Officials say, on Wednesday, June 17, at approximately 5:20 a.m., the Sangamon County Sheriff's . There were a total of 692 suspected heroin or fentanyl overdoses reported across the state last year. - Additional charges and more defendants have been added to two federal indictments that now charge a total of 21 defendants for their roles in separate conspiracies to distribute heroin and fentanyl in the Springfield, Mo., area, resulting in the overdose deaths of at least two people. According to Lebanon Police, the FBI handled that search. SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) - Over a dozen people have been arrested and guns and drugs were . Domestic Cannabis Suppression / Eradication Program, Red Ribbon Toolkit - Resources For Your Community, DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Intelligence Research Specialist Job Announcements, Schedule A Hiring Authority: Intelligence Research Specialist, Privacy Impact Assessment and Management Information Systems, Victim Witness Assistance Program Resources. How a Drug Bust Helped Break Up Buffalo Springfield. Sunbeam Television Corp Other CIRNET task forces have also recently made similar seizures of the falsely-packaged drug. Agents with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI arrested 10 of defendants on Wednesday in a coordinated takedown involving multiple law enforcement officers at . Alonzo Williams was arrested by Springfield police last month after they . At the time of his arrest, Castros residence was listed as Springfield, Massachusetts. They grew up in Springfield, Illinois and attended school at SIU Carbondale. Federal officials also seized approximately $104,000 in cash and six vehicles associated with the drug rings operations, along with three handguns. Robert Patruno with leading the stash house investigation, and said the broader investigation into the Holyoke-based drug ringcontinues. An all-star rock 'n' roll bust went down on March 20, 1968, and the implications for music history were huge. In addition to the DAs own personnel, ATF, DEA and HSI offiicals were credited with assisting in the seizure, along with state police and the Hampden County Sheriffs Department. Williams now faces numerous drug trafficking charges, including charges for trafficking fentanyl and cocaine. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. Several types of narcotics were found in the bust 2.3 kilograms of field-tested fentanyl, packaged as heroin into 111,200 individual small baggies, were seized, along with 28 grams of suspected fentanyl pills. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The 51 year old was arraigned on Dec. 23 in Springfield District Court and was ordered to be held on $75,000 cash bail. This case is part of the Department of Justices Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force program. "They were looking for an excuse. Williams was arraigned on Dec. 23 in Springfield District Court and held on $75,000 cash bail. Heriberton Escalera, 34, of Springfield, is charged with trafficking heroin or fentanyl 36-100 grams, trafficking cocaine 100-200 grams, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm with a prior conviction for a crime involving violence or drugs. Dismantling these organizations that import death onto our streets is a priority of the Massachusetts State Police and our partner agencies.. Caldwell was charged with the manufacture/delivery of methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine over 20 grams. ", Everyone there was arrested except Stills, who managed to crawl out of a window and escape. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. Court documents specify that Castro was arrested in the Springfield Hospital parking lot on Wednesday. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. Hill is also charged with attempting to escape from the custody of a DEA agent after being arrested. Id like to thank Colonel Mawn and District Attorney Gulluni as well as our local and state partners on the CINRET-West team and our regional and federal involved in this successful investigation.. The police arrived in force, he claims, well after the music had stopped. We also specialize in coverage of state finances and the impact of tax and budget policy on Vermonters. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Tell Hank: (855) 247-HANK. 14, 2022 at 1:36 PM PDT. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. State police said field tests of most samples of the drugs that had been categorized as heroin showed the majority to actually be fentanyl, which police said is synthetic, more powerful and is the more prevalent opiate in street-level sales in Massachusetts. Officers said they were conducting a joint narcotics and firearms investigation on Nov. 9 in the . That man waved, she noted. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. Alexander Rodriguez, 33, of Holyoke, is charged with trafficking heroin 200 grams or more, trafficking fentanyl, and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Seems Buffalo Springfield were hanging out at the home of Stephen Stills' then-girlfriend, nestled in California's Topanga Canyon, when Neil Young, Jim Messina, Richie Furay and Stills began a jam session with pal Eric Clapton. In addition to the conspiracy, Crawford is charged with three counts of possessing heroin or fentanyl with the intent to distribute, two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. According to Simons statement, a safe in Aries possession during the stop was later found to contain 44 grams of cocaine. In a separate but related case, Derrick E. Dailey, also known as Cuzzo, 34, William C. Farisse, also known as Wack, 33, Roderick L. Stewart, 35, Antwanae L. Morgan, 29, Robert D. Everette, 40, and Dominique Glosson, 26, all of Springfield, were among those charged in November and December 2019. Springfield police arrested and charged a man last month after allegedly finding 30 pounds of cocaine and nearly 14,000 fentanyl pills in his home. OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multi-level attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. "I tried to flush is down the toilet and the toilet backed up. Courtesy of Hampden District Attorney's Office. When I looked out the window there were big military vehicles, with a lot of police.. As a result, the departments Drug Interdiction and Response Team was contacted and a search warrant was obtained. The FBI, Drug Enforcement Agency . 42, of Springfield, Massachusetts, for possession with intent to distribute cocaine base. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - Five people were arrested in a Springfield drug bust, authorities said. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. According to the motion, data from Castros sons cellphone Anibal Castro Jr. contained multiple images and videos of Castro Sr. holding various firearms. Prosecutors also indicated that law enforcement continues to investigate certain items possessed by the defendant at the time of his arrest.. (KY3) - A traffic stop Saturday in Miller County led Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers to a drug bust. Glosson was allegedly in possession of a Ruger 9mm semi-automatic pistol and a Glock 9mm semi-automatic pistol on Oct. 23, 2019. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Robert Bigio Sr., 60, and Robert Bigio, Jr. 34, both of Springfield, each face the same charges of trafficking 100 to 200 grams of heroin and 10 or more grams of fentanyl, along with trafficking cocaine and possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute. Two men now face potentially decades in prison after a bust that began over an expired license plate. The Vermont U.S. Attorney's office says Jonathan Castro, 33 of Springfield . All rights reserved (About Us). A motion to hold Castro Sr. in custody filed by federal prosecutors on Thursday alleged that he had distributed drugs on Valley Street in Springfield and elsewhere. The money seized during a major multi-department drug bust in Western Massachusetts from the beginning of 2023. Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gulluni said the bust was connected with authorities investigation into the Knox Street Posse and Sycamore Street gangs. (Six other defendants have been indicted in separate, but related, cases). These cases were investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration St. Louis Division Task Force Group in Springfield; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Springfield, Mo., Police Department; the Greene County, Mo., Sheriffs Department; the Phelps County, Mo., Sheriffs Department; the Bourbon, Mo., Police Department; and the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Drug dog leads police to major bust and arrest of Charlotte man By Kallie Cox. Wednesdays raid came as law enforcement swarmed Valley Street just before 6 a.m., deploying what neighbors believed to be flash bangs. On Tuesday, the Hampden District Attorneys Office announced the arrest of Alonzo Williams, who was taken into custody in late December 2022. Josue Figueroa, of Springfield, is charged with trafficking heroin or fentanyl 200 grams or more, trafficking cocaine 200 grams or more, and conspiracy to violate narcotic laws. He can be reached at mpolhamus@vtdigger.org. Bedell is also charged with two counts of distributing heroin and/or fentanyl, one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of drug-trafficking crimes, and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms. VTDigger covers criminal justice issues including Vermont legal issues, Vermont courts and the Vermont Department of Corrections. As the cops arrived, band members and friends tried valiantly to dispose of any illegal substance. State police said the Springfield area is a known supply source for mass narcotics trafficking in Western New England, with direct connections from area drug traffickers to Connecticut and New York City. The CINRET-West Unit has a track record of removing significant amounts of narcotics from our city streets, arresting notable players involved in the drug trade and ultimately saving lives, said Springfield Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood. Morgan is also charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno praised the Springfield Police Department for taking "poison" off of the city's streets and urged judges to impose lengthy sentences for the suspects' alleged crimes. Additional charges may be brought in relation to the seized handguns, according to the sheriffs office, which is continuing its investigation. Our education reporter is Tiffany Pache. Follow Boston.com on Instagram (Opens in a New Tab), Follow Boston.com on Twitter (Opens in a New Tab), Like Boston.com on Facebook (Opens in a New Tab), Grillos Pickles sues Wahlburgers, says company is duping customers, Man armed with knife shot and killed by Cambridge police, officials say, Heres why Mass. Published: Nov. 30, 2022 at 5:22 AM PST. She can be reached at tpache@vtdigger.org. Troopers initially pulled over a driver on U.S. Route 54 for a . Mass. In October 2017, Jonathan Castro was arrested during a vehicle stop in Hartford during which police seized 2,300 bags of heroin, according to a release from the Hartford Police Department. (WHDH) - A 51-year-old Springfield man is facing multiple drug trafficking charges after authorities seized a cache of drugs worth over $2 million on the street, according to . State troopers assigned to a narcotics reduction enforcement team launched an investigation in 2022 into a trafficking organization that was supplying heroin and fentanyl across Hampden County, according to the Massachusetts State Police. State Police drug bust (Massachusetts State Police) . Wheeler is also charged with possessing firearms in furtherance of drug-trafficking crimes and being a felon in possession of firearms. Luis Cordero, 24 . Contact Natalie Pierreatnpierre@gannett.com or on Twitter @NataliePierre_. Rench and Stephens were each charged with possession of methamphetamine. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. When Eric Clapton found himself involved in the drug bust that signaled the beginning of the end for Buffalo Springfield, the English . Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States. Leath allegedly possessed an RG .25-caliber semi-automatic pistol and a Ruger .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol on Dec. 14, 2018, and a Ruger 9mm semi-automatic pistol on May 22, 2019. (KY3) - A drug bust leads to the arrest of a man and woman in Camdenton, Mo. We continue our relentless focus on the areas most dangerous and lethal individuals, Gulluni said in the release. At the time, Arie was on pretrial release for felony charges including fentanyl trafficking and methamphetamine possession. A major Western Massachusetts drug trafficking ring was busted after a lengthy, multi-department investigation, resulting in eight people arrested over the course of a month and the seizure of several kilograms of narcotics including fentanyl-laced heroin and over $100,000 in drug sale proceeds, along with multiple cars and guns suspected to be involved in the rings operations, according to Massachusetts State Police. 14, 2022 at 10:45 AM PDT | Updated: Jul. Timothy Hall and Patrick Brigaudin, both of Springfield, were arrested Monday . Published: Oct. 12, 2022 at 1:29 PM PDT. Vermont State Police say 16 people were busted in a Windsor County drug investigation on May 8. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "Eight or ten cops turned up at 9:10 for a noise complaint five sheriffs from Malibu, and five from West Hollywood, so they had to have planned this days in advance," he told Uncut. The narcotics and other items seized during a major multi-department drug bust in Western Massachusetts from the beginning of 2023. Updated at 6:03 p.m. Three people are facing federal charges that they conspired to distribute crack cocaine and fentanyl following Wednesday's early morning raids in a downtown Springfield . The band played their last concert just weeks later. Meth ring:Springfield woman at 'ground zero' of drug ring gets 22 months in prison. Williams was then arrested without incident and taken to the Massachusetts State Police Springfield Barracks, the DAs Office said. All content Copyright 2000 - 2023 WHDH-TV. Hodges allegedly possessed a Kel-Tec .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol on June 4, 2019. Four Springfield residents are facing drug charges after Sangamon County deputies seized 40 grams of suspected methamphetamine, two .22-caliber revolvers and approximately $3,000 in . Stewart is also charged with one count of distributing heroin and/or fentanyl. VTDigger is now accepting letters to the editor. In a press release about the charges, U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest praised the investigatory and collaborative efforts of the local, state and federal agencies involved in the raids on Valley Street.