Quincy Arrest Made in Massive Gang Bust

QUINCY, MA — Dozens of people were arrested Thursday morning as part of a multi-agency investigation.

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. During the course of the investigation, over 70 firearms were seized.

Jose Herrera, 28, of Quincy, has been charged in connection to the investigation.

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.
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.

These gangs operated primarily in East Boston, Chelsea, Brockton, Malden, 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:

1. Angel Mejia Zelaya, a/k/a “Stackz,” 21, of Chelsea
2. Brandon Baez, a/k/a “Big Baby,”18, of Chelsea
3. Roberto Christian Jimenez-Heyer, a/k/a “Forty,” 19, of Chelsea
4. Josue Rodriguez, a/k/a “SB,” a/k/a “Superbad,” 19, of Chelsea
5. Wilfredo Delacruz, 19, of Lynn
6. Henry Del-Rio, a/k/a “Junior,” 19, of Chelsea
7. Elyhas Diaz, a/k/a “Boi-Boi,” 19, of Chelsea
8. Anna Garcia a/k/a “Janice,” a/k/a “J,” 28, of Chelsea
9. Cristian Gonzalez, a/k/a “Chee,” 23
10. Jessika Heyer, 40, of Chelsea
11. Jerry Leiva, a/k/a “Fetti,” 19, of Chelsea
12. Jose Perez, 19, of Lynn
13. Emmitt Simpkins, a/k/a “Easy,” 21, of Chelsea
14. Robert Lewis, 30, of Lynn
15. Victor Florentino, 21, of Dorchester
16. Alejandro Ojeda, a/k/a “Progress,” 24, of Boston
17. Jonathan Pena, 22, of East Boston
18. Jose Muniz, a/k/a “Gunda,” 28, of Chelsea
19. Oscar Oliva, a/k/a “Droopy,” 25, of East Boston
20. Ralph Bonano, 22, of East Boston
21. Jamir Hernandez, 22, of Revere
22. Lester Martinez, a/k/a “Chapin,” 33, of East Boston
23. Jose Pineda Ramirez, a/k/a “Lil Joker,” 23, of East Boston
24. Dennis Pleites Ramos, 22, of Chelsea
25. Jose Ramos Rivera, a/k/a “Pumba,” 25, of Chelsea
26. Luis Serrano, a/k/a “Catracho,” a/k/a “Cheeky,” 26, of East Boston
27. Brian Segura, 25, of Chelsea
28. Cristian Velasquez, a/k/a “Bombio,” 23
29. Omar Villegas, a/k/a “Negrito,” 21, of Chelsea
30. Jassel Castillo, a/k/a “Shells,” 21, of Boston
31. Jose Herrera, 28, of Quincy
32. Victor Pena, 46, of Brockton
33. Michael Romero, a/k/a “Little Mikey,” 29, of East Boston
34. Antonio Sosa, 29, of Brockton
35. Anthony Terrones, a/k/a “Squirrel,” 30, of Jamaica Plain
36. Alfidis Victorino, a/k/a “Junior,” 21, of Hyde Park
37. Rosnil Ortiz, a/k/a “Rico,” 23, of Roslindale
38. Juan Pena, a/k/a “JJ Lavoie,” 24, of Roxbury
39. Luis Rivera, a/k/a “Fat Louie,” 33 of Brockton
40. Kenneth Burke, 26, of Brockton
41. Kevin Davis, a/k/a “Flizzo,”32, of Brockton
42. Vaughn Lewis, 36, of Brockton
43. Mannie Myers, 37, of Brockton
44. Brian Price, 34, of Brockton
45. Curtis Silva, a/k/a “Piff,”29, of Brockton
46. Manuel Martinez, a/k/a “Manny,” 28, of East Boston
47. Jeheil Hector, 19, of East Boston
48. James Warner, 29, of East Boston
49. Moises Casado a/k/a “Moi,” 20, of Chelsea
50. Santo Yera

The following federal defendants were previously in custody:

1. Oswaldo Sousa
2. Mark Leaston
3. 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