Violent Drug Dealers Arrested For Drug Trafficking In New Bedford

BOSTON – A complaint was unsealed today charging two men, one from Bourne and the other from New Bedford, with narcotics trafficking. The complaint resulted from the efforts of federal, state and local authorities to reduce violence and drug trafficking in the New Bedford area.

Francisco Monteiro, a/k/a Cisco, 32, of Bourne, is charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin and Junior Lopes, 34, of New Bedford, is charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin. U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Jennifer C. Boal scheduled an initial appearance for June 4, 2013. The maximum penalty under the statute is a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and up to life in prison, a minimum of 10 years supervised release and a fine of up to $20 million.

According to court documents, Monteiro and Lopes are charged with conspiring to distribute over 100 grams of heroin. It is alleged that 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 then drove with the cooperating witness to an address in New Bedford where the heroin sale was completed. Furthermore, Monteiro and Lopes 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.

As detailed in the complaint, Monteiro and Lopes have extensive criminal histories of violent crimes, including armed robberies of other drug dealers to obtain money to fund their drug dealing activities. Monteiro has prior convictions for drug distribution and unlawful possession of a firearm. In 2003, Lopes was convicted in U.S. District Court in Boston for gun and drug trafficking and received a sentence of 130 months in prison and is currently on supervised release for those offenses.

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; Chief Dennis R. Woodside of the Bourne Police Department; and Chief Richard M. Stanley of the Wareham Police Department, made the announcement today.

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