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Posted by: kwflatbed

By Brian Fraga
Standard-Times staff writer
September 06, 2007 6:00 AM
NEW BEDFORD — Nearly two dozen suspects, including two SouthCoast men with previous drug-dealing records and former boxer Scott Pemberton, were arrested in an early-morning narcotics sweep Wednesday, busting up what court documents called "a major drug distribution operation."
State and local police arrested Stanley P. Lemos of Dartmouth, who, according to court records, ran the operation. He was charged with trafficking cocaine and possession of marijuana and cocaine. Court records say police confiscated $20,800 in cash, 28 grams of cocaine and a small amount of marijuana from his home at 22 Fox Run Terrace, North Dartmouth.
At the same time in this city, police found a kilogram of cocaine, $24,000 in cash, 8 pounds of marijuana and a quantity of steroids inside the pickup truck and home of David Bussiere, 32, of 88 Rounseville St., according to court records.
At least six other individuals were arraigned Wednesday in New Bedford District Court on a variety of drug charges related to the sweep. They were: Dennis Stefanini, 38, of Fairhaven; John Leshyk, 36, of Fairhaven; Mr. Pemberton, 40, of South Dartmouth; Ana Cabral, 45, of 88 Rounseville St. in New Bedford and Patrick Hamm, no age or address given.
The names of other suspects are expected to be released today by Bristol County District Attorney C. Samuel Sutter, whose spokesman refused comment on the raids when contacted Wednesday.
The sweep followed a long-term investigation that included wiretapping and undercover surveillance, according to court documents.
Authorities executed search warrants in Dartmouth, New Bedford and Fairhaven, seizing more than 10 pounds of marijuana, a large quantity of cocaine, more than $50,000 in cash, a firearm, digital scales and other drug paraphernalia.
Mr. Lemos, 38, was the investigation's primary target, according to court records, which state he is being held on $20,000 cash bail on charges of trafficking cocaine.
Authorities wiretapped Mr. Lemos' telephone calls over several weeks and monitored numerous alleged drug transactions between Mr. Lemos and his associates, according to court records. In one instance, undercover agents saw Mr. Lemos leave $20,000 in cash inside a trash barrel as part of a drug transaction, according to police reports.
Court documents state Mr. Lemos is employed as a driver for Harvey Industries in Dartmouth with an annual income of $30,000. However, during the investigation, records indicate he was making $30,000 a month in drug transactions.
Mr. Lemos also owns houses at 70-72 Fair St., 50-52 Princeton St. and 24 Crapo St., all in New Bedford. He owns two properties in Okeechobee, Fla., which are held in a corporate capacity, according to court records, and held as investments or to "launder" drug proceeds.
He also has safe deposit boxes and accounts in several local banks.
In 2001, Mr. Lemos was beaten and stabbed during a home invasion in Fairhaven. He was attacked inside his 5 Fairlawn Ave. home shortly before midnight on a Friday. Police at the time said the attack was "not random."
Three men, armed with a knife and baseball bat, wearing masks (one of them of former President Richard Nixon), brandishing a gun, forced themselves into the house. Mr. Lemos said the men demanded money and beat him up. Mr. Lemos had previously been arrested in Dartmouth in 1989 for cocaine trafficking.
Mr. Bussiere was observed by undercover agents picking up the $20,000 in cash that Mr. Lemos left in a trash barrel, court records indicate. During his arraignment, Assistant District Attorney Steven Butts said wiretaps revealed Mr. Bussiere spoke with Mr. Lemos about cocaine transactions.
In 2002, Mr. Bussiere, then a Dartmouth correctional officer, was arrested after police said he picked up a shipment of 15 pounds of marijuana. He was charged with distribution and possession of marijuana. He resigned his position. Police reported he picked up a large blue cloth bag containing 15 clear plastic bags of marijuana with an estimated street value of $13,500.
The wiretapping operation also singled out Mr. Stefanini, 38, of Academy Avenue in Fairhaven. According to court records, when police raided his home, they confiscated 2¼ pounds of marijuana and a firearm not registered to him.
Assistant District Attorney Butts said in open court the wiretapping recorded Mr. Stefanini and Mr. Lemos discussing "paperwork," a code word for money. Mr. Butts said the pair discussed narcotic deals. Several other wiretapped conversations alluded to drugs, he said.
In 1996, police raided The Purple Haze Head Shop, run by Mr Stefanini and confiscated $50,000 worth of pipes and bongs. The Acushnet Avenue business was under surveillance for three weeks, and Mr. Stefanini was charged with illegal sale of drug paraphernalia and unlawful possession of a dangerous weapon, a double-edged knife.
Mr. Pemberton, a retired North American super middleweight champion, is charged with conspiracy, according to court records. In wiretapped conversations, Mr. Pemberton and Mr. Lemos discussed drugs, and undercover agents witnessed a drug deal between Mr. Pemberton and Mr. Lemos at Dartmouth Building Supply, according to records. He was released on personal recognizance.
In 2002, Mr. Pemberton was linked to a drug ring run by Dartmouth resident Arlindo Dos Santos. Police alleged Mr. Pemberton collected debts owed to Mr. Dos Santos and his business partners. Mr. Pemberton pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit extortion after the FBI taped him during a debt pickup. He was sentenced to serve about eight months.
Ms. Cabral was charged with trafficking cocaine and possession of cocaine, marijuana and prescription drugs with intent to distribute. Bail was set at $2,500 cash for Ms. Cabral, who works as a customer service representative.
Mr. Hamm was also caught on tape discussing drug transactions with Mr. Lemos.
When police raided the Academy Avenue Fairhaven home of Mr. Leshyk, they confiscated marijuana, 8.9 grams of cocaine, digital scales and an undetermined amount of cash, court records state. According to wiretapped conversations, Mr. Lemos kept some of his drug stashed at Mr. Leshyk's home. Bail for Mr. Leshyk was set at $10,000.

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/...NEWS/709060375

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Posted by: kwflatbed

By Maureen Boyle, Enterprise staff writer

NEW BEDFORD — A woman who once worked in New Bedford Superior Court for former Bristol County District Attorney Paul F. Walsh Jr. was one of 20 people nabbed by state and federal authorities in a drug sweep Wednesday, sources said.

The woman, who now works for the town of Fairhaven schools, was arrested after authorities obtained a warrant out of district court on drug-related charges, sources said.

The woman, whose name was not immediately available, had worked in Superior Court as a secretarial clerk for the former district attorney, sources said.

Walsh was defeated for re-election by C. Samuel Sutter and left office in January.

Sutter, the current district attorney, is set to detail the investigation that led to the arrests today and release the names of those taken into custody.

The investigation involved drug sales in Bristol County and involved “electronic surveillance” as part of the probe, sources said.

Sutter, as part of his election campaign, had pledged to use more wiretaps in investigations. Police officers in the county had criticized Walsh for his reluctance to use wiretaps in drug and other investigations.

State police assigned to Sutter's office and federal agents from U.S. Customs, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration as well as local police departments were involved in the investigation that resulted in the arrests Wednesday.

Authorities seized a cache of marijuana and cocaine as part of what was described as an ongoing investigation.

http://enterprise.southofboston.com/...ews/news11.txt

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Posted by: kwflatbed

25 people face charges in 'Operation Curveball'



Bristol County District Attorney C. Samuel Sutter, center, discusses the sting behind a table of seized drugs, money, weapons and cell phones, which were a major factor in the operation.JOHN SLADEWSKI/The Standard-Times

By Aaron Nicodemus
Standard-Times staff writer
September 06, 2007 12:44 PM
NEW BEDFORD — In the first wiretapping investigation conducted by the Bristol County District Attorney’s office in 17 years, law enforcement officials uncovered a wide criminal drug conspiracy involving 25 individuals in New Bedford, Dartmouth and Fairhaven.
Bristol County District Attorney C. Samuel Sutter, surrounded by local, state and federal authorities, announced today that the eight-month investigation dubbed “Operation Curveball” netted 15 pounds of marijuana, 711 grams of cocaine, $48,234 in cash and numerous prescription pills.

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The joint operation involved the Massachusetts State Police, Fairhaven Police, Dartmouth Police, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
Mr. Sutter said the operation’s use of wiretaps on cell phones was his fulfillment of a promise he made on the campaign trail to the voters of Bristol County. He called his campaign promises “a compact with the voters.”
“Wiretaps were a central issue in the campaign,” he said. “I said they could be done, I said they should be done, and I said if elected, I would do them.”
He held up his cell phone and said, “My opponent held up his cell phone at our debate in Fall River and said, ‘You can’t tap a cell phone.’ Yes you can, and you see before you the cell phones we tapped. I was right. It takes time, it takes resources, it takes money, but it’s worth it.”
The former District Attorney, Paul F. Walsh Jr., had refused to use wiretaps because he said they were too expensive and time-consuming to pursue.
Of the 25 people charged with drug dealing, drug conspiracy and drug possession, 22 were arrested on Wednesday and appeared in New Bedford District Court. Three of those charged are still at large.
Police issued search warrants for five homes and four vehicles.
According to authorities:
-- In the home of David Bussiere of 88 Rounsville Road, New Bedford, and in his motor vehicle, police found $25,000 in cash, 650 grams of cocaine, 8 pounds of marijuana and numerous pills, including steroids, Percoset, Oxycodone and Suboxon.
-- Stanley Lemos of 2 Fox Run Terrace of Dartmouth had his home and three motor vehicles searched. Police found $21,858 in cash, 52 grams of cocaine, 34 Oxycodone pills, and two ounces of marijuana.
-- At the home of John Leshyk of 15 Academy Ave., Fairhaven, police found $500 in cash, 9 grams of cocaine, 5 large bags of marijuana, three scales and one bottle of cutting agent.
-- Timmothy Morgan of 11 Briarwood Drive, New Bedford, was found to have 2 pounds of marijuana, drug packaging paraphernalia and $1,268 in cash, while Dennis Stefanini of 6 Academy St., Fairhaven, was found to have 2 pounds of marijuana and a handgun.
Also arrested were retired boxer Scott Pemberton of South Dartmouth, who was charged with conspiracy; and Renee Langlois, a secretary in the Fairhaven School Department.
Mr. Pemberton is a retired North American super middleweight champion.
Ms. Langlois was arrested for conspiracy and possession at her current place of work, the Fairhaven School Administration Building. She had previously worked as a secretary for former District Attorney Walsh. She is the secretary for the school business manager of the Fairhaven Public Schools.
Fairhaven Police Chief Gary Souza said he believed Ms. Langlois was a user of illegal substances, not a dealer, and that he had no evidence that she was dealing at her workplace.
“There is no allegation or suspicion that her arrest had anything to do with her job at the School Department,” he said.

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/.../NEWS/70906012

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