FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2009
WWW.USDOJ.GOV/USAO/MA
CONTACT: CHRISTINA DiIORIO-STERLING
PHONE: (617)748-3356
E-MAIL: USAMA.MEDIA@USDOJ.GOV
ELEVEN INDIVIDUALS INDICTED IN NARCOTICS CONSPIRACIES
BOSTON, MA - Eleven Massachusetts residents were charged today in federal court in two separate narcotics conspiracies where the participants were based in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Acting United States Attorney Michael K. Loucks; Steven W. Derr, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Boston Field Division; Joseph D. Early, Worcester County District Attorney; Colonel Mark F. Delaney, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Chief Gary J. Gemme of the Worcester Police Department, announced the Indictment of eleven individuals charged with conspiracy to distribute at least 500 grams of cocaine and a conspiracy to distribute at least 50 kilograms of marijuana.
The Indictment alleges that between January 2009 and March 2009, seven individuals conspired to distribute at least 50 kilograms of marijuana. Those individuals are: (1) ROLANDO RAMOS, 48, of Cherry Valley, Massachusetts; (2) GIOVANNI ANAYA, 31, of Worcester, Massachusetts; (3) LENNIN ANAYA, a/k/a “Choco”, 30, of Worcester, Massachusetts; (4) CHRISTIAN GUZMAN, 32, of Lawrence, Massachusetts; (5) JUAN LUIS BENITO, 29, of Worcester, Massachusetts; (6) CHRISTOPHER COLON, a/k/a “Pito”, 31, of Worcester, Massachusetts; and (7) CARLOS BURGOS, 39, of Worcester, Massachusetts.
If convicted, each defendant faces up to 20 years imprisonment, to be followed by at least 3 years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.
The Indictment also alleges that between January 2009 and March 2009, six individuals conspired to distribute at least 500 grams of cocaine. Those individuals are: (1) ROLANDO RAMOS, 48, of Cherry Valley, Massachusetts; (2) HIRAM GONZALEZ, a/k/a “Bori”, a/k/a “Flaco”, 40, of Worcester, Massachusetts; (3) GIOVANNI ANAYA, 31, of Worcester, Massachusetts; (4) KEILA ANAYA, 29, of Worcester, Massachusetts; (5) CARLOS VILLANUEVA, 32; and (6) JESUS GOMEZ, 28, of Worcester, Massachusetts.
If convicted on this charge, each defendant faces a mandatory minimum prison term of 5 years and a maximum term of 40 years, to be followed by at least 4 years of supervised release and a $2 million fine.
As detailed in the Complaint Affidavits filed in federal court and pre-trial hearings for several of the defendants, the investigation began in late 2008. It is alleged that, between January and March 2009, a wiretap of defendant RAMOS’s telephones revealed crucial details of the cocaine and marijuana conspiracies involving the defendants charged today and centered in Worcester, MA. As a result of the wiretap interceptions and other investigative tools, investigators executed multiple search warrants in and around Worcester, resulting in the seizure of more than a kilogram of cocaine, quantities of marijuana, a firearm and a large amount of cash. Five of the defendants were arrested on March 24-25, 2009, while the remaining defendants were arrested today.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration's High Intensity Drug Task Force in Worcester, which includes members of various federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd F. Braunstein of the U.S. Attorney’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.
The details contained in the Indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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