An undercover operation targeting the sale of illegal guns and drugs has resulted in criminal charges against 21 people.
The arrests were announced Friday afternoon, hours after the operation concluded with the apprehension of multiple guns and narcotics — including crack, cocaine, heroin and marijuana.
Police did not release details about the arrests, saying the investigation is ongoing. But they identified five Fall River men who will face federal charges of distributing cocaine base. The men are Derek Rego, 24, Trajuan Albert, 24, Leotis Carpenter, 29, Wendell Stampley, 33, and Hakim McLeod, 32. Albert has also been charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Rego, Albert and Carpenter were already in custody, while McLeod was arrested Friday morning. Stampley remains at large.
Sixteen other people were charged with state-level offenses stemming from the operation..
Guy Thomas, special agent in charge of the Boston division of Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said the arrests are part of a “longterm investigation into criminal gang activity in Fall River.”
Police Chief Daniel Racine said he was not aware of any connection between the arrests and the investigation into the alleged sale of drugs and guns in Shakers Nightclub and Lounge, though some of the people charged Friday were also arrested as part of that investigation.
The arrests were the result of a joint operation involving Fall River Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Officials from those agencies joined Mayor Will Flanagan to praise the collaborative effort that led to the arrests.
“It was through working together that we were able to take illegal firearms and narcotics off the streets of Fall River and put some bad individuals behind bars,” Racine said.
Along with the display of firearms, drugs and cash that sat on a table in the Police Department was a baker’s dozen of Molotov cocktails. Red, gas-soaked rags hanging out of beer bottles filled the room with a distinct odor.
Charged with prosecuting those facing federal charges, Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenn MacKinlay said the investigation allowed police to pull weapons off the street before they could be used.
“These individuals would have used these weapons to commit violent crimes here in the streets of Fall River,” MacKinlay said. “The streets are safer through this joint effort, and that’s not just because these guns are off the streets, but because these individuals are off the street.”
Those facing state charges are:
Royleton Haston, 29, 120 Fifteenth St., Apt. 12, distribution of cocaine, subsequent offense; Erica Belisle, 27, 120 Fifteenth St., Apt. 12, distribution of cocaine; Shane Cartin, 27, 185 Covel St., two counts each of unlawful sale of a firearm, carrying a firearm after having been previously convicted of a serious drug offense and distribution of heroin in a park, subsequent offense; Emilio Rivera, 61, 130 Canal St., Apt. 1712, two counts of distribution of heroin, subsequent offense, one count of trafficking of heroin in excess of 14 grams; Norman Vilamarim, 32, 379 New Valley Road, New Bedford, carrying a firearm, unlawful sale of a firearm, possession of a large-capacity firearm and feed device; Samuel Harwood, 18, 126 Reed Road, Westport, possession of an incendiary device, unlawful sale of a firearm, possession of a firearm; Benjamin Fry, 31, 95 Choate St., unlawful sale of a firearm, carrying of a firearm, distribution of cocaine; Eric Pagan-Jovet, 25, 280 Fifth St., distribution of cocaine — subsequent offense; Peter Flores, 19, 128 Freedom St., trafficking cocaine in excess of 28 grams, unlawful sale of a firearm, carrying a firearm, distribution of cocaine; Peter Pearson, 23, 28 Odd St., armed robbery, possession of a large-capacity firearm, possession of a large-capacity feeding device, carrying a firearm, carrying a loaded firearm, possession of ammunition, distribution of cocaine; Jerron Butler, 22, 183 George St., armed robbery, possession of a large-capacity firearm, possession of a large-capacity feeding device, carrying a firearm, carrying a loaded firearm, possession of ammunition; Franco Santos, 23, Reynolds St., New Bedford, possession of a large-capacity firearm, possession of a large-capacity feeding device, carrying a firearm, carrying a loaded weapon, possession of ammunition.
Investigators also announced charges against four men wanted on state charges that remained at large. Those men are: Jeff Robbins, 402 Fifth St., possession of an incendiary device, distribution of cocaine, possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition; Jose Gonzalez, 21, 20 Orange St., distributing a counterfeit substance, larceny over $250; Charles Coward, 40, 433 Bank St., Apt. 8, three counts of distribution of cocaine, two counts of distributing cocaine in a school zone; Michael Fry, 21, 228 Haffords St., trafficking cocaine in excess of 14 grams.
Police are asking anyone with information on the whereabouts of the five at-large individuals to call the anonymous tips line at 508-672-TIPS.
Email Will Richmond at wrichmond@heraldnews.com.
