SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) – Several people are facing charges after a lengthy investigation into violent activity in one Springfield neighborhood.
Jim Leydon, spokesperson for the Hampden District Attorney’s Office, said that during the summer of 2023, the areas of High, School, and Union Streets in Springfield saw an increase in violence. From July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023, Springfield Police received 118 ShotSpotter activations in this area, along with 89 emergency calls for shots fired, 45 reports of aggravated assault, and 23 emergency calls for someone having a gun.
At the same time, investigators noted that two rival drug trafficking organizations were engaged in a “violent and deadly armed turf war,” Leydon explained, adding that those two groups were reportedly looking to control the drug market in this area.
Officials noted that the violence in that area resulted several shootings, stabbings, and assaults. Some of those incidents claimed the lives of five people since April 30, 2023.
A high-level investigation by local, state, and federal agencies was conducted into those reported drug trafficking organizations with a goal of identifying and dismantling them. Detectives were able to identify those people who were in control of the organizations and those who were allegedly supplying them with illegal narcotics.
Leydon said that 20 people have been arrested so far as part of the investigation and indictments against co-conspirators are expected to be filed. In addition, 10 kilograms of cocaine, a half kilogram of heroin/fentanyl, 58 grams of methamphetamine, 20 guns, and $406,344 in cash have been seized.
Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni said in a statement:
The D.A.’s office added that, in August, it was learned that one of the targets of the investigation was allegedly intending to go to High Street to get a gun to then try and shoot or kill someone he had seen near his residence. Investigators went to the area and with assistance from the city’s camera system and other surveillance methods, they found that person traveling to High Street, getting the gun, and leaving. The person was found a short time later during a traffic stop and was allegedly in possession of a gun and taken into custody. He was then indicted for conspiracy to commit murder, along with other conspirators.
During the course of the investigation, the following people were arrested:
- Brittany Lambert, 34, of Springfield: Arrested December 18 for outstanding arrest warrants. The D.A.’s office said that additional charges will follow.
- Aimee Vega, 41, of Springfield: Arrested December 18 for outstanding arrest warrants. The D.A.’s office said that additional charges will follow.
- Lee Sandra Washington, 36, of Springfield: Arrested on December 18 on a charge of conspiracy to commit murder
- Dennis Jordan, 33, of Springfield: Arrested on December 15 on a charge of conspiracy to commit murder
- Miguel Turgeon, 41, of Belchertown: Arrested on December 13 on charges of three counts of possession of a firearm without a license and one count each of trafficking in methamphetamine, trafficking, possession of ammunition without a license, possession of a large capacity weapon or feeding device.
- Richard Rios, 44, of Springfield: Arrested December 6 on charges of trafficking in cocaine and conspiracy to violate drug law
- Hector Rios, 46, of Springfield: Arrested December 6 on a charge of trafficking in cocaine
- Louis Lebron, 36, of Springfield: Arrested December 1 on charges of conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to violate drug law, possession of a firearm without a license, possession of ammunition without a license, and firearm violation with three prior violent/drug crimes
- Fabien Rosario, 21, of Springfield: Arrested on November 29 on charges of trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to violate drug law, and operating a motor vehicle with license suspended or revoked
- Treysean Perry, 28, of Springfield: Arrested on November 29 on a charge of conspiracy to violate drug law
- Ceddric Cruz, 21, of Springfield: Arrested on November 29 on charges of conspiracy to violate drug law and trafficking in cocaine
- Juan Villalba Matias, 42, of Springfield: Arrested on November 28 on charges of trafficking in cocaine, possession of firearm and ammunition without a license subsequent offense, trafficking in heroin/morphine/opium, and possession of a large capacity weapon or feeding device
- Igor Rios, 45, of Springfield: Arrested on November 8 on charges of three counts of trafficking in cocaine, possession/carrying a firearm and one count each of possession of a large capacity weapon or feeding device, firearm violation with one prior violent/drug crime, conspiracy to violate drug law, possession of ammunition without a license, and possession/carrying a firearm (second offense).
- Daniel Mendoza, 43, of Springfield: Arrested on November 8 on charges of trafficking in cocaine, five counts of possession/carrying a firearm, possession of a large capacity weapon or feeding device, possession/carrying a firearm (second offense), firearm violation with one prior violent/drug crime, possession of ammunition without a license, and conspiracy to violate drug law
- Nefty Gonzalez-Maldonado, 33, of Springfield: Arrested on October 3 on charges of drug possession with intent to distribute (Class A drug), unregistered motor vehicle, uninsured motor vehicle, and attaching plates
- Jose Maldonado-Cruz, 28, of Springfield: Arrested on October 3 on a charge of trafficking in cocaine
- Hector Reyes, 44, of Springfield: Arrested September 18 on charges of possession of firearm without a license, possession of ammunition without a license, possession/carrying a firearm, trafficking in cocaine, firearm with defaced serial number, and possession of a large capacity weapon or feeding device
- Jean Carlos Rios Rivera, 24, of Springfield: Arrested on September 14 on a charge of drug possession (Class A, subsequent offense)
- Michael Christian Dejesus Baez, 25, of New York: Arrested on September 14 on a charge of trafficking in heroin
- Jeffrey Washington, 32, of Springfield: Arrested on August 23 on charges of conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of possession of a firearm and ammunition without a license (subsequent offense), possession/carrying a firearm (second offense), possession of ammunition without a license, possession/carrying a firearm, drug possession with intent to distribute Class B drug, and operation of a motor vehicle with a license suspended or revoked.
Leydon explained that Daniel Mendoza was on lifetime parole for an August 1996 gang-related homicide in Chicopee. He pled guilty to second degree murder and other charges and was granted parole on August 12, 2013.
Also, Leydon added that Fabian Rosario was previously arrested in July 2022 during a separate narcotics investigation in the same area. On September 29, 2023, Rosario was sentenced after an unagreed plea.
“Despite the Commonwealth’s recommendation to the court that he serve a 2 to 3 year sentence to state prison, he was sentenced to probation by the court,” Leydon said.
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