Nearly half of 15 people charged in federal court in Boston this week with fentanyl and cocaine possession and distribution are illegal immigrants, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The investigation, which began in March 2017 and intercepted communications on at least 11 cellphones, revealed that the defendants actively distributed fentanyl and cocaine and that their drug trafficking activities extended throughout southeastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut, U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling said.
All 15 were charged with conspiracy to distribute and/or possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of cocaine.
The six in the country illegally are:
- Alvin “Sopha” Javier, 26, a Dominican national illegally living in Lawrence;
- Jeison M. Marinez-Matos, 28, a Dominican national illegally living in Bridgeport, Conn.;
- Hanlet “Nephew” Mejia-Alvarez, 32, a Dominican national illegally living in Cranston, R.I.;
- Luis “El Bello” Mejia-Diaz, 52, a Dominican national illegally living in Providence, R.I.;
- Jesus Rivera, age unknown, a Dominican national illegally living in Providence, R.I.; and
- Ramon Encarnacion Frias, 34, a Dominican national illegally living in Providence, R.I.
Also charged were:
- Donald “Moolie” Alfonso, 39, of Fall River;
- Mark “Chamaquito” Alfonso, 31, of Fall River;
- Bryant “Mandarria” Baez, 42, of Fall River;
- Josdani M. Calderon, 32, of Providence, R.I.;
- Gabriela “Karrie” Dasilva, 45, of New Bedford;
- Kyle “Zee” Dupras, 29, of Fall River;
- Angel “Chi-Chi” Landrau-Marrero, 31, of New Bedford;
- Jose “Amorol” Ortega, 43, of Cranston, R.I.; and
- Wilkie O. Sanz, 30, of Dorchester.
The first phase of the investigation revealed that Rivera and Javier were involved in the distribution of fentanyl and cocaine, according to the criminal complaint.
El Bello, Baez and others were cocaine sources of supply for Rivera and, at times, Rivera was a cocaine source of supply for Baez, the complaint said. Javier worked for Rivera by regularly delivering fentanyl and cocaine to narcotics customers, according to the complaint.
The second phase of the investigation revealed that Baez, Rivera, Landrau-Marrero, Donald Alfonso, Mark Alfonso, Dasilva and Dupras participated in the distribution of cocaine and fentanyl, the complaint said.
Specifically, Baez was an active fentanyl and cocaine distributor; Dupras, Dasilva, Landrau-Marrer and Rivera were narcotics customers of Baez, who each further distributed narcotics; Donald Alfonso was a fentanyl and cocaine source of supply for Baez; Donald Alfonso also worked with his nephew, Mark Alfonso, to distribute narcotics; and Rivera and Baez distributed narcotics to one another, according to the complaint.
The final phase of the investigation revealed that El Bello, Calderon, Ortega, Marinez-Matos, Mejia-Alvarez and Sanz allegedly distributed fentanyl and cocaine, the complaint said.
El Bello was a large-scale fentanyl and cocaine distributor; Ortega, Mejia-Alvarez and Calderon helped El Bello distribute drugs; Sanz was a fentanyl customer and redistributor; and Marinez-Matos was a source of supply for the organization, according to the complaint.
Cellphone interceptions revealed that El Bello distributed multikilogram quantities of fentanyl and cocaine, the complaint said, and in March 21, 2020, investigators seized nearly one kilogram of fentanyl from Marinez-Matos.
Earlier this week, agents seized three handguns; loaded magazines and ammunition, including a high capacity magazine; two vehicles; about 4 kilograms of fentanyl, heroin and cocaine; approximately 5 pounds of marijuana; 38 bottles of liquid THC, the chemical responsible for most of marijuana’s psychological effect; about $140,000 in cash; and kilogram presses, scales and other drug packaging materials, according to the complaint.
The charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl carries a sentence of 10 years to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million.
The charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine carries a sentence of five to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million.
