A 32-year-old member of the Trinitarios street gang was sentenced last Thursday in federal court in Boston in connection with trafficking firearms, ammunition, cocaine and fentanyl.
Arismendy Gil-Padilla, also known as “Flow,” of Methuen, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 11 years in prison and six years of supervised release. Last February, Gil-Padilla pleaded guilty to two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, two counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine and one count of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl and cocaine.
Gil-Padilla was indicted in November 2019 as part of a federal sweep targeting federal and state offenders, including members and associates of the Trinitarios street gang in the Greater Lawrence area.
The Trinitarios is a street gang originating in the New York area with increased presence in Lawrence and the surrounding communities. According to court documents, many Trinitarios members are involved in a broad range of illegal activities including, but not limited to, firearms and drug trafficking as well as violent crimes undertaken to protect the interests of the gang and its members.
During the investigation, Gil-Padilla was identified as a member of the Trinitarios. On eight separate occasions between April and August 2018, Gil-Padilla sold 16 guns—four that were previously reported stolen, ammunition, cocaine and fentanyl to a cooperating witness.