United States Drug Enforcement Administration

(BOSTON - Thirty individuals have been charged with federal drug, gun and immigration charges and two others have been charged with state drug and gun charges for their role in the distribution of fentanyl, heroin and cocaine in and around the Lawrence, Massachusetts area. 

More than 200 federal, state and local law enforcement officers were involved in a federal sweep today that was the culmination of a yearlong investigation dubbed “Operation Bad Company,” aimed at attacking the fentanyl and heroin problem in the Lawrence, Massachusetts area.  The defendants are alleged to have controlled and managed a lucrative and sophisticated drug trafficking and distribution ring in the region.  

The following individuals were charged in federal indictments unsealed today:

1. Juan Anibal Patrone, aka “Juan Anibal,” aka “Juan Anibal Patrone-Gonzalez,” aka “Flaco,” aka “Poppo,” aka “Carlos,” 26, of Lawrence, Massachusetts and a dual citizen of the Dominican Republic and Italy
2. Domingo Gonzalez Martinez, aka “Guega,” 26, a resident of Lawrence, Massachusetts and from the Dominican Republic
3. Oscar Francisco Marcano Valverde, aka “Oscar Marcado,” aka “Oscar Malcano,” 38, a Dominican national and former resident of Haverhill, Massachusetts and currently in custody at Bristol County House of Corrections
4. Josuel Moises Patrone-Gonzalez, aka “Coqui,” aka “Kiko,” 22, a resident of Lawrence, Massachusetts and a dual citizen of the Dominican Republic and Italy
5. Luis F. Lugo, 20, of Lawrence, Massachusetts
6. Victor Alexander Gonzalez-Gonzalez, aka “Alex,” 24, a Dominican national residing in Lawrence, Massachusetts
7. Daniel Diaz, 34, of Lawrence, Massachusetts and currently in custody at the Essex House of Corrections 
8. Luis A. Perez-Tomassini, 29 of Lawrence, Massachusetts
9. Leonel Vives, 30, of Methuen, Massachusetts
10. Santo Marino Nivar-Tejeda, aka “Mello,” 46, a Dominican national residing in Lawrence, Massachusetts
11. Andreury Fana Burgos, aka “Andreury Fanas,” 21, a resident of Lawrence, Massachusetts and from the Dominican Republic
12. Lacey Picariello, 33, of Burlington, Massachusetts.
13. Matthew Shover, 29, of Sandown, New Hampshire, currently in custody at Essex House of Corrections
14. Rafael Omar Arias-Rodriguez, aka “Prieto Tita,” 37, of Lawrence, Massachusetts
15. Rafael Arce, 46, of Lawrence, Massachusetts
16. Reynaldo Duran Lora, 23, of Lawrence, Massachusetts
17. Stacey Littlefield, 41, of Rochester, New Hampshire
18. Melvin Weatherspoon, 57, of Rochester, New Hampshire
19. Euclides Alcantara, 49, a resident of Methuen, Massachusetts and from the Dominican Republic  
20. Ramon Gonzalez Nival, aka “Santo Ramon Gonzalez Nivar,” aka “Santo Marino Gonzalez-Nival,” aka “Santo Marino Guerrero Ruiz,” aka “Luis Rivera,” aka “Richard Romero,” aka “Ismael Rivera-Ayala,” aka “Caballito,” aka “Ramoncito,” aka “Caballo,” 40, a Dominican national residing in Lawrence, Massachusetts
21. Jose Rosado Sanchez, aka “Chiquito,” aka “Pequeno,” aka “Luis D. Resto,” aka “Timothy O’Leary,” aka “Luis Vega Martinez,” (true identity unknown)
22. Julio Baez Gonzalez, aka “Manolo,” 34, a Dominican national residing in Lawrence, Massachusetts
23. Ruddy Rafael Soto Lara, aka “Flor Saez Guzman,” aka “Yernan Freight,” aka “Rafael Ruddy,” aka “Manuel Gonzalez,” aka “Flor Saez,” aka “Jorge Navarez,” aka “Peje,” 38, a Dominican national and currently in custody at the Essex House of Corrections
24. Geronimo Confesor Gonzalez Nivar, aka “Geronimo Gonzalez-Nival,” aka “Geronimo Ruiz-Gonzalez,” aka “Alexie,” aka “Jaboa,” 35, a Dominican national residing in Lawrence, Massachusetts
25. Carlos Hernandez, aka “Gordo,” 34, of Lawrence, Massachusetts and currently in custody at the Essex House of Corrections
26. Rory Connolly, 33, of Manchester, New Hampshire
27. Bernaldo Rosario Santiago, aka “Bori,” 25, of Lowell, Massachusetts
28. Diosmary Burgos, 39, a resident of Lawrence, Massachusetts and from the Dominican Republic
29. Caonablo Mayobanex Pol Montero, aka” Cesar Eliel Echavarria Navarez,” aka “Ely Manzano,” aka “Mayo Baney Pol,” aka “Mayo Pol.” aka “Eddie Soto,” aka “Jorge Mercado,” aka “Israel Cortes,” aka “Israel Cortez,” aka “Ismael Guerra Cortez,” aka “Ismael Cortez,” aka “Israel P. Cortez,” aka “Ismael Guerra,” aka “Jorge L. Santiago,” aka “Albertoz Vasquez,” aka “Mayo Baney Montero,” aka “Mayo Bane Montero,” aka “Bani,” 45, a Dominican national residing in Lawrence, Massachusetts
30. Shawn Keefe, 27, of Lowell, Massachusetts

Four additional individuals were taken into custody on administrative immigration charges and will appear in immigration court. The Essex County District Attorney’s Office charged the following individuals with distribution of fentanyl:

1. Leonny Burgos, of Lawrence, Massachusetts
2. Miriam Roche, of Lawrence, Massachusetts

The drug statute provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison; the firearm statute provides for no more than 10 years in prison; the unlawful re-entry after deportation statute provides for no more than 10 years in prison.  Defendants who are charged with unlawful re-entry after deportation are subject to deportation after serving any sentence imposed.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

Michal J. Ferguson Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England; Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; Matthew J. Etre, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Essex County District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett; Colonel Richard D. McKeon, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Lawrence Police Chief James Fitzpatrick made the announcement at a press conference. The DEA Cross Border Initiative, comprised by the DEA and the Andover, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, and Wilmington Police Departments, conducted the investigation jointly with the Massachusetts State Police.