Operation First Blood: FBI Safe Streets Gang Task Force Makes Manchester Arrests

CONCORD, NH—Carlos Santiago, 23, Erick Wanzo, 28, Otis Campbell, 22, Cesar Abreu, 23, Jose Arroyo Castillo, 22, Felicia Earley, 21, Eric Fullwood, 25, Carmen Morales, 33, Daniel Padro, 22, Joseph Delgado, 22, Jordan Levasseur, 20 and John Santiago, 31, all of Manchester, New Hampshire, were arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Gang Task Force, working in conjunction with the Manchester Police Department and the New Hampshire State Police. The arrests were part of the Task Force’s “Operation First Blood,” an investigation focused on gang-related drug distribution and violence within Manchester, New Hampshire.

All defendants have been charged with drug-related offenses.

• Erick Wanzo was charged in a nine count indictment with engaging in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846, distribution of cocaine and crack cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1), and aiding and abetting the distribution of cocaine and crack cocaine, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2.
• Felicia Earley was charged in a twelve count indictment with engaging in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846, and distribution of crack cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1).
• Carlos Santiago was charged in a four count indictment with the distribution of cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1).
• Cesar Abreu was charged in a three count indictment with the distribution of crack cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1).
• Otis Campbell was charged in a three count indictment with the distribution of cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1).
• Jose Arroyo Castillo was charged in a five count indictment with the distribution of cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1).
• Daniel Padro was charged in a six count indictment with the distribution of cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1).
• Eric Fullwood was charged in a two count indictment with the distribution of crack cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1).
• Carmen Morales was charged in a two count indictment with the distribution of crack cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1) and aiding and abetting the distribution of crack cocaine, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2.
• John Santiago was charged in a two count indictment with the distribution of cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1).
• Joseph Delgado was arrested in New York by NY’s FBI/DEA’s Gang Strike Task Force. He was arrested on two separate indictments: 1) twelve counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine and aiding and abetting the distribution of cocaine. 2) nine counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine and aiding and abetting the distribution of cocaine.
• Jordan Levasseur was charged in a twelve count indictment with engaging in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846, and distribution of crack cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1). Engaging in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base (“crack”) is a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1) and 846, and is punishable by a twenty (20) year term of imprisonment. The distribution of cocaine and cocaine base (“crack”) is a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1), and is punishable by a term of imprisonment of 20 years.

The investigation was conducted by members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Gang Task Force, members of the Special Investigations Unit of the Manchester, New Hampshire Police Department, and members of the Narcotics Investigation Unit of the New Hampshire State Police. Assisting in these investigations were members of DEA, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, the New Hampshire Department of Corrections Division of Field Services, and the New England HIDTA.

The Safe Streets Gang Task Force initiative, part of the FBI's Violent Crimes and Major Offenders Program, was created to encourage coordinated crime fighting efforts among FBI field offices and our local law enforcement partners. The mission of the Safe Streets Gang Task Force is to effectively utilize task forces to investigate, locate, arrest, and prosecute subjects for serious federal and state crimes. These would include drug and weapons violations, armed robbery, bank robbery, kidnaping, and gang and drug-related violence. The successful blending of local and federal law enforcement resources and manpower has resulted in a well-coordinated investigative and prosecutive approach to convict and incarcerate dangerous offenders.

Nationally, over 140 Safe Streets Gang Task Forces are currently in existence. The U.S. Attorney’s Office received official approval of the formation of a Safe Streets Gang Task Force as part of the District of New Hampshire’s Project Safe Neighborhoods/Operation G.R.I.P. program in November 2007 . The Safe Streets Gang Task Force is jointly funded by the FBI and the New England High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.

Since the program started in 2007, over 75 individuals have been arrested, in excess of $200,000 has been recovered and over 100 firearms have been removed from the streets.

An indictment is only an allegation and not proof beyond a reasonable doubt of criminal conduct. As in all criminal cases, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.