Press Release  Eight Individuals Indicted in Connection With Major Drug Trafficking Operation in Western Massachusetts

BOSTON — Eight individuals have been indicted in connection with a joint state and federal wiretap investigation into a major heroin trafficking operation in Western Massachusetts, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today. As a result of the investigation, more than 4 kilograms of heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine, six illegal firearms – including three that are considered untraceable “ghost guns” –, more than $200,000 in cash, jewelry, three cars, six motorcycles, and four all-terrain vehicles were seized.

The charges are the result of an extensive investigation involving AG Healey’s Enterprise, Major and Cyber Crime Division, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Western Massachusetts Gang Task Force (FBI WMGTF), the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Massachusetts State Police assigned to the AG’s Office, with assistance from the Holyoke, Springfield, West Springfield, Chicopee, and Easthampton Police Departments, the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Bureau (ATF), Massachusetts State Police (MSP) Gang Unit, Hampden County Sheriff’s Department, Berkshire County Sheriff’s Department, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, the Commonwealth Interstate Narcotics Reduction Enforcement Team West (CINRET), and the Hampden County Narcotics CPAC Unit.

The investigation began in 2020 and culminated in arrests and the execution of search warrants after months of undercover operations and electronic surveillance of a sophisticated drug distribution enterprise. Authorities executed search warrants at nine locations in Holyoke and Springfield in October and November 2020 that resulted in the seizure of drugs, guns, cash, jewelry, high-end cars, motorcycles, and all-terrain vehicles.

In connection with this investigation, the following defendants were indicted by a Statewide Grand Jury this week and will be arraigned in Hampden and Franklin Superior Courts at a later date on the following charges.

Josue Figueroa, (a.k.a. Bebo), 28, of Springfield

Trafficking 200 grams or more of Heroin (three counts)

Trafficking 200 grams or more of Fentanyl (one count)

Trafficking 18-36 grams of Cocaine (two counts)

Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana (one count)

Possession of a Firearm While Committing a Felony (one count)

Possession of a Firearm (one count)

Possession of Ammunition (one count)

Improper Storage of a Firearm (one count)

Conspiracy to Violate the Controlled Substances Act (one count)

Angel Guzman, (a.k.a. Lingy), 23, of Holyoke

Trafficking 200 grams or more of Heroin (three counts)

Trafficking 36-100 grams of Heroin (four counts)

Possession of a Large Capacity Firearm During a Felony (one count)

Possession of a Large Capacity Firearm (one count)

Possession of a Large Capacity Magazine (one count)

Improper Storage of a Large Capacity Firearm (one count)

Possession of Ammunition (two counts)

Conspiracy to Violate the Controlled Substances Act (one count)

Abdul Mendoza, (a.k.a. Kobe), 23, of Holyoke

Trafficking 200 grams or more of Heroin (two counts)

Trafficking 36-100 grams of Heroin (four counts)

Possession of a Large Capacity Firearm (one count)

Possession of a Large Capacity Magazine (one count)

Improper Storage of a Large Capacity Firearm (one count)

Possession of Ammunition (one count)

Conspiracy to Violate the Controlled Substances Act (one count)

Mark Marcano, 20, of Springfield 

Trafficking 200 grams or more of Heroin (one count)

Trafficking 36-100 grams of Heroin (one count)

Trafficking 18-36 grams of Cocaine (one count)

Possession of a Large Capacity Firearm (one count)

Possession of a Large Capacity Magazine (one count)

Improper Storage of a Large Capacity Firearm (one count)

Receiving a Firearm with a Defaced Serial Number (one count)

Possession of Ammunition (one count)

Conspiracy to Violate the Controlled Substances Act (one count)

Anthony Perez, (a.k.a. Jordan), (a.k.a. Ant), 28, of Holyoke

Trafficking 200 grams or more of Heroin (one count)

Distribution of Heroin (six counts) 

Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin (one count)

Possession of a Firearm (one count)

Possession of Ammunition (one count)

Improper Storage of a Firearm (one count)

Conspiracy to Violate the Controlled Substances Act (one count)

Devante Wardell, 24, of Holyoke

Trafficking 200 grams or more of Heroin (one count)

Conspiracy to Violate the Controlled Substance Act (one count)

Richard Hurd, 29, of Quechee, Vermont

Trafficking 200 grams or more of Heroin (one count)

Conspiracy to Violate the Controlled Substances Act (one count)

Yahira Marcano, 28, of Springfield

Improper Storage of a Firearm (one count)

Perez was also charged as a Level 1 Armed Career Criminal.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Kaitlyn O’Leary and Deputy Chief Andrea Mauro of AG Healey’s Enterprise, Major and Cyber Crime Division, and Amy Karangekis, Chief of AG Healey’s Western Massachusetts Regional Office with assistance from Paralegal Eva Szczech in the AG’s Western Massachusetts Office and Digital Evidence Analyst Brenna Casey of AG Healey’s Digital Evidence Lab.

These charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.   

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