Crime

Grand Jury Indicts 24-Year-Old in Connection with 2017 Death of High School Basketball Player

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A former Lawrence man was charged Wednesday with first degree murder in connection with the 2017 shooting death of an 18-year-old high school student. Twenty-four-year-old Robert Severino was indicted Wednesday by an Essex County grand jury for the murder of Juan Espinal of Lawrence, said Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker. Severino was arrested in Worcester and arraigned in Lawrence District Court Oct. 24. At the arraignment, Severino pled not guilty before Judge Jason Chan, who ordered him held without bail.

Crime

Alleged Wrong-Way Driver to Face Motor Vehicle Homicide, Drunken Driving Charges in Deadly Crash

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A 40-year-old New Bedford man was charged Tuesday in connection with last week’s wrong-way crash that killed an Endicott College police sergeant. Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker’s office sad Tuesday Keoma Duarte was charged with motor vehicle homicide while driving under the influence of liquor and operating recklessly, manslaughter and motor vehicle homicide by reckless operation. He also faces charges for allegedly driving in the wrong direction on a state highway, speeding and crossing marked lanes. The crash last Wednesday, just before midnight killed 49-year-old Endicott College Police Sgt. Jeremy Cole of Exeter, N.H. Duarte’s 2023 Tesla Model Y was heading south in the northbound lane on Interstate 95 when it collided with Cole’s 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer in Newbury, near the Central Street overpass.

Crime

Three from Methuen, Lawrence and Puerto Rico Plead Guilty to Drug Dealing at Andover Hotel

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Three people from Methuen, Lawrence and Puerto Rico recently pleaded guilty to their roles in a conspiracy to distribute 15 kilograms of cocaine. Linette Davila, 42, of Methuen, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, involving 500 grams or more of cocaine, and distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Feb. 26. Luis Pena Arias, 28, of Lawrence, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, involving five kilograms or more of cocaine and distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine.

Crime

Federal Judge Sends Haverhill Man to Prison 9 Years for Selling Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Pills

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A 36-year-old Haverhill man was sentenced Tuesday to nine years in prison for distributing tens of thousands of pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine. Angel Joel Diaz, also known as “Guero,” was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns. Diaz pleaded guilty last April to distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, two counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and methadone. Police began investigating Diaz during January 2023 when an undercover officer contacted Diaz posing as a potential customer. Diaz provided the undercover officer with 208 pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine, saying the pills were made with “fentanyl” and they were “knocking people down in New York.”

Again, on Jan.

Crime

Federal Judge Sends Haverhill Man to Prison 15 Months to Stealing Money Intended to Help Veterans

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A 49-year-old Haverhill man this week was sentenced to 15 months in prison and three years of supervised release for taking $73,000 intended to help prevent veteran suicides. As WHAV previously reported, David Duren pleaded guilty in July to wire fraud. Duren, also known as Dawud Hakiem Duren, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph N. Laplante. According to U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young’s office, Duren was a program manager for a Nashua, N.H. nonprofit health care provider, overseeing a program paid by a $750,000 Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grant.  At Duren’s recommendation, the nonprofit hired a company called “E3 Foundation,” purportedly led by a “Dr. Michael Rapp,” to provide services with the grant. Instead, Feds allege Duren controlled the foundation and posed as a physician on emails and calls.

Crime

Immigration Officials Arrest 41-Year-Old Convicted Child Rapist in Methuen

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A 41-year-old Brazilian man living in Methuen was arrested this week by federal immigration officials and will be returned to his native country where he was convicted of rape of a child. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston arrested Alexandre Romao De Oliveira Nov. 18. “Alexandre Romao De Oliveira is a convicted child rapist who fled his home country to evade justice,” said acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “Enhancing public safety starts with cooperation between law enforcement partners.

Crime

Groveland Police Say Haverhill Woman Allegedly Followed Delivery Truck, Stole Residents’ Packages

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Groveland police said it plans to press charges against an as-yet unnamed 33-year-old Haverhill woman for allegedly following a delivery truck and stealing packages left at resident’s homes. Groveland Police Chief Jeffrey T. Gillen said his department has summonsed a woman in connection with a series of package thefts on Monday. He said in a release, Groveland Police were made aware Monday, at about 2 p.m., of a woman stealing multiple packages throughout town. Gillen said police learned the woman had been trailing a delivery truck and stealing packages off residents’ doorsteps after delivery. Officers returned a few of the stolen packages recovered in a different area of town.

Crime

Feds Arrest Three, Including Two Haverhill Men, for Alleged Attempted Child Sex Trafficking

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Two Haverhill men are among three scheduled to appear in federal court Monday for alleged attempted sex trafficking of a child at a Manchester, N.H., hotel

New Hampshire U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young’s office said late Saturday that 42-year-old Arthur Picanco and 38-year-old Ozeias Luiz Guilherme, both of Haverhill, and 46-year-old Stacey Ray Lancaster of Hudson, N.H., were arrested and taken into federal custody. They are scheduled to be arraigned separately beginning at 1 p.m., Monday. Young’s office said the three were charged by criminal complaint “as a result of a proactive federal and local law enforcement action” as part of Project Safe Childhood. U.S. Homeland Security led the investigation with help from the Manchester Police Department, New Hampshire Attorney General’s office and the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.