Thirty-two people—including four from Haverhill and five from Methuen—were charged with federal and state drug and gun charges during a large sweep this morning.
The U.S. Attorney’s office in Boston said 79 guns, including assault weapons, were seized. More than 70 federal, state and local police officers carried out the arrests of individuals alleged to have sold a large number of firearms and a variety of controlled substances, including fentanyl, heroin and cocaine. Eighteen of the 32 defendants are alleged to be members or associates of the Trinitarios street gang in Lawrence.
From Haverhill, 31-year-old Kevin Gomez, also known as “Monkey,” was charged in federal court with distribution of and possession with intent to distribute heroin and being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Twenty-nine-year-old Francis Gotay, 21-year-old Guaril Poche-Brito, also known as ‘Chamakito,” and 20-year-old Jael Guillen-Perez, all of Haverhill, were charged with various state firearm and drug offenses in state court.
Methuen residents charged in U.S. District Court are Arismendy Gil-Padilla, also known as “Flow,” 29, charged with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, and distribution of and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and Keysi Batista, 30, charged with distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Charged in state court with state firearm and drug offenses were Methuen residents Ulises Espinal, also known as “Ezequiel,” 34; Jose Nunez, also known as “Oreja,” 24; and Anthony Nunez-Romano, 20.
Others charged in federal court are:
- Jonathan Arias, 29, of Indianapolis, Ind., was charged with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
- Emilio Rodriguez, 32, of Lynn, was charged with distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base.
- Enrique Rosario, a/k/a “Kike”, 32, of Lawrence, was charged with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
- John Harry Morales, a/k/a “Harry”, 33, of Lawrence, was charged with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
- Jose Aponte, a/k/a “Kiko”, 33, of Lawrence, was charged with distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, and being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
- Jose Omar Hernandez-Aragones, a/k/a “Omar,” 22, of Lawrence, was charged with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition and distribution of and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base.
- Luis Ruiz Gonzalez, 27, of Lawrence, was charged with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
- Yisthen Ynoa, a/k/a “Cantifla,” 34, of Lawrence, was charged with distribution of and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
Others charged by the Essex County District Attorney’s Office with various state firearm and drug offenses are:
- Pedro Arias, 63, of Lawrence.
- Jonathan Delgado, 35, of Lawrence.
- Victor Diaz, 22, of Lawrence.
- Luis Diaz-Brito, a/k/a “Blackie,” 22, of Lawrence.
- Yolvie Diaz-Martinez, 22, of Salem.
- Robinson Gaston-Santana, 29, of Lawrence.
- Two unidentified juveniles.
- Jose Nunez, a/k/a “Oreja,” 24, of Methuen.
- Anthony Nunez-Romano, 20, of Methuen.
- Alexis Paredes, a/k/a “Cabeza,” 31, of Lawrence.
- Kevin Perez-Lorenzo, 20, of Salem.
- Kenneth Rodriguez, 31, of Lawrence.
- Temistocles Santana, a/k/a “Omar,” 28, of Lawrence.
- Alan Acosta, 23, of Lawrence;
- Abigail Arias, 20, of Lawrence.
- Eliezer Taveras, a/k/a “Bad Bunny,” 18, of Lawrence.
Depending on the drug quantity, the federal drug trafficking conspiracy and distribution charges provide a sentence of up to 20 years, 40 years, or life in prison; a minimum of three, four or five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release; and fines of $1 million, $5 million and $10 million. The federal firearms charges provide for sentences of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000.