BOSTON, Mass. - A local heroin trafficking organization was dismantled today after law enforcement arrested eight men and one woman who operated and worked for the criminal enterprise that was distributing between one and two kilograms of heroin each week in Massachusetts. One additional man was arrested and charged by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office on drug charges unrelated to this case.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Warren T. Bamford, Special Agent in Charge of Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Matthew J. Etre, Acting Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Office of Investigations in Boston; Director Kevin Weeks of U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Boston; Susan Dukes, Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Division; Colonel Marian J. McGovern, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Commissioner Edward Davis of the Boston Police Department; and Chief Kevin F. Coppinger of the Lynn Police Department, announced today that RAUL PENA, a/k/a Wilfredo Alverez Ayala, a Dominican national residing in Hazleton, PA, was arrested today for his role as the leader of the heroin trafficking drug organization. Law enforcement also arrested the following indicted co-conspirators: JEFATURA LNU, a/k/a Juan Gonzalez Ramos, unknown age and nationality who was residing in Boston; PEDRO CALDERON, 36, of Boston; SALLY ENCARNACION, 36, of Boston; LUIS ARMANDO PENA-SANCHEZ, a/k/a Raulin, a/k/a Pedro Molina-Santiago, 21, a Dominican national residing in Boston; SANTOS LARA, a/k/a Prieto, a/k/a Juan Hernandez, 36, a Dominican national residing in Boston; ALEXIS CINTRON, 52, of Malden; NENO, a/k/a Edgardo Pedraza, unknown age and nationality who was residing in Boston; and JORGE RAUL TEJEDA SUBERO, 43, of Lynn, for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin.

During the execution of search warrants at six locations, law enforcement seized heroin, substantial amounts of marijuana, approximately $40,000 in U.S. currency and a firearm. Four vehicles allegedly used by PENA’s drug organization were also seized pursuant to warrants.

According to the indictment, the investigation began in 2008 when authorities discovered that PENA and his coconspirators were distributing large quantities of heroin in the Boston area.
If convicted, the defendants face a 10 year mandatory minimum term of imprisonment and a maximum term of imprisonment of life, to be followed by five years of supervised release and a $4 million fine.

PENA waived extradition and will be transported to the District at a later time. With the exception of SUBERO, who is pending transport from state to federal custody for arraignment on these charges, the remaining defendants will have a detention hearing on June 7, 2010, at 2 p.m.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Massachusetts State Police, Boston Police Department, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Internal Revenue Service and the Lynn Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah Foley of Ortiz’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.

The details contained in the Indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

 

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