Two separate Fall River armed robbery and drug/firearm investigations result in the arrest of the same three people

Fall River Police Community Action and Suppression Team (C.A.S.T.) and Major Crimes Division combined to arrest three people in two separate investigations.

According to police, on Friday, July 17th, officers responded to an armed robbery on Franklin Street (it was initially reported at Belmont Club but police have updated that it was outside and unrelated to the club), 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 the suspects as 36-year-old Aaren Howard, 23-year-old Adilson Moreno, and 31-year-old Ariana Santos, all 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 all three 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, Moreno, and Santos were all 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, all three individuals 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

• 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

• Armed Robbery

Ariana Santos was charged with:

• Armed Robbery

The three are expected to be arraigned in Fall River District Court on Monday.

Court records show that at arraigned Monday in Fall River District Court, Howard and Moreno pled not guilty and were held without bail pending a Friday dangerousness hearing.

Santos pled not guilty and was ordered $35,000 surety bond or 3,500 cash bail with a “hearing to review status” scheduled for Tuesday.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.