By Brian Fraga
Standard-Times staff writer
May 29, 2008 2:15 PM
NEW BEDFORD — City, state and federal law enforcement authorities arrested more than 20 reputed local gang members this morning, seizing weapons and narcotics in what prosecutors said was a months-long investigation.
Five individuals are being arraigned today in New Bedford District Court, while the remainder are facing federal indictments for weapons charges as well as for powder and crack cocaine distribution.
New Bedford police, acting in conjunction with the Massachusetts State Police Gang Unit, the FBI, and the Southeastern Massachusetts Gang Task Force, targeted the narcotics trafficking operation of Monte Park gang members, prosecutors said.
Police officials are expected to release more detailed information this afternoon on this morning’s gang raids, including a complete list of those individuals arrested and the weapons and drugs seized.
Meanwhile in district court today, Tanya L. Ponte, an alleged cocaine supplier for the gang, was arraigned for distribution of a crack and powder cocaine.
An unidentified federal witness who cooperated with investigators reportedly purchased two 8-balls of powder and crack cocaine from Ms. Ponte, 27, on Feb. 12, according to Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Gonzalez.
The informant purchased the cocaine after meeting Ms. Ponte at her Sycamore Street residence. Ms. Gonzalez said the transaction was caught on surveillance video conducted by undercover investigators.
Citing the large scope of the alleged drug enterprise, Judge Bernadette Sabra held Ms. Ponte on $20,000 cash bail.
The cooperating witness also purchased cocaine from at least three other reputed Monte Park gang members beginning in August 2007, prosecutors said.
Officials said the witness met with Rashard “Cheeto” Coleman, of New Bedford, last summer and purchased 3.2 grams of cocaine. The alleged transaction was also caught on surveillance video, prosecutors said.
Mr. Coleman will be arraigned this afternoon in district court.
On two occasions in October 2007, the witness also met with Myles “M” Pina and purchased 5 grams of crack cocaine with money the FBI had given him to purchase drugs, prosecutors said.
Mr. Pina, 17, was one of the two city teens charged with obstruction of justice for allegedly lying to police during the Jan. 1 murder investigation of 15-year-old Edwin “Gio” Medina.
Prosecutors are expected to ask Mr. Pina’s bail be revoked when he is arraigned this afternoon.
Police identified Mr. Pina from a surveillance video of the alleged drug transaction, prosecutors said.
On Nov. 9, prosecutors said the cooperating witness also purchased 4.6 grams of cocaine from Desmond “D” Rodriguez, of New Bedford. Mr. Rodriguez is also expected to be arraigned this afternoon in district court.
At least one more reputed Monte Park gang member is expected to be arraigned today for trafficking in excess of 200 grams of cocaine, officials said.
The Monte Park gang has been targeted several times in the past by law enforcement.
Last November, police arrested 8 individuals at Monte Park for crack cocaine distribution and possession charges, after the New Bedford Police Narcotics Unit conducted surveillance in the area.
Also that month, two reputed Monte Park gang members — Manuel ‘Minut’ Silva and Aaron Adams — were sentenced to serve three to five years in prison after being convicted of intimidating a court magistrate.
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