58°
WORCESTER, Mass. - A Millbury home was among several Worcester-area locations raided Thursday in the culmination of operation "Devil's Handshake," a two-year undercover investigation into a Worcester-based drug ring that resulted in 15 arrests, including a Millbury man, police said.
At approximately 5 a.m., police said members of the Worcester Police Vice Squad, Worcester Police Gang Unit and the Drug Enforcement Administration, along with more than 100 law enforcement agents representing federal and state law enforcement agencies executed federal search warrants for multiple locations in Worcester and a home at 15 Elm St., Millbury.
The operation, code named "Devil's Handshake," started in early 2010, Worcester Police said in a news release, led by the Worcester Police Vice Squad and Gang Unit with assistance from the Central Massachusetts High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force. The investigation led to extensive information about the structure, leadership, members and close associates of a Worcester based drug organization, allegedly headed by Sergio Hernandez of 812-A Franklin St., Worcester. Hernandez was allegedly responsible for operating a large retail crack cocaine distribution ring.
During the course of 2011 and 2012, police said information was obtained through an extensive undercover operation, the release said, and additional information obtained in this investigation resulted in a Title III Federal Wiretap.
In the early morning hours, police said 13 teams prepared to enter pre-determined locations simultaneously to execute 13 search warrants with the assistance of the Worcester Police and Massachusetts State Police SWAT teams. Several of the targets have violent criminal histories and all were considered armed and dangerous due to their alleged gang affiliations and regular association with edged weapons and firearms, police said. Dynamic entries were made by SWAT Teams at three Worcester addresses: 5 Berkeley St., 9 Chrome St., and 103 Illinois St.
Two targets, including the primary target, Hernandez, were located at 5 Berkeley St., police said. A firearm was also recovered from this location as a result of the raid, police said. At 14 Jefferson St., police said a Worcester Animal Control officer seized a Pitbull from the apartment, in addition to over 300 grams of cocaine.
As a result of these raids, the following were placed under arrest, according to police:
- Janette Hernandez, 52, of 86 Austin St., Worcester, charged with federal drug offenses.
- Luis Santana, 33, of 50 Murray Ave., Worcester, charged with three counts of possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute.
- David Zayas, 23, of 14 Jefferson St., Worcester, charged with trafficking in Class B substance greater than 200 grams and conspiracy to violate controlled substance laws.
- Miguel Alvarez, 28, of 103 Illinois St., Worcester, charged with conspiracy to violate controlled substance laws.
- Shawna Gotsis, 26, of 812-A Franklin St., Worcester, charged with federal drug offenses.
- Jeneva Hernandez, 25, of 274 Tacoma St., Worcester, charged with federal drug offenses.
- Todd Naoum, 37, of 9 Chrome St., Worcester, charged with possession of Class B with the intent to distribute and conspiracy to violate controlled substance laws.
- Mizrain Gonzalez, 53, of 9, Marcy St., Southbridge, charged with trafficking in Class B Substance (100-199 grams) and conspiracy to violate controlled substance laws.
- Fred Mojica , 25, of 42 Amesbury St., Worcester, charged with possession of Class D with the intent to distribute and conspiracy to violate controlled substance laws.
- Brandon Sheehan, 30, of 5 Berkley St., Apartment 1, Worcester, charged with possession of a large capacity firearm, possession of a firearm and ammunition without an FID Card, possession of a false firearm license ID Card, possession of Class B substance with the intent to distribute and conspiracy to violate controlled substance laws.
- James Dunston, 29, of 15 Elm St., Millbury, charged with federal drug offenses and conspiracy to violate controlled substance laws.
- Sergio Hernandez, 29, 812-A Franklin St., Worcester, charged with federal drug offenses and conspiracy to violate controlled substance laws.
- James Anthony Wooldridge, 27, of 310 Highland St., Worcester, charged with federal drug offenses and conspiracy to violate controlled substance laws.
- Kelvin Arocho, 30, of 105 Pearl St., Clinton, charged with trafficking in Class B over 200 grams and conspiracy to violate controlled substance laws.
- A 15th person was apprehended and arrested in Puerto Rico at the same time that the warrants were being executed. This individual was arrested for drug possession and drug packaging offenses.
To date, seven of the 15 people arrested were for federal offenses, police said. Five motor vehicles, one motorcycle, a large capacity firearm and $40,000 in cash were confiscated, police said.
The extensive operation also involved the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early, U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, Massachusetts State Police Special Tactical Operations (STOP) Team, Violent Apprehension Team, and K-9 Unit, Alcohol Tobacco and Firearm (ATF), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Worcester County Sheriff’s Department, Worcester Police Department SWAT Team and Worcester Police Department Animal Control.
It is expected that these arrests will significantly disrupt the illegal activities of the drug organization, police said. This investigation is still active and ongoing.
Comments