Lynn Gang Member Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Heroin Trafficking

BOSTON – A Lynn gang member was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for heroin trafficking.

Jairo Fernandez, 27, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to ten years in prison and four years of supervised release.  In November 2014, Fernandez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin and distributing heroin.  At that hearing, Fernandez admitted responsibility for over 100 grams of heroin.

The case was part of Operation Whiplash, an investigation of several street gangs in and around Lynn and Revere.  Over the past two years, Operation Whiplash has resulted in federal and state charges against 47 leaders, members and associates of gangs, including Money Over Broken Bitches (MOBB), the Crips and Deuce Boyz in Lynn and the Bloods in Revere.  As part of the investigation, law enforcement identified Fernandez as a member of the Deuce Boyz gang.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Vincent B. Lisi, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Colonel Timothy P. Alben, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Lynn Police Chief Kevin F. Coppinger, made the announcement.  Operation Whiplash was investigated by members of the FBI’s North Shore Gang Task Force, which includes members of the FBI; Massachusetts State Police; Essex County Sheriff’s Office; and Chelsea, Lynn and Revere Police Departments.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy E. Moran and Peter K. Levitt of Ortiz’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit.