BOSTON - John J. Arvanitis, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England and Carmen Ortiz, United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts announced a criminal complaint was unsealed today charging two men, from Bourne and New Bedford, with federal narcotics trafficking. The complaint resulted from federal, state and local authorities efforts to reduce violence and drug trafficking in the New Bedford area by identifying and investigating individuals involved in these criminal activities.
Francisco Monteiro, a/k/a Cisco, (“Monteiro"), 32, of Bourne, is charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin; and Junior (“Lopes"), 34, of New Bedford, is charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin.
During a court authorized search of Lopes’s home today at 162 Apponagansett Street in New Bedford, agents seized approximately one and a half kilograms of heroin as well as a bulletproof vest. During the search of Monteiro’s residence today at 4D Beach Plum Lane, in Bourne, agents seized packaging materials, cell phones and other evidence consistent with drug trafficking.
Monteiro and Lopes are charged with conspiring among themselves, and others, to distribute over 100 grams of heroin. It is alleged that on Feb. 15, 2013, Monteiro and Lopes arranged and facilitated the sale of almost 100 grams of heroin to a cooperating witness in New Bedford. Federal agents recorded telephone calls to Monteiro where he agreed to provide heroin to a cooperating (“CW"). Monteiro and Lopes allegedly drove with the CW to an address in New Bedford where the heroin sale was completed. Monteiro and Lopes further planned and arranged for the sale of an additional 50 grams of heroin to the CW that was to take place on Feb. 25, 2013, although the sale was not completed.
As detailed in the complaint, Monteiro and Lopes have extensive criminal histories of violent crimes, including armed robberies of other drug dealers to obtain money to fund their drug dealing activities. Monteiro has prior convictions for drug distribution and unlawful possession of a firearm. In 2003, Lopes was convicted in U.S. District Court in Boston for gun and drug trafficking and received a sentence of 130 months. Lopes is currently on supervised release for those offenses.
