Eric Desousa, Heroin Trafficking, Massachusetts 2017

A major blow was dealt to the heroin trade in New Bedford, Massachusetts, as two local residents pleaded guilty to heroin trafficking charges.

Eric Desousa, 26, and Tyson Depina, 40, both of New Bedford, were found guilty of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, as well as three counts of possession of heroin with the intent to distribute.

According to court documents, Depina had been receiving heroin from Sharik Mendes, who was previously sentenced for heroin trafficking in January. In the spring of 2016, Depina began receiving heroin from Desousa. On April 14, 2016, investigators watched Desousa distribute heroin to Depina, who was subsequently arrested in possession of the drug.

During the arrest process, Depina fled and attempted to destroy the heroin, covering an officer in the process. The officer was taken to the hospital and later confirmed that the heroin seized from Depina was a mixture of heroin and the deadly drug fentanyl.

On June 6, 2016, investigators watched as Desousa attempted to deliver heroin to a customer in New Bedford. Desousa was arrested and law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Desousa’s residence in New Bedford, where they found nearly 300 grams of a mixture of heroin and fentanyl and more than $8,000 in cash.

Desousa faces a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, a minimum of three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of $1 million. Depina faces a sentence of no less than five years and up to 40 years in prison, a minimum of four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5 million.

U.S. District Court Senior Judge Douglas P. Woodlock scheduled sentencing for July 13, 2017, for both Depina and Desousa.

Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb made the announcement today, along with Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division, Fall River Police Chief Daniel S. Racine, and New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric S. Rosen of Weinreb’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit.

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