9 Arrested In Major Drug And Gun Bust In Worcester

WORCESTER, MA—A targeted effort involving several federal, state and local police teams resulted in a major arrest in the city on Thursday morning, announced the Massachusetts State Police.

Various departments fanned out across the Worcester area to make nine arrests after a long-term investigation into gun and narcotics trafficking. During the course of the joint investigation, police purchased nine guns, multiple rounds of ammunition, and a large quantity of narcotics from the nine targets, said Massachusetts State Police.

Several handguns, two shotguns, and an assault rifle with a 100-round capacity drum magazine were purchased during the search. Subsequent searches of target addresses resulted in the seizures of several more guns, including two assault rifles, according to state police.

Eight of the defendants were arrested on state warrants and will be prosecuted by the office of Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.

They are as follow, with charges as listed in the warrants:

1. DORAN A. BRYAN, 27, of Worcester, charged with trafficking of a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm, and distribution of a Class B substance (cocaine);
2. DOMINIQUE L. BRYAN, 26, of Worcester, charged with trafficking of a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm, and distribution of a Class B substance (cocaine);
3. CRUZ A. RIOS, 28, of Worcester, charged with trafficking of a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and distribution of a Class B substance (cocaine);
4. MARIO E. ROSARIO, 42, of Worcester, charged with trafficking in firearms and unlawful possession of firearms;
5. JORGE L. LOPEZ-ROSARIO, 25, of Worcester, charged with trafficking of a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and distribution of a Class B substance (cocaine);
6. THOMAS R. GENEVA, 25, of Auburn, charged with trafficking in firearms;
7. AUSTIN W. ESPEY, 32, of Worcester, charged with trafficking of a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, possession of a large capacity magazine, and distribution of a Class B substance (cocaine); and
8. YEINNOR NIEVES-PIZZARO, 35, of Worcester, charged with distribution of cocaine.

Additionally, a ninth target of the operation will be prosecuted federally by the United States Attorney’s Office for Massachusetts.

During the execution of a search warrant subsequent to the arrests, an arrest team today found and seized two additional assault rifles and a pistol, along with a quantity of crack cocaine, inside defendant Ryan’s residence on Raymond Street in Worcester.

Another arrest team found and seized four additional pistols from defendant Espey’s residence on Thenius Street in Worcester. A third team searching Geneva’s home on Linda Avenue in Auburn seized a quantity of drugs believed to be oxycodone and gun parts that, the investigation suggests, he was using to build guns for illegal sale. Additional charges will be added against those targets reflecting those seized items.

“Guns and drugs are the biggest public safety threats facing our cities, and today’s operation struck a heavy blow against nine people who made a living off feeding those threats,” Massachusetts State Police Colonel Richard D. McKeon said in a statement. “Today’s arrests and the investigation that led to them are a shining example of the united front from which various law enforcement agencies in Massachusetts combat gun and drug traffickers.”

Worcester Police Chief Steven M. Sargent added: “This investigation demonstrates how effective our partnership is between the local, state, and federal agencies. When we work together, we effectively are able to target dangerous individuals and remove illegal firearms from our streets. We believe these arrests will have a long-term impact on reducing violent crime in our neighborhoods. I am thankful and proud of the hard work that went into this operation.”

The eight defendants charged on state warrants will be arraigned by Worcester prosecutors Thursday or Friday in Worcester Superior Court. Worcester District Attorney Early noted that the arrests will make the county’s cities and towns safer.

Photo via Shutterstock