Crime

Feds Charge Haverhill Man, 27, With Alleged Cocaine Dealing and Ghost Gun Sales

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A 27-year-old Haverhill man was one of two arrested Thursday in connection with dealing in cocaine and illegal firearms—including alleged ghost guns—in and around the Boston area. Cordell Miller of Haverhill and 32-year-old Malcolm Desir of Brockton were each charged with distribution of and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to do the same, being a felon in possession of a firearm and firearms trafficking. They were arrested and detained following an appearance in federal court. According to court documents, Miller was identified as a firearms and ammunition trafficker in the metro Boston area. Over a three-month investigation beginning last August, Miller allegedly sold several firearms to a cooperating witness during controlled purchases and offered to sell distribution weight cocaine.

Crime

51-Year-Old Haverhill Man Faces Extradition in Connection with 2016 Conway, N.H., Murder

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A 51-year-old Haverhill man is expected to face extradition to New Hampshire after being arrested in connection with a previously unresolved murder more than seven years ago. A warrant was issued for Robert Dowling, charging him with second degree murder for the alleged killing of 64-year-old David Bruce Goodwin in Conway, N.H.

“Mr. Goodwin was attacked inside his living space at the Conway Valley Inn in Conway, N.H., on May 15, 2016, and passed away two days later. The cause of Mr. Goodwin’s death was blunt force trauma to the head, and the manner of his death was homicide,” read a statement from New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella, State Police Colonel Mark B. Hall and Conway Police Chief Christopher J. Mattei. They said a collaborative effort involving the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit working with the State Police Major Crime Unit led to the arrest. Dowling was arrested in Massachusetts and charged with being a fugitive from justice.

Crime

Police Looking for 18-Year-Old Lawrence Man After Weekend Murder in Worcester

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Police are searching for an 18-year-old Lawrence resident wanted in connection with a Worcester murder at Worcester State University. The office of Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. said two men were found with gunshot wounds around 2:30 a.m., Saturday, on the Worcester campus. Both were taken to area hospitals and a 19-year-old died from his injuries. The second victim, a 21-year-old man, appears to have non-life-threatening injuries. Rodriguez last lived in Lawrence.

Crime

Judge Sends 54-Year-Old Haverhill Man to Prison Two Years for Failing to File as Sex Offender

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A 54-year-old Haverhill man was sentenced Tuesday to two years in prison and five years of supervised release for failing to register as a sex offender when he moved from the city to Fryeburg, Maine. Frank Boyd was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young. Boyd pleaded guilty March 27, to failure to register as a sex offender in violation of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. He was charged in a complaint during August of 2022 and later indicted a month later by a federal grand jury. Boyd has remained in state custody on unrelated charges since his arrest in July 2022.

Crime

Jury Convicts ‘Beej’ Das of US Rep. Election Crimes, Using Nearly $300K for Business, Yacht

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A one-time North Andover congressional candidate was convicted Friday by a federal jury in Boston of charges of violating the Federal Election Campaign Act and making false statements. Abhijit “Beej” Das was convicted of accepting excessive campaign contributions, conduit contributions, conversion of campaign funds and two counts of making false statements. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for the 50-year-old for Jan. 17. In June 2021, Das was indicted by a federal grand jury relating to campaign money associated with his 2017-2018 run for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 3rd Congressional District.

Crime

Methuen Police Arrest Two for Alleged Trafficking in More Than 100 Grams of Fentanyl

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Methuen Police say two men, both 31-years-old, were arrested last Friday for selling the deadly drug fentanyl. Methuen Police Chief Scott J. McNamara reported Tuesday the arrests of Derek Ayotte of Laconia, N.H., and Jose Rafael Villar of Lawrence. Both were charged with trafficking fentanyl over 100 grams but less than 200 grams. Villar was also charged with being a fugitive from justice. McNamara said Methuen Police were conducting surveillance into reports of alleged drug transactions when officers saw a man later found to be Villar walking from the area of Lowell Street toward Route 110, walk up to and interact with the driver of a bronze Subaru Legacy. Police noticed the Legacy had a broken tail light, stopped the car and discovered the driver, Ayotte, was allegedly in possession of a white powdery substance, believed to be fentanyl.

Crime

N.H. Federal Grand Jury Indicts Methuen, Plaistow, Lawrence Residents for Drug Trafficking

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Residents of Methuen, Plaistow, N.H., Lawrence and other communities were indicted by a federal grand jury in New Hampshire in connection with a Lawrence-based drug trafficking operation. New Hampshire U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young said Thursday that over the past day and a half, police arrested nine of 15 people on conspiracy to distribute controlled substances charges, namely fentanyl and cocaine, while two others were in state custody, serving prison sentences in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. They are scheduled to appear in federal court at various times this week. Those charged locally include Yonathan Elias Baez-Santos and Elaine Soto-Villar, both of Methuen; Aaron Loew of Plaistow, N.H.; and Melvin Villar-Lugo, Felix Manuel Mejia-Gonzalez and Alexander Lechappelle, all of Lawrence. According to court documents, the alleged leader of the drug trafficking enterprise used a social media messaging application and other means to coordinate narcotic transactions with customers in New Hampshire via “runners” in Massachusetts, from October 2021 through August 2023.