9 convicted in large-scale Bristol County Fentanyl Drug Trafficking Organization

The year-long multi-agency investigation into a large-scale Fentanyl Drug Trafficking Organization operating throughout the greater New Bedford area has resulted in the conviction of all defendants connected to the drug ring, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn announced.

In June of 2018, a Dartmouth Police Department detective and a Massachusetts State Police Trooper from  DA Quinn’s State Police Drug Unit developed credible information that Orlando Badillo was operating a major Fentanyl Drug Trafficking Organization in southeastern Massachusetts.

This information sparked “Operation Ghost,” a year-long multi-agency effort to stop the trafficking ring. As their investigation progressed, other local and federal law enforcement Agencies joined the probe, including New Bedford Police, DEA, Homeland Security and the Bristol County Sherriff’s Office.

In March of 2019, a Superior Court Judge authorized investigators to lawfully intercept the cell phone conversations and text messages going to and from the cell phones used by Badillo and other top members of his organization. Between March 5, 2019, and April 30, 2019, investigators gathered additional evidence, via the wiretap, that explained in detail the intricate workings of the Badillo Drug Trafficking Organization and confirmed the roles played by the various members of the organization.

“Operation Ghost, a long-term undercover investigation, resulted in dismantling a large-scale fentanyl distribution ring that was selling heroin and fentanyl in the greater New Bedford area. The investigation revealed that fentanyl was being supplied to the organization from a supplier in Providence, RI,” District Attorney Quinn said. “Without the use of court-approved wiretaps these drug dealers most likely would have escaped punishment.  I would like to thank all the investigators who put in many hours of investigative work that led to the arrest and conviction of multiple defendants.”

All criminal cases connected to this investigation have now been concluded and all resulted in convictions (with the exception of one death).

1. -Orlando Badillo, the leader of the organization, is serving an eight-to-10-year state prison sentence.

2. -Robert Peguero, the trafficking ring’s drug supplier, is serving a five to eight year state prison sentence and will then be placed on probation for an additional two years.

3. -David Luna, one of Badillo’s three top lieutenants, is serving a five-year state prison sentence.

4. -Pedro Cruz, one of Badillo’s three top lieutenants, is serving a five-to-six-year state prison sentence.

5. -Kelly Rodrigues, one of Badillo’s three top lieutenants, is serving a four-to-six-and-a-half-year state prison sentence.

6. -Heather Cabral, a chief drug runner in the organization, is serving a four-and-a-half to seven-year state prison sentence. She will then be placed on probation for an additional two years.

7. -Maria Carrion, a drug distributor and temporary drug runner in the organization, is serving a four-to-six-and-a-half-year state prison sentence. She will then be placed on probation for an additional two years.

8. -Xiomara Rivera, who allowed her residence to be used as a stash house, was placed on probation for two years.

9. -Elizabeth Andrews, a keeper of a stash house, was placed on probation for two years.

10. -Lisa Telfair, an alleged keeper of a stash house, died during the pendency of her case.