Authorities release new details about major drug raid in Holyoke

By DERRICK PERKINS

@DerrickTPerkins

Published: 04-15-2017 1:19 AM

HOLYOKE — Authorities have released additional details about an early morning drug raid Thursday that rattled the city’s long troubled Churchill neighborhood.

Early reports indicated federal, state and local law enforcement officials netted massive amounts of heroin, cash and three vehicles after executing search warrants at multiple apartments during yesterday’s operation. On Friday, officials with the Hampden County district attorney’s office announced that 20 people have been arrested in connection with the investigation that led to the raid.

In addition to the more than 24,000 bags of heroin — worth about $80,000 — $114,006 in cash and luxury vehicles initially reported as being seized, authorities also collected a bulletproof vest and handgun.

“This is tremendous work by the Hampden County Narcotics Taskforce, especially the members of the Holyoke Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to my office,” District Attorney Anthony Gulluni said in a statement. “This is a shining example of the seamless cooperation between all agencies — federal, state and local — that results in significant arrests and the betterment of public safety in this county. ”

Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Homeland Security, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives participated in the sweep, which included apartments at 304 Chestnut St., 39 O’Conner Ave., and 14 Laurel St. At least one other apartment was mistakenly raided by authorities. 

Also participating were members of the Springfield and Chicopee police departments as well as the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department. 

Contractors were busy replacing busted doors and changing locks in the hours following the raid as area residents watched unmarked police vehicles circle the area. Sam Kopec, property manager for several of the apartments raided, described the neighborhood as having a longstanding problem with drugs.

“I’m getting sick and tired of all the junkies,” he said, praising law enforcement’s actions while overseeing a locksmith work on an apartment door inside one of the neighborhood’s many brick tenement buildings Thursday.

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Officials also released the identities of the individuals arrested during the operation. They include: Martecastillo Stalen, 28, of Holyoke, who was charged with two counts of Class A drug distribution, Class B drug possession and trafficking in heroin between 36 and 100 grams; Carmen Mattei, 42, of Holyoke, also trafficking in heroin between 36 and 100 grams; Julio Sanchez, 38, of Holyoke, possession of a firearm without an identification card; and Kivanny Sanchez, 22, of Holyoke, trafficking heroin over 200 grams and conspiracy to violate drug laws.

Also arrested were: Miguel Rosario, 30; Noel Ortiz, 32; Jose Gonzalez, 41; Jose Falcon, 57; Tracy Martinez, 46; Juan Correa, 20; Adnane Diouane, 25; Edwin Matta, 50; and Kevin Echevarria, 31, all of Holyoke. Other arrests include Jose Suarez, 31, and Emmanuel Jimenez, 30, of Chicopee; and Johnattan Perez, 34, of Springfield.

Charges for all those arrested were not immediately available from the district attorney’s office. 

At least four arrests preceded the raid. On February 15, authorities took William Collazo, 50, and Omar Reyes, 36, both of Holyoke, into custody on distribution of heroin and conspiracy to violate drug laws charges.

That same day law enforcement arrested Darwin Cruz, 29, of Holyoke, on two counts of possession of a firearm without an identification card, possession of ammunition without an identification card, carrying a loaded firearm, unsecured weapons, and one count each of possession of a large capacity weapon or feeding device and receiving stolen property over $250. 

A fourth individual, Wilbert Medina, 44, of Holyoke, was arrested on similar charges with the addition of two counts of using a firearm in a felony and possessing a large capacity weapon or feeding device as well as one count each of distribution of a Class A drug, conspiracy to violate drug laws, disorderly conduct, possession of a Class A drug, possession with intent to distribute a Class A drug and resisting arrest.

“The City of Holyoke is a safer place after the tremendous cooperative effort of our agencies to investigate and arrest numerous violent and dangerous subjects using handguns and dealing drugs in our streets,” said Police Chief James Neiswanger. “The people of Holyoke deserve safe neighborhoods and we are continuing our efforts to close down the street gangs and drug activity in Holyoke.”

Derrick Perkins can be reached at dperkins@gazettenet.com.

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