Norwood Man Convicted Of Police Shooting, Dealing Heroin

NORWOOD, MA — A man accused of dealing heroin and shooting a gun at a door with police on the other side has been found guilty of the charges.

Oristel Soto-Peguero, 25, was convicted in U.S. District Court in Boston of possessing more than a kilogram of heroin with intent to distribute, conspiring to distribute more than a kilogram of heroin, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a drug offense, according to the U.S. Attorney's office. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 2.

Soto-Peguero was the subject of a 2015 wiretap investigation conducted by federal agents. In May and June of that year, he was identified as the primary source of supply for a regional heroin trafficking operation in Taunton. Calls intercepted by investigators had Eddyberto Mejia-Ramos, a regional drug trafficker, asking Soto-Peguero to send him something heavy to which Soto-Peguero responded that his girlfriend, Mercedes Cabral, was on her way, according to the U.S. Attorney's office. A traffic stop conducted a short time later found 10 blocks of heroin (918 grams) protruding from Cabral’s purse.

Police attempted to secure Soto-Peguero's apartment at Norwest Woods in anticipation of obtaining a federal search warrant. A knock on the door went unanswered and as officers attempted to force their way in, someone shot a gun at the door. No one was injured and Soto-Peguero and Luis Guzman-Ortiz were arrested.

A search of the home the next day turned up two kilograms of heroin, a loaded semiautomatic pistol, two hydraulic drug presses, and other evidence that showed the apartment was being used to prepare and package heroin. Gunshot residue testing and other evidence established that Soto-Peguero fired the shot through the door, the U.S. Attorney's office said.

Norwood Police Chief William Brooks told the Norwood Board of Selectmen Tuesday night that the management team at Norwest Woods was unaware of the investigation and criminal activity. He added that the company that owns the property, Chestnut Hill Realty, has been a great partner with the Norwood Police Department and works hard to maintain a safe environment.

In September 2016, Mejia-Ramos was sentenced to 90 months in prison. In May 2017, Cabral was sentenced to time served (22 months) and three years of supervised release. Guzman-Ortiz pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to stand trial on June 18.

Soto-Peguero faces between 20 years to life in prison, according to Brooks.

Image via Shutterstock