Fall River, Taunton, Worcester men among 10 charged in federal drug sweep

TAUNTON – 10 individuals were charged in federal court in Boston on federal drug trafficking and money laundering offenses in connection with distributing cocaine in and around the Taunton and Worcester areas. Seven of the defendants were arrested today; three are fugitives.

In a federal indictment unsealed today, the following 10 individuals were charged in connection with their roles in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy that operated between May 2016 and April 2018:

Samuel Rodriguez, 59, of Taunton, was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine; one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine; and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments;

Pedro Oyola, 33, of Cayay, Puerto Rico, was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments;

Jose Santos, 47, of Fall River, was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments;

Tina Rodriguez, 45, of Worcester, was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments;

Edgar Rios-Lopez, 38, of Naranjito, Puerto Rico, was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments;

Luis Elias, 43, of Worcester, was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments;

George Torres, 41, of Taunton, was charged with one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine;

Debra Demoranville, 49, of Taunton, was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments;

Angel Oyola, 35, of Caguas, Puerto Rico, was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine;

Ricardo Zayas Ramos, 21, of Pawtucket, R.I., was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.

Seven of the defendants were arrested this morning; Pedro Oyola, Angel Oyola, and Luis Elias are presently fugitives.

The charges are the culmination of a nine-month investigation aimed at attacking the increased volume of cocaine flooding southern and central Massachusetts. The defendants allegedly controlled and managed a lucrative and sophisticated drug trafficking and distribution ring in the region.

The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, five years of supervised release, and a fine of $10 million. The charge of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine provides for a sentence of no greater than 40 years in prison, four years of supervised release, and a fine of $5 million. The charge of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $500,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.