Press Release  Eleven Arrested in Joint State, Federal, and Local Takedown of Major Opioid Trafficking Operation in Worcester

Boston — Following a long-term, joint investigation by federal, state and local law enforcement, 11 people have been arrested and arraigned in connection with a heroin/fentanyl trafficking operation, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

These charges are the result of an extensive wiretap investigation involving AG Healey’s Enterprise, Major and Cyber Crimes Division, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Worcester High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Task Force, FBI Boston Division, U.S. Postal Inspections Service, Massachusetts State Police, Massachusetts National Guard – Counter Drug Unit, and the Worcester, Webster, Fitchburg, Leominster, Lunenburg, and Hopkinton Police Departments. Investigators allege that the illegal drug operation spanned from Bronx, New York to Worcester and resulted in a total seizure of over 700 grams of heroin/fentanyl.

The following individuals were arrested and arraigned in Worcester Central District Court on the following charges:

Huascar Brito-Lavandier, 26, of Worcester
Trafficking Heroin/Fentanyl, 200 Grams or More (one count)         
Conspiracy to Violate Drug Laws (one count)

Emmanuel Vasquez, 21, of Worcester
Trafficking Heroin/Fentanyl, 200 Grams or More (one count)         
Conspiracy to Violate Drug Laws (one count)

Jose Delorbehernandez, 38, of Worcester
Trafficking Heroin/Fentanyl, 200 Grams or More (one count)         
Trafficking Cocaine, 18 Grams or More (one count)
Resisting Arrest (one count)
Conspiracy to Violate Drug Laws (one count)

Ricardo Morales, 52, Worcester
Distribution Heroin/Fentanyl, Subsequent Offense (one count)  

Jorge Lopez-Rosario, 27, Worcester
Trafficking Heroin/Fentanyl, 18 to 36 Grams (one count)
Conspiracy to Violate Drug Laws (one count)

Joel Rosario, 28, Worcester
Trafficking Heroin/Fentanyl, 18 to 36 Grams (one count)
Conspiracy to Violate Drug Laws (one count)

Francisco Ortiz-Rivera, 38, Spencer
Trafficking Heroin/Fentanyl, 18 to 36 Grams (one count)
Conspiracy to Violate Drug Laws (one count)

Luis Alberto Ortega Conde, 28, of Worcester 
Trafficking Heroin/Fentanyl, 200 Grams or More (one count)         
Conspiracy to Violate Drug Laws (one count)

Fulvio Valdez, 24, of Bronx, New York 
Trafficking Heroin/Fentanyl, 200 Grams or More (one count)         
Conspiracy to Violate Drug Laws (one count)

Jose Reyes, 38, of Worcester
Trafficking Fentanyl, More Than 10 Grams (one count)
Unlawful Possession of a Large Capacity Firearm (one count)
Unlawful Possession of a Large Capacity Feeding Device (one count)
Unlawful Possession of Ammunition (one count)

Victor Zeno, 25, of Worcester
Trafficking Fentanyl, More Than 10 Grams of Fentanyl (one count)

The defendants are due back in Worcester Central District Court for a hearing on a later date.

This investigation is ongoing. These charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The AG’s Office has been working closely with federal, state and local partners to combat illegal drug trafficking. AG Healey formed a Fentanyl Strike Force to more aggressively combat the heroin and prescription drug abuse crisis in New England. In October, the Office announced the Fentanyl Strike Force had been awarded a nearly $3 million grant to expand its efforts to combat the opioid epidemic and disrupt drug and fentanyl trafficking throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The AG’s Office won this grant from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services Anti-Heroin Task Force grant program and was one of just 17 proposals funded nationally and the only awarded in New England.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Lynn Brennan and Assistant Attorney General Cesar Vega of the AG’s Enterprise, Major and Cyber Crimes Division. The case is being investigated by the Massachusetts State Police and DEA Worcester HIDTA.

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