Three Worcester Men Charged With Trafficking Heroin

Thursday, June 02, 2016

GoLocalWorcester News Team

Three Worcester men were arrested after police found heroin in an apartment on 34 Hitchcock Road while executing a search warrant.

Elvis Pena-Cruz, 29, of 34 Hitchcock Road was charged with possession of a stun gun and trafficking in heroin (100-199 grams). Franklin Moreta, 25, of 34 Hitchcock Road was charged with trafficking heroin (100-99 grams), and Antonion Moretta, 22, of 34 Hitchcock Road was charged with possession of a class A substance with intent to distribute and trafficking in heroin (100-99 grams).

All three men were arraigned on Thursday in Worcester County District Court.

The Incident

On Wednesday, June 1, members of the Worcester Police Vice Squad working with members of the Worcester DEA/High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force, possessed a Mass State Police search warrant for 34 Hitchcock Road.

At approximately 12:10 p.m., an agent saw Antonio Moreta, the target of the warrant, exit the front door of the Hitchcock Road dwelling. Members of the task force approached Moreta and placed him in custody. Moreta provided the officers/agents with the keys for the front common hallway door.

Officers entered the hallway and approached the third floor apartment. Officials knocked on the door and announced their presence. After a loud commotion could be heard from inside the apartment, police forced their way in.

Inside the Apartment

Once inside the apartments, Pena-Cruz was seen running towards the bathroom and slammed the door shut. Another male, Moreta, was secured.

A member of the task force forced the bathroom door open and took Pena-Cruz into custody without incident.

A search of the premises saw police find 2 digital scales, packaging materials, a "hide" canister, 108 grams of heroin and $1,921 in cash.