Press Release  Nine Individuals Charged in Connection with Drug and Gun Trafficking Operation

Boston — Nine alleged gang members and associates have been indicted in seven separate cases in connection with trafficking drugs and illegal guns in Greater Boston, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

The defendants were indicted on gun and drug charges by a Suffolk County Grand Jury Monday.

“We allege these individuals are involved in a criminal operation that brought deadly drugs and illegal guns into our communities,” said AG Healey. “Our office is focused on combatting gun violence and the opioid epidemic at all levels and will continue to work with our partners to disrupt these criminal networks.”

These cases are the result of a 2015 investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), which uncovered through a sweep that the defendants were members and associates of the 18^th Street Gang and the East Side Money Gang and were allegedly trafficking illegal guns and drugs including heroin, cocaine and fentanyl through the communities of East Boston, Chelsea, Revere and Jamaica Plain. The defendants were arrested as part of a larger sweep where 66 gang members were arrested and charged with federal and state charges.

"ATF will continue to combat firearms trafficking with our federal, state, local law enforcement and prosecutorial partners, in the attempt to prevent these firearms from being used by prohibited individuals in violent criminal acts, which affect the quality of life in our communities" said Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division.

Wilmer Reyes and Anilber Marquez

Wilmer Reyes, 23, of Chelsea and Anilber Marquez, 21, of East Boston, were charged with trafficking over 10 grams of fentanyl. They will be arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court at a later date. Reyes and Marquez were arraigned in Chelsea District Court on June 23 and Reyes was released on $2,500 cash bail and Marquez was released on $1,000 cash bail. An ATF investigation revealed Reyes and Marquez allegedly sold what was later determined to be 29 grams of fentanyl in Revere.

Joseph Lorenzo and Virginia Lebron

Joseph Lorenzo, 29, and Virginia Lebron, 36, both of East Boston, were charged with trafficking over 18 grams of heroin. They will be arraigned at a later date in Suffolk Superior Court. An ATF investigation revealed Lorenzo and Lebron allegedly arranged for the sale of two fingers of heroin at an East Boston home linked to Lebron.

Miguel Lorenzo 

Miguel Lorenzo, 26, of East Boston, was charged with trafficking over 18 grams of heroin. He will be arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court at a later date. He was arraigned in East Boston District Court on June 10 and was released on $5,000 cash bail under the condition that he be monitored via a GPS. An ATF investigation revealed he allegedly arranged for the sale of two fingers of heroin in East Boston.

Eddie Lorenzo

Eddie Lorenzo, 28, of East Boston was charged with trafficking over 36 grams of cocaine. He will be arraigned at a later date in Suffolk Superior Court. He was arraigned in East Boston District Court on June 10 and was released on $10,000 cash bail under the condition he be monitored via GPS. An ATF investigation revealed he allegedly sold 42 grams of cocaine in East Boston.

 Yunisleydi Santuce

Yunisleydi Santuce, 31, of East Boston, was charged with trafficking over 18 grams of heroin. She will be arraigned at a later date in Suffolk Superior Court. She was arraigned in Easton Boston District Court on June 9 and was released on $10,000 cash bail. An ATF investigation revealed Santuce allegedly sold three fingers of heroin in East Boston.

Jonathan Vasquez

Jonathan Vasquez, 21, of Boston, was charged with illegally carrying a firearm, trafficking in 1-2 firearms, illegally carrying a loaded firearm and illegally possessing ammunition. An ATF investigation revealed Vasquez allegedly illegally sold a firearm and ammunition in Jamaica Plain. He will be arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court at a later date. Vasquez was arraigned on July 12 and held on $5,000 cash bail.

Jesse Cardona-Restrepo

Jesse Cardona-Restrepo, 21, of Chelsea, was charged with trafficking in 1-2 firearms, illegally carrying a firearm and illegally possessing ammunition. He will be arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court at a later date. An ATF investigation revealed he allegedly illegally sold a revolver and ammunition in Chelsea.          

All of these charges are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Gina Kwon, of AG Healey’s Enterprise, Major and Cyber Crimes Division, with assistance from Paralegal Emily Bartlett, also of AG Healey’s Enterprise, Major and Cyber Crimes Division. The cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Chelsea Police, Boston Police and the Massachusetts State Police.

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