Fentanyl Ring Busted in Wareham, New Bedford

Four kilograms of fentanyl. Firearm stashes. A network spreading poison through Wareham and New Bedford. The feds have cracked open a major drug ring, charging five men and one woman in a sprawling federal indictment tied to mass narcotic distribution and illegal gun possession.

Steven Miranda, 52, of Wareham; Manuel Pina-Agee, 32; Clifford Gomes, 53; and Casey Andrade, 37, all of New Bedford, are each charged with conspiring to distribute fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and marijuana. Prosecutors allege the conspiracy moved more than 40 grams of fentanyl and over 10 grams of furanyl fentanyl, a deadly synthetic analogue. All four are also charged with possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute in April 2019. Pina-Agee and Gomes face additional charges for possessing firearms after prior felony convictions.

Jarrett Galloway, 28, of New Bedford, was charged separately with distributing and possessing fentanyl with intent on January 29, 2019, and possessing cocaine with intent to distribute on April 25, 2019. Jodi Smith, 33, formerly of Wareham, was hit with three counts of distributing fentanyl in January and February 2019—each a direct shot into the opioid crisis ravaging South Coast communities.

Arrests went down hard on April 25, 2019. Pina-Agee, Andrade, and Smith were taken into federal custody that day and charged by criminal complaint. Pina-Agee remains detained; Andrade and Smith were released on conditions. Gomes, Miranda, and Galloway were arrested on parallel state charges the same day, which are expected to be dropped in favor of federal prosecution.

Potential time behind bars is severe. The conspiracy charge carries a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of $5 million, and supervised release of four years to life. Possession with intent to distribute fentanyl brings the same penalties. Other drug counts carry up to 20 years, $1 million fines, and minimum three-year supervised release. Firearm offenses add up to 10 years, $250,000 in fines, and three years supervised release. All sentences will be handed down by a federal judge using U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Brian D. Boyle, DEA New England; Kelly D. Brady, ATF Boston; and Acting Wareham Police Chief John Walcek led the announcement. The probe involved the Sandwich, Carver, Middleboro, and New Bedford Police Departments, along with Homeland Security Investigations and the Internal Revenue Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ted Heinrich is prosecuting. The defendants remain presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in federal court.

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