Police Complete Year-Long Investigation Resulting in 11 Arrests, Guns & Drugs

Friday, March 11, 2016

GoLocalWorcester News Team

Worcester Police have arrested and charged 11 men on various guns and drug offenses after a year long investigation that involved eight search warrants, Worcester Police Chief Gary Gemme announced on Thursday.

The arrests and charges for each person involved are listed below.

The investigation was a joint investigation by the Worcester Police department, Massachusetts State Police and was supported by Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. Oxford Police and Auburn Police also assisted.

“Today was a bad day for those who would prey on our residents and neighborhoods. With one fell swoop, the Worcester Police Department and their law enforcement partners put a serious dent in drug trafficking in our city. This kind of case only comes together through cooperation across agency lines. Thank you to the Worcester Police Department, District Attorney Joseph Early’s Office, the Massachusetts State Police, and Connecticut State Police for their tireless work to make Worcester a safer place,” said City Manager Edward M. Augustus, Jr.

The Investigation

Members of the Worcester Police Vice squad, and Massachusetts State Police made entry into the following locations, securing the premises:

11 Russell Street, 1st Floor Worcester
11 Russell Street, 2nd Floor Worcester
48 ½ Ward Street, Worcester
75 Ward Street, Worcester
21 Merrick Street, 3rd Floor, Worcester
143 Orchard Hill Drive, Oxford
Starters Distributors, 848 Southbridge Street, Auburn

Connecticut and Massachusetts State Police as well as Worcester Police executed a search warrant at 442 Eastford Road in Woodstock, Connecticut. The warrant resulted in over 200 grams of cocaine, over 200 grams of heroin, 11 firearms, 10 vehicles and about $75,000 in cash.

“You cannot overstate how important it is to get heroin and cocaine in this quantity off the streets and take back these neighborhoods. It is also a very good day for law-enforcement and for public safety when we can get this many weapons out of the hands of drug dealers," said Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early Jr.

The investigation also included wiretap and surveillance.

The Arrests and Charges

The arrests and charges are listed below. All individuals will be arraigned on Friday at the Worcester County District Courthouse. Three additional individuals were arrested in Connecticut and are facing numerous firearms and drug charges.

Juan DeJesus, 24 of 48 ½ Ward Street, Worcester was charged with Possession of Class A Substance with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Class B Substance with Intent to Distribute, Trafficking in Class B Substance more than 200 Grams, and Conspiracy to Violate Controlled Substance Laws.
Jose Tapia, 26, of 48 ½ Ward Street, Worcester was charged with Possession of Class A Substance with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Class B Substance with Intent to Distribute, Trafficking in Class B Substance more than 200 Grams, Conspiracy to Violate Controlled Substance Laws, Possession of Class B Substance, and Possession of Class C Substance
Jose Correa, 38, of 143 Orchard Hill, Oxford was charged with Trafficking in Class B more than 200 Grams and Conspiracy to Violate Controlled Substance Laws.
Joshua Amart, 24, of 11 Russell Street, Apartment 2, Worcester was charged with Distribution of Class B Substance (Subsequent Offense).
Pito Bauza, 45, of 42 Grand Street, Apartment 2, Worcester was charged with Possession of Class A Substance and Conspiracy to Violate Controlled Substance Laws.
Eduardo Diaz, 33, of 159 Water Street, Worcester was charged with Use of Firearm in a Felony, Resisting Arrest, Possession of Firearm/Ammunition without an FID Card, Possession of Class A Substance with Intent to Distribute, Interfering with a Police Officer and Conspiracy to Violate Controlled Substance Laws.
Wilfredo Valle, 32, of 300 Gregory Avenue, Passaic, NJ, was charged with Use of Firearm in a Felony, Resisting Arrest, Possession of Firearm/Ammunition without an FID Card, Possession of Class A Substance with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Class B Substance with Intent to Distribute and Conspiracy to Violate Controlled Substance Laws.
Israel Diaz, 36, of 41 Merrick Street, Worcester was charged with Possession of a Machine Gun, Trafficking in Class B Substance more than 200 Grams, Trafficking in Heroin more than 200 Grams, Conspiracy to Violate Controlled Substance Laws, Use of a Firearm in a Felony, Possession of a Firearm without an FID Card, and Possession of Ammunition without an FID Card.

Massachusetts State Police Colonel Richard McKeon said, ""These arrests and seizures of narcotics, firearms and suspected drug profits will deliver a significant blow to the cocaine and heroin trade in Worcester and the surrounding region. Today's operation and the investigation that preceded it is a model for interagency cooperation.”