Carlos Rodriguez, Ernesto Rodriguez, Joshua Sanchez, Jorge Burgos, Heroin Trafficking, Massachusetts 2017

State: Massachusetts
Category: Drug Trafficking
Source: <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/four-indicted-heroin-trafficking" style="color:#cc0000;" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">DOJ Press Release ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Â Ã¢â‚¬â€

Four men from Massachusetts have been indicted for their alleged roles in a heroin trafficking scheme.

Carlos Rodriguez, 42, Ernesto Rodriguez, 48, and Joshua Sanchez, 27, all of Lawrence, and Jorge Burgos, 39, of Leominster, were charged with conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute in excess of 100 grams of heroin and fentanyl.

The indictment alleges that the defendants were involved in a heroin trafficking scheme that was uncovered through wiretaps and surveillance. On February 7, 2017, the defendants were arrested, and Burgos and Sanchez have been detained since. Carlos Rodriguez and Ernesto Rodriguez were released on conditions.

According to court documents, law enforcement agents conducted surveillance of Burgos purchasing heroin for resale from Carlos Rodriguez, Ernesto Rodriguez, and others. On December 19, 2017, agents stopped Sanchez after he left Carlos Rodriguez’s home and found him in possession of approximately 60 grams of suspected heroin/fentanyl.

The following day, agents conducted a stop of Carlos Rodriguez’s vehicle and recovered approximately 50 grams of suspected heroin and/or fentanyl. Further investigation led to the recovery of at least 100 additional grams of suspected heroin and fentanyl from Ernesto Rodriguez.

The charge of conspiring to distribute in excess of 100 grams of heroin provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5 million.

The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Grady of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office. The defendants are scheduled to be arraigned in federal court in Worcester.