New Bedford Drug Dealers Arraigned On Drug Trafficking Indictment

BOSTON – Three men, one from Bourne and two from New Bedford, were arraigned late yesterday on an indictment charging them with heroin distribution and related crimes.

Francisco Monteiro, 32, of Bourne, is charged with conspiracy to distribute over a kilogram of heroin and distribution of heroin; Manuel Lopes, 34, of New Bedford, is charged with conspiracy to distribute over a kilogram of heroin, distribution of heroin, and possession with intent to distribute heroin; and Harry Parsons, 25, of New Bedford, is charged in the indictment with conspiracy to distribute over a kilogram of heroin and distribution of heroin.

According to an affidavit previously filed in court, the government advised that Monteiro, a/k/a Cisco, Lopes, and a third man, now identified as Parsons, conspired to distribute over 100 grams of heroin. On February 15, 2013, Monteiro and Lopes arranged and facilitated the sale of almost 100 grams of heroin to a cooperating witness in New Bedford. The DEA recorded telephone calls to Monteiro in which he agreed to provide heroin to a cooperating witness. Monteiro and Lopes drove with the cooperating witness to Parsons’ address in New Bedford where the heroin sale was completed. Furthermore, Monteiro and Lopes further planned and arranged for the sale of an additional 50 grams of heroin to the cooperating witness that was to take place on February 25, 2013, although the sale was not completed.

During an earlier hearing, the government advised that when Lopes was arrested on March 1, 2013, agents seized approximately 7,500 packages of heroin from Lopes’ home, as well as several large packages of marijuana, brass knuckles, and a bullet-proof vest. When Monteiro was arrested at his home on March 1, 2013, agents recovered the recorded buy money from the February 25, 2013 attempted purchase of heroin, as well as a small quantity of heroin (consistent with the packaging found at Lopes’ residence).

Monteiro has prior convictions for drug distribution and unlawful possession of a firearm. Monteiro faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison, a maximum penalty of life in prison, a fine of $20 million, and a minimum of 10 years supervised release.

In 2003, Lopes was convicted in U.S. District Court in Boston for gun and drug trafficking and received a sentence of 130 months. Lopes is still on supervised release for those offenses. Lopes faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, a fine of $20 million, and a minimum of 10 years supervised release.

If convicted, Parsons faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison, a maximum penalty of life in prison, a fine of up to $20 million, and a minimum of 10 years supervised release.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; John J. Arvanitis, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Colonel Timothy P. Alben, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; C. Samuel Sutter; Bristol County District Attorney; Sherriff Thomas M. Hodgson of Bristol County; Bourne Police Chief Dennis R. Woodside; and Wareham Police Chief Richard M. Stanley made the announcement today.

This case is being prosecuted by Christopher Pohl in Ortiz’s Organized Crime Strike Force Unit.