6 arrested on 121 indictments for convenience store break-ins, lottery thefts throughout Massachusetts, New Hampshire

Six people were arrested in multiple cities today in relation to 121 indictments charging known members and associates of the Trinitarios with various charges to include BE nighttime for felony, Larceny + $1200, Larceny from a Building, Wanton Destruction of property +$1200, Receiving Stolen Property – $1200, Common and Notorious Thief, Money Laundering, and Improper use of Credit Card-$1200.

According to the Essex District Attorney’s Office, the investigation dubbed “Operation Smash & Cash” is a result of a three-month long multi-agency approach into at least 12 breaks into convenience stores spanning Essex & Middlesex counties and across four New Hampshire communities and the subsequent theft of approximately $50,000 dollars of lottery tickets during the months of February, March, and April of 2024.

The defendants listed below were arraigned and the respective defendants were held without bail in District Court on the Fugitive from Justice charges until May 30th. They were then arraigned on the indictments in Superior Court and held without bail until May 8th and 10th when arguments for bail will be heard.

David Garcia, 22, of Lynn, MA
BE nighttime for felony
Larceny + $1200
Larceny from a Building
Wanton Destruction of property +$1200
Receiving Stolen Property – $1200
Common and Notorious Thief
Money Laundering
Fugitive from Justice

Darwin Batista, 20 of Lynn, MA
Money Laundering
Fugitive from Justice

Israel Garcia, 22 of Methuen, MA
Money Laundering
Fugitive from Justice

Westyn Lantigua, 23 of Lynn, MA
BE nighttime for felony
Larceny + $1200
Larceny from a Building
Wanton Destruction of property +$1200
Receiving Stolen Property – $1200
Common and Notorious Thief
Money Laundering
Improper use of Credit Card -$1200
Fugitive from Justice

Aaron Diaz Liranzo, 25 of Revere, MA
Money Laundering
Fugitive from Justice

“These indictments and arrests are a reflection of the tremendous partnerships between state and local agencies and represent how law enforcement and prosecutors from my office work tirelessly and side-by-side to solve and prosecute crimes perpetrated by criminal networks,” said District Attorney Paul F. Tucker

Arrest and search warrants were conducted this morning by a coalition of law enforcement partners in various cities, including Revere, Lawrence, Methuen, Swampscott, and Lynn. Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to the District Attorney’s Office, Detectives from the Lynn, Marblehead, Peabody, Saugus, Swampscott, Wakefield, Wilmington, and Tewksbury, MA police departments, the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and Detectives from Seabrook, Windham, Merrimack, Fremont, Nashua, Derry and Exeter, New Hampshire investigated the case. Significant assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), The Massachusetts State Police STOP team and Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section (VFAS), The Lottery, and from the Boston, Everett, Revere, Salem, Lawrence, and Methuen police departments.

Assistant District Attorneys Jessica Strasnick, Marina Moriarty and Caitlin Shugrue are prosecuting this case.