20 people charged in alleged Boston drug trafficking ring

BOSTON — Twenty people were charged in federal court Tuesday for various alleged offenses related to the trafficking of heroin, cocaine and Fentanyl from Mexico and the Dominican Republic to Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

These charges are the result of a large-scale, multi-agency investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) with significant assistance from the Massachusetts State Police, and the Boston Police Department.

In a series of arrests and searches conducted early Tuesday morning, law enforcement seized approximately eight kilograms of heroin, a number of firearms, approximately $500,000 in cash, luxury vehicles, and Rolex watches. One additional individual was arrested on state charges of trafficking 220 grams or more of cocaine.

The following defendants were arrested Tuesday and charged in a federal criminal complaint with conspiring to distribute heroin, Fentanyl and cocaine:

• Deiby Victoria;
• Starling Bladmil Gonzalez, aka “Bladi;”
• Domingo Depena Vega;
• Isidro Perez Montero;
• Charles Torres, aka Daniel Bautista, aka “Leo;”
• Ramon Arias, aka “Mon;”
• Vinicio Baez;
• Julio Diaz, aka “Alex Menan;”
• Jefferson Rodrigzuez;
• Jesus Sepulveda, aka “Juan Carlos;”
• Santo Santana, aka “El Viejo;”
• Jose Alamo, aka “Necio;”
• Gilberto Torres, aka “Julian;”
• Wellington Osnel Soto Aguasviva;
• Friman Gonzalez, aka “Gordo;”
• Johan Montanez Pizzaro, aka “Rubio;”
• Felix Salas Diaz;
• Amable Diaz, aka “Nene;”
• Wilfredo Santana, aka “Menor;” and
• Hamlet Mendez Nova, aka “Janle”

Two additional defendants were charged in related indictments with conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute, heroin:

• Angela Cordero, of New York, (fugitive); and
• Carlos Cuevas, residence unknown, (fugitive)

The following defendant was charged in a state criminal complaint with trafficking 200 grams or more of cocaine:

• Euclides H. Lopes, of Lynn, Massachusetts. 

Lopes was arraigned in Lynn (Massachusetts) District Court Tuesday afternoon and was held on $100,000 cash bail.

According to the affidavit, the investigation into Deiby Victoria and his associates began in February 2016.  Victoria is alleged to be the head of a drug trafficking organization that imported large quantities of heroin, Fentanyl, and cocaine from Mexico and the Dominican Republic into the United States for distribution in the greater Boston area and in Providence, R.I.  The primary purpose of Victoria’s organization was the wholesale distribution of large amounts of heroin and Fentanyl, not retail sales to users or addicts.

Victoria and his associates distributed drugs through several traditional means, such as couriers and stash houses, however they also used novel techniques, including distributing drugs at what purported to be a used car business in Dorchester.  The members of the organization collected payments and then directed drug buyers to the cars in which the drugs were hidden.  The business and the used cars were seized earlier today.

Victoria and his associates also used international money launderers to launder drug proceeds and pay drug suppliers.  Starling Bladmil Gonzalez (Bladi) was Victoria’s partner and brother-in-law.  During intercepted conversations, Victoria and Bladi were heard routinely discussing the purchase and distribution of drug shipments, as well as the collection of debts from their customer base, and payments of the drug debts they owed to their suppliers.  Victoria and his associates employed a number of people to distribute drugs and collect money.

During the investigation, heroin and drug proceeds from various members of Victoria’s organization were seized.  For example, on June 9, 2016, approximately one kilogram of heroin was seized from Angela Cordero, who was a courier for the New York-based organization that supplied Victoria and his associates.  On Oct. 6, 2016, three kilograms of heroin which had been supplied by Montero, were seized from Victoria.  In intercepted calls following this particular drug seizure, Montero warned Victoria that the drugs belonged to “people [who were] very dangerous.”  Subsequent discussions revealed that the seized heroin had been supplied by Mexican drug distributors.  On Nov. 7, 2016, investigators seized $300,854 in drug proceeds from a money courier immediately after he collected a drug debt from Charles Torres. 

The federal charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, Fentanyl, and cocaine provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $1 million.  Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

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

HSI encourages the public to report any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.