Press Release  Four Worcester Residents Indicted in Connection With Major Drug Trafficking Network in Central Massachusetts

Worcester — Four Worcester residents have been indicted in connection with a wiretap investigation targeting a major narcotics trafficking network in Central Massachusetts, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

A Worcester County Grand Jury indicted Jose Ortiz, 57, Roberto Ortiz, 58, Gilberto Victoriano, 51, and Caroline Cartagena, 44, all of Worcester, on Wednesday.

Cartagena was charged with Trafficking of over 200 Grams of Cocaine (one count). Jose and Roberto Ortiz were charged with Distribution of Heroin as Subsequent Offenders (two counts each), Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute as Subsequent Offenders (one count each) and Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (one count each). Victoriano was charged with Distribution of Heroin (three counts) and Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (one count).

In February, authorities arrested the defendants after intercepting wiretapped conversations in a joint operation conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The Massachusetts U.S. Attorney’s Office charged four additional individuals with federal drug offenses as part of the investigation.   

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

The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Lynn Brennan and Assistant Attorney General Heather Valentine of the AG’s Criminal Division. Law enforcement agencies that assisted in the investigation include the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Postal Service, the Massachusetts State Police, and the Worcester, Leominster, Milford and Leicester Police Departments.  

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