a Class B substance as a subsequent offense, and single counts of distribution of a Class A substance as a subsequent offense, conspiracy to violate the state’s drug laws, and distribution of a Class B substance within 100 feet of a park;
6. ANDRE SKINNER (D.O.B. 6/26/92) of Chelsea, held on $4,000 bail on two counts of distribution of a Class B substance and one count of distribution of a Class B substance within 100 feet of a park; and
7. KENDRICK TATE (D.O.B. 3/28/80) of Chelsea, held on $3,000 bail on charges of distribution of a Class B substance as a subsequent offense and distribution of a Class B substance within 100 feet of a park.

All were ordered to stay away from Bellingham Square.

The remaining 17 defendants were arraigned on charges of distribution of a Class B substance and similar offenses yesterday and Friday in Chelsea District Court, where Judge Matthew Nestor set bails ranging from personal recognizance to $1,500.  Eleven of the defendants were ordered to stay away from Bellingham Square entirely; one was ordered not loiter in the area.

Investigators utilized controlled buys and executed numerous search warrants during the three-month long investigation.  Police seized more than 60 grams of crack cocaine, more than 30 grams of heroin, and upwards of $10,000 in cash.

“While Operation Crackdown targeted the sale of drugs in one small area, it will improve the quality of life for people who live and work across Chelsea and the surrounding area,” Conley said. “These arrests illustrate a dedicated and meticulous effort to address the open sale of drugs – specifically targeting repeat offenders – and the problems drug crimes present in our communities. This was a multiagency effort, but Chelsea Police in particular did an outstanding job on behalf of the community. This was great work by officers, detectives, and administrators.”

Prosecutors expect additional defendants to be arraigned in both the district and superior courts.

The defendants will return to court on various dates throughout October, November, and December.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.