Crime & Safety
Malden Gangs and Cops Part of Statewide Raids
Dozens of alleged gang members, including from gangs based in Malden, were arrested Thursday morning as part of a multi-agency investigation
MALDEN, MA - Dozens of alleged gang members, including from gangs based in Malden, were arrested Thursday morning as part of a multi-agency investigation that included the Malden Police Department.
U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz announced Thursday that 66 alleged gang members from the Greater Boston area have been charged with federal and state firearm and drug charges, including federal RICO conspiracy charges related to an attempted murder.
It is alleged that these individuals were responsible for fueling a gun and drug pipeline across a number of cities and towns in eastern Massachusetts.
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During the course of the investigation, over 70 firearms were seized.
Authorities say the year-long investigation initially focused on the 18th Street Gang in Boston but later included gangs aligned with the focus - the East Side Money Gang and the Boylston Gang.
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These gangs operated primarily in Malden, East Boston, Chelsea, Brockton, Revere and Everett. Additional individuals were taken into custody on federal immigration violations, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.
According to court documents, the 18th Street Gang is a multi-national gang that operates throughout the United States and Central America and whose members in the Boston area have had significant access to firearms in Boston and Chelsea. Over a one-year period, investigators seized approximately 37 firearms from 18th Street Gang members alone, including 29 handguns, three assault rifles and five sawed-off shotguns, many of which had the serial numbers obliterated.
During a press conference, investigators said that the arrests were designed to disrupt the gang's distribution network for heroin, crack cocaine and illegal firearms.
In total, 53 defendants have been charged in federal court, three of whom were previously arrested, according to the U.S. Attorney's office. Thirteen defendants have been charged by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office in state court. Over two dozen individuals have been detained for administrative deportations.
Below is a list of suspects who were taken into custody and charged in federal court:
- Angel Mejia Zelaya, a/k/a “Stackz,” 21, of Chelsea
- Brandon Baez, a/k/a “Big Baby,”18, of Chelsea
- Roberto Christian Jimenez-Heyer, a/k/a “Forty,” 19, of Chelsea
- Josue Rodriguez, a/k/a “SB,” a/k/a “Superbad,” 19, of Chelsea
- Wilfredo Delacruz, 19, of Lynn
- Henry Del-Rio, a/k/a “Junior,” 19, of Chelsea
- Elyhas Diaz, a/k/a “Boi-Boi,” 19, of Chelsea
- Anna Garcia a/k/a “Janice,” a/k/a “J,” 28, of Chelsea
- Cristian Gonzalez, a/k/a “Chee,” 23
- Jessika Heyer, 40, of Chelsea
- Jerry Leiva, a/k/a “Fetti,” 19, of Chelsea
- Jose Perez, 19, of Lynn
- Emmitt Simpkins, a/k/a “Easy,” 21, of Chelsea
- Robert Lewis, 30, of Lynn
- Victor Florentino, 21, of Dorchester
- Alejandro Ojeda, a/k/a “Progress,” 24, of Boston
- Jonathan Pena, 22, of East Boston
- Jose Muniz, a/k/a “Gunda,” 28, of Chelsea
- Oscar Oliva, a/k/a “Droopy,” 25, of East Boston
- Ralph Bonano, 22, of East Boston
- Jamir Hernandez, 22, of Revere
- Lester Martinez, a/k/a “Chapin,” 33, of East Boston
- Jose Pineda Ramirez, a/k/a “Lil Joker,” 23, of East Boston
- Dennis Pleites Ramos, 22, of Chelsea
- Jose Ramos Rivera, a/k/a “Pumba,” 25, of Chelsea
- Luis Serrano, a/k/a “Catracho,” a/k/a “Cheeky,” 26, of East Boston
- Brian Segura, 25, of Chelsea
- Cristian Velasquez, a/k/a “Bombio,” 23
- Omar Villegas, a/k/a “Negrito,” 21, of Chelsea
- Jassel Castillo, a/k/a “Shells,” 21, of Boston
- Jose Herrera, 28, of Quincy
- Victor Pena, 46, of Brockton
- Michael Romero, a/k/a “Little Mikey,” 29, of East Boston
- Antonio Sosa, 29, of Brockton
- Anthony Terrones, a/k/a “Squirrel,” 30, of Jamaica Plain
- Alfidis Victorino, a/k/a “Junior,” 21, of Hyde Park
- Rosnil Ortiz, a/k/a “Rico,” 23, of Roslindale
- Juan Pena, a/k/a “JJ Lavoie,” 24, of Roxbury
- Luis Rivera, a/k/a “Fat Louie,” 33 of Brockton
- Kenneth Burke, 26, of Brockton
- Kevin Davis, a/k/a “Flizzo,”32, of Brockton
- Vaughn Lewis, 36, of Brockton
- Mannie Myers, 37, of Brockton
- Brian Price, 34, of Brockton
- Curtis Silva, a/k/a “Piff,”29, of Brockton
- Manuel Martinez, a/k/a “Manny,” 28, of East Boston
- Jeheil Hector, 19, of East Boston
- James Warner, 29, of East Boston
- Moises Casado a/k/a “Moi,” 20, of Chelsea
- Santo Yera
The following federal defendants were previously in custody:
- Oswaldo Sousa
- Mark Leaston
- Dejahn Harrison
Information in this article is from the U.S. Attorney's office. Arrests and charges mentioned don't imply conviction.
Image Credit: WHDH, 7-News
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