Massachusetts drug investigation involving 100 Troopers and officers results in 33 arrests; officers seek remaining targets

A Massachusetts investigation spanning multiple months resulted in a list of suspects arrested on Tuesday.

According to Dave Procopio of Massachusetts State Police, this morning, the Massachusetts State Police Commonwealth Interstate Narcotics Reduction and Enforcement Team — a narcotics task force known as CINRET for short — Brockton Police, and Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit attached to the Plymouth District Attorney’s Office, along with various other MSP assets, including the Gang Unit and Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section, executed a warrant sweep targeting widespread street-level distribution of fentanyl and other drugs in Brockton.

Procopio stated that the case was built on undercover drug buys from 40 targets, for which each of whom will be the subject of arrest warrants that were obtained yesterday. Early this morning, 13 arrest teams, each comprised of several State Troopers, Brockton Officers, and other members of the CINRET task force, fanned out across Brockton to locate and arrest targets of the investigation. Several targets were charged with trafficking fentanyl. The majority of targets are charged with distribution of a Class A narcotic (fentanyl) or distribution of a Class B narcotic (cocaine).

The investigation over the last two months and today’s operation targeted the open-air distribution of narcotics — and the accompanying violence, fueling of drug addictions, and harmful impact on quality of life within the community – that was occurring some Brockton neighborhoods. The operation was part of the MSP-BPD Brockton Opiate Suppression Initiative. A total of about 100 Troopers and Officers participated.

“This operation should serve as a message to those that would seek to deal and distribute drugs for profit in Brockton and sow violence and misery on its streets,” State Police Colonel Christopher Mason said. “The State Police, Brockton Police Department and local government have no tolerance for your predatory criminal activity. This city belongs to the countless good citizens and families that live and work here, not to those who do their worst to destroy the quality of life and jeopardize the safety of our neighbors.”

Brockton Police Chief Brenda Perez stated: “Today’s operation shows that when law enforcement works with the community, it can reduce crime, prevent overdoses and remove dangerous felons from the streets. Residents play a crucial role in keeping our communities safe by staying vigilant and reporting any suspicious activity or signs of crime. Together, we make Brockton better.”

Those arrested during today’s operation will be prosecuted by the office of Plymouth District Attorney Timothy Cruz.

“Drug dealers and traffickers – and the associated violence that goes along with them — are crumbling our communities and negatively affecting the quality of life here in Brockton,” District Attorney Cruz said. “And for those law-abiding citizens living in areas where drugs are being sold, they deserve better. We need to preserve quality of life in our communities. Initiatives like this one today, do just that for residents. I commend the hard work of the Massachusetts State Police and Brockton Police for executing this successful warrant sweep today. I believe that the City of Brockton is a safer place today as a result of these efforts.”

As of this afternoon, 16 targets were in custody, charged with distribution of heroin or cocaine. One target was arrested early this morning by the State Police Special Tactical Operations Team and charged with trafficking narcotics. Many are subsequent offenses.

In addition to the 40 arrest warrants, Troopers and Officers executed two search warrants, one at the Cairn Road home of one of the trafficking targets, the other at a room at the Holiday Inn Express in Brockton associated with two other suspects. At each location, members of the arrest teams located an illegally owned gun.

Both seized guns were loaded semi-automatic pistols. One of them had a large-capacity magazine. At least 80 grams of cocaine was also recovered during the arrests.

The defendants were booked at the Brockton Police Station and were to be arraigned in Brockton District Court.

The investigation targets in custody thus far are:

1. ERNEST BROCKINGTON, 34, of Brockton, distribution of a Class B narcotic.
2. KALI RICHARDSON, 42, of Brockton, trafficking in fentanyl more than 10 grams, distribution of a Class A narcotic, distribution of a Class B narcotic.
3. TREVELL STARKS, 39, of Brockton, distribution of a Class B narcotic, conspiracy to violate drug laws.
4. SABRINA MARIE VELASQUEZ, 33, of Brockton, distribution of a Class A narcotic, distribution of a Class B narcotic.
5. NICOLE JEANNE VIERA, 25, of Brockton, distribution of a Class B narcotic, conspiracy to violate drug laws.
6. XIANDRA S. CABRAL, 37, of Brockton, distribution of a Class B narcotic subsequent offense; trafficking cocaine, unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number, conspiracy to violate drug laws.
7. LEMAR LUGO, 32, of Brockton, distribution of a Class A substance subsequent offense, conspiracy to violate drug laws.
8. ELIONEL ESTEVAN ORTIZ, 23, of Brockton, larceny by false pretense.
9. CARLOS BAEZ, 45, of Brockton, distribution of a Class B narcotic subsequent offense; trafficking cocaine, unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number, conspiracy to violate drug laws.
10. VICTOR ELIOTT, 55, of Brockton, distribution of a Class A narcotic; distribution of a Class B narcotic.
11. SAM METELLUS, 40, of Brockton, distribution of cocaine.
12. MORGADA BARBOSA, 52, of Brockton, distribution of a Class B narcotic.
13. EUCLIDES FERNANDES MARTINS, 38, of Rockland, distribution of a Class B narcotic.
14. ERIKA L. COMEAU, 39, of Brockton, distribution of a Class B narcotic.
15. FAUSTO NICHOLAS, 39, of Brockton, distribution of a Class A narcotic, conspiracy to violate drug laws.
16. GERALDO COLON, 57, of Brockton, distribution of a Class A narcotic, subsequent offense.

Troopers and Officers continue to seek the remaining named targets.

Additionally, 17 other persons were arrested for outstanding prior warrants or incidental offenses after arrest teams encountered them while seeking the subjects of today’s warrants. One of them, Hakim Richardson, 31, of Brockton, was arrested during the Cairn Road raid after Troopers and Brockton Officers located a Ruger .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol with 11 rounds of ammunition in his house. Hakim Richardson, who is Kali Richardson’s brother, is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a large capacity feeding device, and unlawful possession of ammunition.

Members of the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department assisted in the operation by transporting arrestees to be booked.