HOLYOKE – The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Monday that a joint operation last month in Holyoke targeting illegal drug sales has resulted in 17 arrests on federal charges for heroin distribution, officials said.
The coordinated enforcement, known as Operation Open Air, involves federal, state and local law enforcement resulted in a total 42 arrests in the month of October. The remaining 25 arrests are state charges for various firearms offenses or drug possession.
Most of the arrests resulted from targeted sweeps focusing on the same of opioids in open, public spaces in Holyoke. Federal, state and local law enforcement worked together to conduct surveillance and investigations, and to make arrests.
Andrew E. Lelling, U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, said the operation targeted the dismantling of illegal drug markets that operated in plain sight.
Of the 17 facing federal charges, he said “These defendants sold heroin and fentanyl so they could profit from a crisis that is killing about 2,000 Massachusetts residents a year.”
Facing federal charges are
- Dennis Roman, 34, of Holyoke, conspiracy to distribute heroin and distribution of heroin;
- Ronny Authier, 21, of Holyoke, distribution of and possession with intent to distribute heroin;
- Christopher Lebron, 31, of Holyoke, distribution of heroin;
- Alexis Santana, 18, of Holyoke, distribution of heroin;
- Jayson Quinones, 35, of Holyoke, distribution of heroin;
- Herman Gomez, 20, of Holyoke, distribution of heroin;
- Joevani Pagan, 28, of Holyoke, distribution of heroin;
- Alexis Tapia, 34, of Holyoke, distribution of heroin and cocaine;
- Juan Rivera-Velez, distribution of heroin;
- Milagros Gaetan, 50, distribution of heroin;
- Jose Cruz, 42, distribution of cocaine;
- Jeffrey Caride, 38, of Holyoke, distribution of heroin;
- Miquiana Laboy, 22, of Holyoke, distribution of heroin and cocaine;
- Gilbert Ramos, 25, of Holyoke, distribution of heroin;
- Manuel Sanchez, 26, of Holyoke, distribution of heroin;
- Pedro Rivas-Morales, 21, of Holyoke, distribution of and possession with intent to distribute heroin;
- Roberto Santiago; 44, of Holyoke, distribution of and possession with intent to distribute heroin.
According to federal sentencing guidelines, a conviction for distribution of heroin or conspiracy to distribute can result in a sentence of up to 20 years.
