News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 13, 2006

Bourne Woman Sentenced To 8 Years

Boston, MA... A Bourne, MA, woman was sentenced yesterday in federal court for
conspiring to distribute crack cocaine.

June W. Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in
New England and United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan , announced today that CARMENFIGUEROA, age 27, formerly of 90 Sandwich Road, Bourne, MA, was sentenced to 8 years’imprisonment, to be followed by 5 years’ of supervised release, by U.S. District Judge Young.FIGUEROA was convicted of conspiracy to possess, with intent to distribute, cocaine base, also known as crack cocaine, on May 20, 2005, after a 12 day jury trial.

The evidence at trial showed that FIGUEROA and co-defendants Manuel Mendes,
Christopher Carmen, Desiree Alves, William Tejeda, Jennifer Pavao and Christopher Custer
were distributing approximately 500 grams of crack cocaine in the Hyannis area every ten days from approximately January 2003 through March 2004. The leader of the Massachusetts-end ofthe conspiracy was Manuel Mendes, who had been at the time incarcerated at the Plymouth House of Corrections. Mendes was able to run his organization through the assistance of FIGUEROA, whom he instructed from prison as to what should be done in the drug trade.

FIGUEROA was responsible for virtually every aspect of the conspiracy. The evidence showed that she picked up the crack from Tejeda, who was the source of supply in New York City, she repackaged the crack with the help of Alves, she handled the drug money, she took calls from customers, and stored the drugs and money in her residence, in which two children resided. The evidence also showed that on March 26, 2004, FIGUEROA possessed $12, 500 in cash which she gave to Custer in order for him to drive to New York to pick up a new supply of crack. On that day, Custer, Tejeda and Pavao were arrested in New York with the money and almost 500 grams of crack. FIGUEROA remained in Hyannis, and was arrested there.

FIGUEROA is the last defendant to be sentenced in this case. In April, 2006, Mendes was
sentenced to 35 years’ incarceration, Tejeda was sentenced to 20 years’ incarceration, and
Custer was sentenced to 25 years’ incarceration. Alves and Pavao both received sentences of 3 years for their role in the conspiracy.

The case was investigated by the by members of the DEA’s Cape Cod Task Force along with the Barnstable, Yarmouth and Bourne Police Departments; the Massachusetts State Police; DEA - New York Division, and the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office. The DEA’s Cape Cod Task Force is led by the DEA and comprised of members from the Bourne, Dennis, Mashpee, Plymouth and Wareham Police Departments.