Alleged Trinitarios Gang Member Who Trafficked 27 Guns, Ammunition, Cocaine and Crack Cocaine Sentenced to More than Five Years in Prison

BOSTON – An alleged member of the Trinitarios street gang was sentenced today in federal court in Boston in connection with trafficking firearms, ammunition, heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and crack cocaine in the Greater Lawrence area.

Jose Omar Hernandez-Aragones, 24, of Lawrence, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 70 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On Nov. 30, 2021, Hernandez-Aragones pleaded guilty to four counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm; one count of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine; and one count of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base, commonly known as crack cocaine.

Hernandez-Aragones was indicted and arrested in November 2019 as part of a sweep targeting federal and state offenders, including members and associates of the Trinitarios street gang in the Greater Lawrence area.

Beginning in 2017, law enforcement conducted an investigation into the members, associates and suppliers of the Trinitarios operating in the Greater Lawrence area. The Trinitarios is a street gang originating in the New York area with increased presence in Lawrence and the surrounding communities. According to court documents, many Trinitarios members are involved in a broad range of illegal activities including, but not limited to, firearms and drug trafficking as well as violent crimes undertaken to protect the interests of the gang and its members.

During the investigation, Hernandez-Aragones sold 27 guns, ammunition, and approximately 27.5 grams of fentanyl/heroin, 83 grams of cocaine and 33 grams of cocaine base over the course of 14 controlled purchases between May and July 2018. This included two handguns and ammunition for $1,900 on May 16, 2018; a bulletproof vest, a loaded 9 mm handgun, a SKS rifle and a magazine containing ammunition for the rifle on June 4, 2018; two handguns and approximately 55.4 grams of a substance containing cocaine on July 3, 2018; as well as three guns, one of which was stolen, and approximately 8.7 grams of a substance containing crack cocaine on July 13, 2018. Hernandez-Aragones is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to a 2016 conviction of assault that was punishable by more than one year in prison.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations, Boston Field Division; Essex County District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Corrections; and Lawrence Police Chief Roy P. Vasque made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Mulcahy of Rollins’ Criminal Division prosecuted the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.