9 Arrested in Worcester for Gun and Drug Trafficking

Friday, June 30, 2017

GoLocalWorcester News Team

Massachusetts State Police arrested nine people across the Worcester area on weapons and drug offenses on Thursday morning.

“Guns and drugs are the biggest public safety threats facing our cities, and today’s operation struck a heavy blow against nine people who made a living off feeding those threats,” “Today’s arrests and the investigation that led to them are a shining example of the united front from which various law enforcement agencies in Massachusetts combat gun and drug traffickers,” Massachusetts State Police Colonel Richard D. McKeon said.

See all the Arrests Below

The arrests follow a long-term investigation into gun and narcotics trafficking.

The Investigation

During the course of the joint investigation, police purchased nine guns, multiple rounds of ammunition, and a large quantity of narcotics from the nine targets.

Weapons purchased during the investigation included several handguns, two shotguns, and an assault rifle with a 100-round capacity drum magazine. Subsequent searches of target addresses resulted in the seizures of several more guns, including two assault rifles.

The investigation and Thursday morning’s take downs were undertaken by Massachusetts State Troopers, Worcester and Auburn Police, agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Deputy United States Marshals.

The Arrests

Eight of the defendants were arrested on state warrants and will be prosecuted by the office of Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. They are as follow, with charges as listed in the warrants:

DORAN A. BRYAN, 27, of Worcester, charged with trafficking of a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm, and distribution of a Class B substance (cocaine);
DOMINIQUE L. BRYAN, 26, of Worcester, charged with trafficking of a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm, and distribution of a Class B substance (cocaine);
CRUZ A. RIOS, 28, of Worcester, charged with trafficking of a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and distribution of a Class B substance (cocaine);
MARIO E. ROSARIO, 42, of Worcester, charged with trafficking in firearms and unlawful possession of firearms;
JORGE L. LOPEZ-ROSARIO, 25, of Worcester, charged with trafficking of a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and distribution of a Class B substance (cocaine);
THOMAS R. GENEVA, 25, of Auburn, charged with trafficking in firearms;
AUSTIN W. ESPEY, 32, of Worcester, charged with trafficking of a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, possession of a large capacity magazine, and distribution of a Class B substance (cocaine); and
YEINNOR NIEVES-PIZZARO, 35, of Worcester, charged with distribution of cocaine.

Additionally, a ninth person involved in the operation will be prosecuted federally by the United States Attorney’s Office for Massachusetts.