New Bedford Drug Stash House Operator Sentenced

New Bedford’s Shirley Vargas, 45, was locked up yesterday following a sentencing for her role in a drug stash house that fed the streets of Massachusetts. In U.S. District Court in Boston, Judge Nathaniel Gorton meted out an 18-month prison term and one year of supervised release to Vargas after she pleaded guilty to maintaining a place for drug purposes.

Vargas’ operation was no mere sideline; it served as a pivotal node for Luis Lopez’s Tiverton, R.I.-based drug ring. Inside her New Bedford abode, federal agents unearthed around one kilogram of fentanyl and acetylfentanyl — a mix so dangerous that the latter is often referred to as ‘China White’ due to its origin and potency.

During the June 2016 search, agents also found drug packaging paraphernalia, including a press and baggies, indicating an organized operation. Acetylfentanyl, a potent fentanyl derivative, is a deadly substance that has been linked to numerous overdoses across the United States.

Judge Gorton acknowledged Vargas’ non-distribution role but stressed her contribution to the suffering of drug addicts and their families. Meanwhile, Lopez, who was Vargas’ supplier, faced 15 years behind bars in January 2017.

The investigation and subsequent prosecution were a collaborative effort by multiple law enforcement agencies. Acting U.S. Attorney William D. Weinreb; DEA Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Ferguson; IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Joel P. Garland; New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro; and Fall River Police Chief Daniel S. Racine all played a part in bringing Vargas to justice, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric S. Rosen leading the prosecution.

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