Nine Charged with Distributing Drugs in Bristol County

BOSTON – Nine individuals were charged in U.S. District Court in Boston in connection with distributing heroin, cocaine, acetylfentanyl and fentanyl in the Bristol County area.

On June 30, 2016, five men and one woman from southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island were charged in a criminal complaint with conspiring to distribute cocaine, and three New Bedford residents, in a separate but related criminal complaint, were charged with conspiring to distribute heroin.   Today, a federal grand jury indicted eight of these individuals in two separate indictments.  A ninth individual, Sharik Mendes, was charged by Information with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin.  The defendants will be arraigned in U.S. District Court in Boston on Aug. 2 and 4, 2016.

The first indictment issued by the federal grand jury charges the following defendants with the following crimes:

1. Luis Lopez, a/k/a “Juan Gonzalez,” 43, of Tiverton, R.I. and Fall River: conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine; conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl; conspiracy to launder monetary instruments through Hillside Auto Sales, a used car business located in Fall River; and possession with the intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and acetylfentanyl.In addition, the indictment seeks forfeiture of Lopez’s three houses, used car business, vehicles and motorcycles and $15,000 in proceeds from the drug sales.Lopez is currently in federal custody.

2. Nuno Fonseca, a/k/a “Farigno,” 37, of Fall River: conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine; and, conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl.Fonseca is currently a fugitive from justice.

3. Chindy Diaz, 38, of New Bedford: conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.Diaz is currently in federal custody.

4. Jorge Sanchez-Lopez, a/k/a “Pri,” and “Cuz,” 42, of Pawtucket, R.I.: conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.Sanchez-Lopez is currently a fugitive from justice.

5. Tyson Britto, a/k/a “Peanut,” 31, of Fall River: conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine; conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl; and, possession with the intent to distribute heroin, cocaine, fentanyl and acetylfentanyl.Britto is currently federal custody.

6. Israel Santiago, a/k/a “Reysito,” 39, of Fall River: conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine.Santiago has been released on conditions pending trial.

The second indictment issued by the federal grand jury charges the following defendants with the following crimes:

1. Tyson Depina, a/k/a “Tru,” 40, of New Bedford: conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin; and possession with the intent to distribute heroin.Depina is currently federal custody.

2. Eric Desousa, a/k/a “E,” 22, of New Bedford: conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute heroin.Desousa has been released on conditions pending trial.

According to court documents, Luis Lopez was the head of a drug trafficking organization that imported hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Puerto Rico to New Bedford and Fall River.  Jorge Sanchez-Lopez coordinated the shipments of cocaine through the U.S. Mail with the assistance of Chindy Diaz, who received cocaine-filled packages of Lopez’s behalf and delivered it to Lopez at his Fall River residence.  Israel Santiago also allegedly helped coordinate the receipt of cocaine on behalf of Lopez.  Lopez then sold the cocaine to other drug dealers, including Tyson Britto and Nuno Fonseca.  During the course of the investigation, federal agents interception at least three cocaine-filled packages bound for Lopez. 

In a related investigation, federal agents learned that Sharik Mendes, who owns and operates the HEART gym in New Bedford, was allegedly receiving large quantities of heroin from at least two suppliers based in Providence.  It is alleged that Mendes employed Tyson Depina to distribute the heroin on his behalf.  Intercepted phone calls showed that Depina was consistently selling heroin to users and lower-level dealers, and that he was providing Mendes with $1,000 to $2,000 a day for this heroin.  In April 2016, Depina was arrested for possessing heroin which he attempted to destroy incident to his arrest.  In addition, it is alleged that Depina was also supplied heroin by Desousa, who was distributing it on behalf of a higher-level drug dealer.  In early June 2016, Desousa was arrested with 30 grams of heroin in his pockets after agents saw him preparing for a heroin sale.  A search of his New Bedford residences recovered 300 grams of heroin. 

The Information filed on July 26, 2016 charges Sharik Mendes with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute heroin.  Mendes is not detained pending entry of guilty plea and sentencing. 

The charges carry the following maximum penalties.  Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

1. Conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute heroin:

   1. 100 grams or more: a minimum of five years and no greater than 40 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $5 million.(Applicable to Depina).

   2. A quantity of heroin: no greater than 20 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $1 million.(Applicable to Lopez, Britto, Fonseca and Desousa).

2. Conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine:

   1. Five kilograms or more: a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison, a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $10 million. (Applicable to Lopez, Diaz, and Sanchez-Lopez).

   2. 500 grams or more: a minimum of five years and no greater than 40 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $5 million.(Applicable to Fonseca and Britto).

   3. A quantity of cocaine: no greater than 20 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $1 million.(Applicable to Santiago).

3. Possession of cocaine, heroin, acetylfentanyl, and fentanyl with the intent to distribute: no greater than 20 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $1 million.(Applicable to Desousa, Depina, Lopez, and Britto).

4. Conspiracy to launder monetary instruments: no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.(Applicable to Lopez).

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn; Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Joel P. Garland, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; Shelly Binkowski, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Fall River Police Chief John M. Souza; New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro; Fairhaven Police Chief Michael Myers; and Bristol County Sheriff Thomas M. Hodgson, made the announcement today.  The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Rosen of Ortiz’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit. 

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.