Two Fall River men recently faced a judge after the Fall River Police Community Action and Suppression Team and Major Crimes Division combined to make arrests in two separate investigations.
According to police, on Friday, July 17th, officers responded to an armed robbery on Franklin Street, where a suspect reportedly brandished a firearm. Patrol officers determined that three individuals were involved, recovered surveillance footage, and quickly shared images of the suspects with department personnel.
Through a coordinated investigation, detectives identified 36-year-old Aaren Howard and 23-year-old Adilson Moreno, both from Fall River.
Detectives also determined that Moreno had active arrest warrants and was wanted by Massachusetts State Parole.
At the same time Major Crimes detectives were investigating the armed robbery, C.A.S.T. detectives were conducting a separate narcotics investigation involving Howard. That investigation resulted in a search warrant for a residence on Rodman Street, where detectives determined the suspects were staying.
With assistance from the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section, the investigation continued to develop.
On Friday, July 24th, members of the Fall River Police Department’s Emergency Services Unit assisted detectives in executing the search warrant. Howard and Moreno, and were located inside the residence.
During the search, detectives recovered:
• A Ruger SR9C 9mm handgun
• A 17-round magazine containing 14 rounds of ammunition
• Approximately 50.13 grams of suspected fentanyl
• Clothing believed to have been worn during the robbery
Major Crimes detectives determined that the recovered firearm matched the description of the weapon used during the July 17th robbery.
As a result of the investigation, both men were arrested.
Aaren Howard was charged with Trafficking Fentanyl, 36 Grams or More, Possession of a Firearm Without an LTC/FID, Possession of Ammunition Without an FID Card, Possession of a Large-Capacity Firearm, Possession of a Large-Capacity Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Improper Storage of a Firearm, Receiving Stolen Property, and Armed Robbery.
Adilson Moreno was charged with Possession of a Firearm Without an LTC/FID, Possession of a Large-Capacity Firearm, Possession of a Large-Capacity Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Possession of Ammunition Without an FID Card, Improper Storage of a Firearm, Receiving Stolen Property, and Armed Robbery.
Court records show that previously at arraignment in Fall River District Court, Howard and Moreno pled not guilty and were held without bail.
On October 15th, Moreno was arraigned in Fall River Superior Court on Armed Robbery, Possession of Ammunition Without an FID Card, Carrying a Firearm Without a License, and Possession of a Large-Capacity Feeding Device charges.
On Monday, Howard was arraigned in Fall River Superior Court on Armed Robbery, Possession of Ammunition Without an FID Card, Possession of a Firearm Without an FID Card, Possession of a Large-Capacity Feeding Device, and Trafficking Fentanyl, 36 Grams or More charges.
Both pled not guilty and were held without bail with a pre-trial conference scheduled for November 20th.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
