BOSTON, June 14, 2017—Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley delivered the following remarks today on the conclusion of “Operation Hanover,” a year-long effort undertaken by Suffolk prosecutors, Boston Police detectives, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives agents:

“In Boston and Suffolk County, our modern public safety strategies mean taking a smart-on-crime approach.  The investigation known as Operation Hanover was a targeted effort to identify, apprehend, and prosecute the driving players in a deadly feud between the rival Wendover and Cameron Street groups.  Beginning last June, Boston Police and ATF agents orchestrated the purchase of guns and drugs from members of both gangs, because at the intersection of guns and drugs are the violence and retaliation that have already claimed too many lives.

Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley briefs the media on the conclusion of “Operation Hanover,” a year-long effort undertaken by Suffolk prosecutors, Boston Police detectives, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives agents.

“The investigators in this case approached their task with an eye to building strong cases that would stand up in a Suffolk County courtroom.  And toward that end, many of the transactions were captured on audio and/or video recording devices provided by our federal partners.

“Drug dealers and gun traffickers don’t post their licenses for inspection.  So in the weeks and months following these controlled transactions, investigators undertook extensive efforts to identify them. 

“Some were recognized by experienced Boston Police personnel.  Others were known to confidential informants.  And others were identified through the careful correlation of telephone, motor vehicle, and residential records. 

“Earlier this year, the Gang Unit of our Crime Strategies Bureau began presenting the accumulated evidence to the Suffolk County Grand Jury.  Last week, those proceedings yielded some 98 indictments, including nine for firearms trafficking, 12 for high-capacity or assault weapon violations, and 19 for the distribution of fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana. Six of the defendants face enhanced penalties as second or subsequent offenders.  And two have been charged either as habitual offenders or armed career criminals for prior crimes of violence and drug distribution.  

“They executed arrest warrants on those indictments yesterday and this morning, taking every single target into custody without injury and recovering almost a dozen firearms – in addition to the 11 taken off the street during the controlled buys in the latter half of last year. 

“Every one of those guns represents a shooting or a homicide prevented.  Boston will be a safer place this summer because they’re off the street.

“I want to commend the men and women of the BPD Youth Violence Strike Force and ATF for the remarkable job they’ve done from start to finish.  And I want to single out two of our prosecutors, Assistant District Attorney Caitlin Fitzgerald and Marc Tohme, for their work marshaling a massive amount of evidence.  The defendants arrested yesterday have been held on bails that range from $15,000 to $250,000 cash bail, and we expect similar amounts to be set during the second wave of arraignments today. 

“We’ll have a full accounting of names, bails, and next dates later this afternoon, and I can try to answer a few of your questions now.”

Arrested yesterday morning, arraigned through yesterday afternoon, and ordered to return to court on July 27 were:

1. ROHAN ANDERSON (D.O.B. 8/24/90), indicted for trafficking in one to two firearms, unlawful sale of an assault weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, unlawful sale of ammunition, and unlawful possession of a large-capacity feeding device, held on $15,000 cash bail;
2. KEIMODY CROCKETT (D.O.B. 9/14/94), indicted for trafficking in one to two firearms, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, unlawful sale of ammunition, unlawfully carrying a loaded firearm, unlawful sale of a large-capacity feeding device, and unlawful possession of a large-capacity feeding device, held on $50,000 cash bail;
3. JERAMIE CROFT (D.O.B. 3/8/84) (arrested June 14), indicted on five counts of distributing cocaine as a second offense, one count of trafficking in one to two firearms, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm with four prior convictions for violent crimes;
4. HECTOR GONZALEZ (D.O.B. 1/8/95), indicted on one count of trafficking in one to two firearms, one count of unlawfully selling an assault weapon, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, one count of unlawfully selling a large-capacity feeding device, one count of unlawful sale of ammunition, two counts of unlawful possession of a large-capacity feeding device, and one count of unlawful possession of ammunition, held on $50,000 cash bail;
5. MERVYN INNIS (D.O.B. 2/7/84), indicted on one count of trafficking in one to two firearms, one count of unlawful sale of an assault weapon, and one count of unlawful sale of ammunition, held on $15,000 cash bail;
6. JORGE RIVERA (D.O.B. 8/30/00), indicted as a youthful offender on one count of trafficking in one to two firearms and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, held on $250,000 bail;
7. ALFREDO VELASQUEZ (D.O.B. 2/18/95), indicted on one count of trafficking in three to 10 firearms, one count of unlawful sale of an assault weapon, three counts of unlawful sale of ammunition, six counts of unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction for carrying a dangerous weapon, four counts of unlawful possession of ammunition, two counts of unlawfully carrying a loaded firearm, and one count of unlawful possession of a large-capacity feeding device held on $150,000 cash bail; and
8. EDWARD VELASQUEZ (D.O.B. 9/12/91), indicted for one count of trafficking in three to 10 firearms, five counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, four counts of unlawful possession of ammunition, four counts of unlawful sale of ammunition, three counts of carrying a loaded firearm, one count of unlawful possession of a large-capacity feeding device, and one count of unlawful sale of a large-capacity feeding device, held on $50,000 cash bail

Arrested this morning and still being arraigned as of late this afternoon are:

1. LAWRENCE ANDRADE (D.O.B. 3/19/91), indicted for distributing marijuana;
2. MARIA BARBOSA (D.O.B. 5/30/89), indicted on two counts of distributing cocaine and one count of distributing fentanyl.
3. TONY BURT (D.O.B. 8/24/66), indicted for distributing cocaine with four prior convictions for distribution or possession with intent to distribute;
4. CHRISTOPHER JONES (D.O.B. 5/21/78), indicted on three counts of distributing cocaine with a prior conviction for possession with intent to distribute;
5. WAYNE ROGERS (D.O.B. 6/29/64), indicted on two counts of distributing marijuana and one count of distributing cocaine with two prior convictions for possession with intent to distribute;
6. JOE ROSA (D.O.B. 3/15/82), indicted for distributing cocaine and distributing heroin; and
7. CHAROD TAYLOR (D.O.B. 3/2/89), indicted on three counts each of distributing cocaine and distributing marijuana;

One additional defendant, SERGIO FIGUEROA-COLLAZO (D.O.B. 8/8/95), was already in custody. He has been indicted for for trafficking in one to two firearms, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and unlawful sale of ammunition. Another, TAKARI ELLIOTT (D.O.B. 2/18/92), was arrested today on federal drug trafficking charges and will be prosecuted by the US Attorney for the District of Massachusetts.

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