Fifteen Arrested on Federal and State Drug and Firearm Charges
| U.S. Attorney’s Office March 21, 2013 |
BOSTON—Fifteen men from the North Shore, primarily Lynn and Revere, were charged today in federal and state court with various drug trafficking and firearm offenses.
A total of 15 individuals were arrested early this morning. Nine have been charged in federal indictments on drug trafficking and firearm offenses. Five have been charged by the Suffolk District Attorney’s Office and one individual has been charged by the Essex District Attorney’s Office. The charges are a result of a coordinated, joint federal and state investigation into drug trafficking and firearm possession in the North Shore.
The following individuals were arrested on federal charges today:
- Michael Johnson, a/k/a Juni, a/k/a Junebug, 28, of Revere, conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base;
- Kenny Bailey, a/k/a Bless, 22, of New Bedford, conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base;
- Freddy Dunbar, a/k/a Fox, 26, of Revere, conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base;
- Winford McRae, a/k/a E, 38, of Revere, possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base;
- David Batista, 37, of Lynn, conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute and distribution of heroin;
- Henry Mercado, a/k/a Chapo, 35, of Lynn, conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base;
- Manuel Rivera, 29, of Lynn, felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition;
- Gilberto Echevarria, a/k/a/ Roberto Echevarria, a/k/a Alberto Echevarria, 40, of Lynn, felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and distribution of heroin; and
- Jermaine Rucker, 29, of Lynn, charged via complaint with conspiring to distribute crack cocaine.
The following individuals were arrested on state charges in Suffolk County today:
- Quinnelle Wheeler (charges in Suffolk and Essex Counties)
- Kevin Sanchez
- Sigfredo Sanchez
- Sulayman Abdul-Shafi
- Damien Hutchinson
The following individual was arrested on state charges in Essex County:
- Javier Santiago-Rosado
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Boston Field Division; Eugenia A. Marquez, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Boston Field Division; Colonel Timothy P. Alben, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Commissioner Luis S. Spencer of the Massachusetts Department of Corrections; Sherriff Frank G. Cousins, Jr. of the Essex Sherriff’s Office; Middlesex District Attorney Gerard T. Leone; Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett; Chief Kevin F. Coppinger of the Lynn Police Department; and Chief Joseph Cafarelli of the Revere Police Department made the announcement today.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s North Shore Gang Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ Boston Field Division. The federal cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys in Ortiz’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit. The state defendants will be prosecuted by District Attorney Leone and Blodgett’s Office.
The charges contained in the indictments and complaints are accusations, the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
For inquiries related to the state defendants, please contact Stephanie Chelf Guyotte, Communications Director, Middlesex District Attorney’s Office at (781) 897-8325 or the Essex District Attorney’s Office at (978) 745-6610 ext. 5079.