Press Release  Four Individuals Indicted in Connection with Selling Heroin, Fentanyl and Cocaine on the North Shore

Boston — Four individuals have been indicted in two separate cases in connection with selling heroin, fentanyl and cocaine on the North Shore, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

“These dangerous drugs are claiming lives across Massachusetts and across the country,” said AG Healey. “These are peoples’ mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, children and friends. Our office is committed to going after those who put these deadly drugs on our streets and in the hands of those struggling with addiction.”

The AG’s Office has been working closely with its federal, state and local partners to combat illegal drug trafficking. AG Healey formed an internal task force to more aggressively combat the heroin and prescription drug abuse crisis in Massachusetts. The AG’s Office is using a multi-faceted approach that includes education for prescribers, pursuing illegal drug traffickers and pill mills, and expanding access to recovery and treatment programs.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) announced last week that 1,526 people – the highest number ever recorded in the state – died from opioid overdoses last year. More than 50 percent of the confirmed deaths from opioid overdoses had a toxicology screen involved fentanyl. Essex County is among the three counties in the state with the highest rate of overdoses.

Rodolfo Soto

Rodolfo Soto, age 23, of North Andover, was indicted Friday by an Essex County Grand Jury on the charges of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (one count), Receiving Stolen Property over $250 (one count), Carrying a Firearm without a License (one count), Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl (four counts) and Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine (one count).

He will be arraigned in Essex Superior Court at a later date.

State Police assigned to the AG’s Office and State Police assigned to the Transportation Drug Unit arrested Soto in Lawrence on Feb. 16.

Authorities allege that Soto attempted to sell 50 grams of fentanyl to an undercover state trooper in Lawrence. Authorities executed a search warrant at a North Andover apartment and on Soto’s car and seized an additional 20 grams of fentanyl, 7 grams of cocaine, and a gun, which was determined to be stolen from New Hampshire.

State Police assigned to the AG’s Office began an investigation into Soto in December 2015 with assistance from State Police troopers assigned to the Transportation Drug Unit and troopers assigned to the Firearms Licensing and Trafficking Unit.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Marina Moriarty, of AG Healey’s Enterprise, Major and Cyber Crimes Division, with assistance from paralegal Emily Bartlett. The case was investigated by State Police assigned to the AG’s Office with assistance from State Police assigned to the Transportation Drug Unit and the Firearms Licensing and Trafficking Unit.

Melkis Pena, Jonathan Sosa and Gerson Ceballos-Rosario

Melkis Pena, age 53, of Swampscott, Jonathan Sosa, age 30, of Lynn, and Gerson Ceballos-Rosario, age 37, of Swampscott were indicted Friday by an Essex County Grand Jury on one count each of Trafficking in Cocaine over 200 grams. Sosa was also indicted on one count of Trafficking in Heroin over 200 grams and Pena was indicted on one count of Money Laundering. All three defendants will be arraigned in Essex Superior Court at a later date.

Pena, Sosa and Ceballos-Rosario were arrested March 18 in a joint operation involving Massachusetts State Police assigned to the AG’s Office and the Massachusetts State Police Transportation Drug Unit (TDU), with assistance from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Swampscott and Lynn Police Departments.

In December 2014, authorities from the State Police TDU began an investigation into an alleged drug trafficking operation on the North Shore they believed was responsible for distributing heroin and cocaine to and within Massachusetts. During the course of the investigation, authorities seized a large bag containing $300,000 in cash after they observed Pena handing it over to a truck driver in a parking lot in Saugus.

Authorities arrested the three defendants in Lynn after observing what they believed to be a drug transaction occurring in a car. During the arrest, authorities seized approximately 10 kilograms of cocaine from the car linked to Pena. Authorities seized more than 630 grams of cocaine and about 300 grams of heroin after search warrants were executed on the car and an apartment linked to Sosa. Authorities also seized $15,000 in cash and supplies and materials known to be associated with drug packaging and distribution.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Gina Kwon of AG Healey’s Enterprise, Major and Cyber Crimes Division, with assistance from State Police assigned to the AG’s Office, the Massachusetts State Police Transportation Drug Unit (TDU), the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Swampscott and Lynn Police Departments, and the AG’s Digital Evidence Lab.

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

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