South Coast, Boston Heroin Ring: 23 Arrested, Police Say

TAUNTON, MA — A major heroin and fentanyl trafficking ring operating in the South Coast and Boston was busted and 23 people were arrested, authorities announced Tuesday.

The alleged leaders of the ring were identified as Fernando Rivera-Rodriguez, 31, of Boston, and Fernando Hernandez, 42, of Providence, Rhode Island. The pair were among the 23 arrested during a series of police raids in Boston, Brighton, Fall River, New Bedford, Bridgewater and Providence Tuesday.

Police said the pair obtained a "significant quantity of drugs" by robbing other drug traffickers.

“Today’s arrests will help stem the flow of heroin and fentanyl into our communities,” acting U.S. Attorney William Weinreb said in a statement. “The defendants in this case knew the drugs that they were distributing were potent and potentially lethal, yet they continued to brazenly ignore the dangers and even expand their reach into Maine.”

The 23 suspects were charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl:

• Fernando Rivera-Rodriguez, also known as Alex, a/k/a Antonio Moraima, 31, of Boston;
• Glendalee Rodriguez, 33, of Fall River;
• Juan Morales-Ortiz, a/k/a Josiel, 27, of Boston;
• Jancer Soto, 25, of Boston;
• Jose Camacho, a/k/a Traga, 37, of Boston;
• Wilmi Hernandez-Diaz, 21, of Boston;
• Yeurys Tejeda, a/k/a Santos, 28, of Boston;
• Jose R. Narvaez-Arroyo, a/k/a Pacha, 35, of Boston;
• Jeffrey Freitas, 31, of Bridgewater;
• Isis Y. Lugo-Guerrero, a/k/a Izzy, 44, of Boston;
• Jose Negron, a/k/a Edwin Padilla, a/k/a Luisito Bulto, 36, of Boston;
• Malvin Berrios, a/k/a Bori, 34, of Boston;
• Roger Longmire, 34, of Taunton;
• Stephanie O’Sullivan, 30, of Taunton;
• Omar Guzman, 39, of Taunton;
• Marisa Ruiz, 32, of Taunton;
• John Paul Tanguay, 33, of Taunton;
• Daniel Wren, 31, of Taunton;
• David Tejeda, 34, of New Bedford;
• Fernando Hernandez, a/k/a Mora, 42, of Providence, RI;
• Jose Arias, 21, of Providence, RI;
• Carlos Miguel Gonzalez-Figueroa, 32, of Providence, RI; and
• Crystal Rivera, 30, of Providence, RI.

The investigation involved federal drug agents and wiretaps. Police said Rivera-Rodriguez knew the fentanyl he was distributing was deadly, according to an affidavit. He was caught on a wiretap telling another drug distributor, "When you see those people being knocked over . . . you are going to call me back.”

According to the affidavit, when the drug distributor told Rivera-Rodriguez "... that stuff is that fentanyl. That could kill you," Rivera-Rodriguez replied, “Nah, so it’s okay.”

State Police Col. Richard McKeon said the South Coast is a "hot zone" for opioid trafficking.

"Today’s efforts by federal, state and local police and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will impact the heroin and fentanyl trade in Bristol County," McKeon said in a statement.

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