New Bedford Fugitive Captured

BOSTON, MA—An alleged New Bedford gang member, who had been a fugitive since May, was apprehended in Fall River today.

Acting United States Attorney Michael K. Loucks, Warren T. Bamford, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Boston Field Division, Colonel Mark Delaney, Superintendent of tte Massachusetts State Police, Chief John M. Souza of the Fall River Police Department and Chief Ronald E. Teachman of the New Bedford Police Department announced today that DIONE NEVES, age 23, was charged on May 6, 2009, in an Indictment alleging he possessed more than five grams of cocaine base. NEVES was one of nine people charged in connection with an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Southeastern Massachusetts Gang Task Force into the United Front street gang. According to a previouslyfiled affidavit, NEVES was a member of United Front, a violent gang tied to the United Front Homes Housing Development in the west end of New Bedford. In 2003, NEVES was convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm, and in 2006 Neves was convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

Shortly after 6:00 this morning, agents from the FBI Southeastern Massachusetts Gang Task Force, the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Unit, the Fall River Police Department and the New Bedford Police Department arrested NEVES at an apartment in Fall River, Massachusetts. NEVES was then transported to United States District Court in Boston for an initial court appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Marianne B. Bowler.

If convicted on these charges, NEVES faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years with a maximum sentence of 20 years' imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the FBI’s Southeastern Massachusetts Gang Task Force, which includes the FBI, the Massachusetts State Police, the New Bedford Police, the Massachusetts Parole Board and other agencies. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Pohl of Loucks’ Organized Crime Strike Force Unit.

The details contained in the Indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.