DA: 17 arrested on gun, drug charges in crackdown on two feuding Dorchester gangs

Some 17 members of the Wendover Street and Cameron Street gangs were arrested yesterday and today - and 22 guns seized - following a yearlong investigation aimed to stamping out their violent feud, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office reports.

Working with federal ATF agents, undercover Boston Police gang officers and informants made a series of buys of both guns and drugs from members of both gangs - many recorded on federally supplied audio and video equipment. Starting yesterday and continuing through today, officers arrested suspects - who range in age from 16 to 51 - and raided their homes, the DA's office says.

In a statement, DA Dan Conley said:

Earlier this year, the Gang Unit of our Crime Strategies Bureau began presenting the accumulated evidence to the Suffolk County Grand Jury. Last week, those proceedings yielded some 98 indictments, including nine for firearms trafficking, 12 for high-capacity or assault weapon violations, and 19 for the distribution of fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana. Six of the defendants face enhanced penalties as second or subsequent offenders. And two have been charged either as habitual offenders or armed career criminals for prior crimes of violence and drug distribution.

They executed arrest warrants on those indictments yesterday and this morning, taking every single target into custody without injury and recovering almost a dozen firearms - in addition to the 11 taken off the street during the controlled buys in the latter half of last year.

Every one of those guns represents a shooting or a homicide prevented. Boston will be a safer place this summer because they’re off the street.

Arrested and arraigned today:

• Rohan Anderson, 26, trafficking in one to two firearms, unlawful sale of an assault weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, unlawful sale of ammunition, and unlawful possession of a large-capacity feeding device, held on $15,000 cash bail;
• Keimody Crocket, 22, trafficking in one to two firearms, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, unlawful sale of ammunition, unlawfully carrying a loaded firearm, unlawful sale of a large-capacity feeding device, and unlawful possession of a large-capacity feeding device, held on $50,000 cash bail.
• Jeramie Croft, 33, five counts of distributing cocaine as a second offense, one count of trafficking in one to two firearms, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm with four prior convictions for violent crimes.
• Hector Gonzalez, 22, one count of trafficking in one to two firearms, one count of unlawfully selling an assault weapon, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, one count of unlawfully selling a large-capacity feeding device, one count of unlawful sale of ammunition, two counts of unlawful possession of a large-capacity feeding device, and one count of unlawful possession of ammunition, held on $50,000 cash bail.
• Mervyn Innis, 33, indicted on one count of trafficking in one to two firearms, one count of unlawful sale of an assault weapon, and one count of unlawful sale of ammunition, held on $15,000 cash bail.
• Jorge Rivera, 16, youthful offender on one count of trafficking in one to two firearms and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, held on $250,000 bail.
• Alfredy Velasquez, 22, one count of trafficking in three to 10 firearms, one count of unlawful sale of an assault weapon, three counts of unlawful sale of ammunition, six counts of unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction for carrying a dangerous weapon, four counts of unlawful possession of ammunition, two counts of unlawfully carrying a loaded firearm, and one count of unlawful possession of a large-capacity feeding device held on $150,000 cash bail.
• Edward Velazquez, 25, one count of trafficking in three to 10 firearms, five counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, four counts of unlawful possession of ammunition, four counts of unlawful sale of ammunition, three counts of carrying a loaded firearm, one count of unlawful possession of a large-capacity feeding device, and one count of unlawful sale of a large-capacity feeding device, held on $50,000 cash bail.

Arrested today and awaiting arraignment:

• Lawrence Andrade, 26, distributing marijuana.
• Maria Barbosa, 28, distributing cocaine and one count of distributing fentanyl.
• Tony Burt, 50, indicted for distributing cocaine with four prior convictions for distribution or possession with intent to distribute;
• Christopher Jones, 49, three counts of distributing cocaine with a prior conviction for possession with intent to distribute;
• Wayne Rogers, 51, two counts of distributing marijuana and one count of distributing cocaine with two prior convictions for possession with intent to distribute;
• Joe Rosa, 35, for distributing cocaine and distributing heroin; and
• Charod Taylor, 28, three counts each of distributing cocaine and distributing marijuana.

Also:

Sergio Figueroa-Collazo, 21, was already in custody and was indicted for trafficking in one to two firearms, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and unlawful sale of ammunition. Takari Elliott, 25, was arrested today on federal drug trafficking charges and will be prosecuted in federal court.

Innocent, etc.