40 Boston area gang members arrested in RICO bust

BOSTON, Mass (WLNE) — The U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts announced Wednesday that 40 alleged Boston area gang members have been arrested.

The arrests come after a two-year federal RICO gun, drug and financial fraud investigation into the Heath Street Gang.

The gang allegedly operates out of the Mildred C. Hailey Apartments located in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston.

According to charging documents, the apartment complex has been used as a headquarters for drug trafficking, which has fed drug distribution networks throughout Massachusetts, Maine and California.

The gang is alleged to use social media platforms in their drug trafficking efforts, distributing and negotiating sales for fentanyl, fentanyl pills, cocaine, cocaine base and marijuana.

Heath Street Gang is also alleged to commit financial and theft crimes, which has included brazenly stealing merchandise from stores in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

The gang is also alleged to have engaged in CARES act loan and unemployment fraud.

The Heath Street Gang is alleged to commonly recruit juveniles living in the apartment complex to participate in crimes on behalf of the gang, including shootings.

It is also alleged that the gang requires new members to commit acts of violence as part of initiation into the gang.

The Heath Street Gang is also alleged to reward these prospective members with appearances in music videos in which they publicly brag about acts of violence they have committed.

The alleged gang members apprehended in the investigation are as follows:

• Jaquori Lyons, a/k/a “Gizzle,” a/k/a “Y Gizzle,” 25, of Jamaica Plain, is charged with RICO conspiracy;
• Joan Avalo-Quezada, a/k/a “Trouble,” 26, of Hyde Park, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances;
• Trevon Bell, a/k/a “Moula,” 27, of Roslindale, is charged with RICO conspiracy;
• Keonte Campbell, a/k/a “Keko,” 28, of Hyde Park, is charged with RICO conspiracy;
• Amos Carrasquillo, a/k/a “Cruddy,” 35, of Mattapan, is charged with RICO conspiracy;
• Deshawn Cirino, a/k/a “D,” a/k/a “Lil D,” 26, of Boston, is charged with RICO conspiracy;
• Dominique Finch, a/k/a “Heff,” 34, of Boston, is charged with RICO conspiracy;
• Zion Ford, a/k/a “Bricks,” 24, of Hyde Park, is charged with RICO conspiracy;
• Tyrre Herring, a/k/a “Blick,” a/k/a “Smoov,” 26, of Billerica, is charged with RICO conspiracy;
• De’vonne Mcdonald-Jones, a/k/a “Daedae,” a/k/a “D Jones,” 27, of Roslindale, is charged with RICO conspiracy;
• Rickquille Mckinney, a/k/a “Ricky Mazarati,” a/k/a “Mozzy,” 30, of Arlington, is charged with RICO conspiracy;
• Amani Perkins, a/k/a “Chop,” a/k/a “Choppa,” 25, of Mattapan, is charged with RICO conspiracy;
• Michael Riley, a/k/a “Snyda,” a/k/a “Sneed,” 46, of Malden, is charged with RICO conspiracy;
• Keyon Roberson, a/k/a “Beano,” 23, of Dorchester, is charged with RICO conspiracy;
• Randy Diaz-Pizarro, 32, of Central Falls, R.I., is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and being a felon in possession of firearm and ammunition;
• Bryon Palmer, 36, of Charlestown, is charged with being a felon in possession of ammunition and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl;
• Rolando Coxon, 31, of Hyde Park, is charged with two counts of distribution of fentanyl;
• Cerone Davis, 30, of Arlington, is charged with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances within 1,000 feet of a public housing facility;
• Donte Daily, 33, of Jamaica Plain, is charged with being a felon in possession of firearm and ammunition;
• Theodore Gamble-Williams, 39, of Jamaica Plain, is charged with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances;
• Jameel Gibbons, 39, of Roslindale, is charged with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances;
• Charles Bomman, 33, of Roxbury, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances;
• Deondre Blanding, 27, of Roslindale, is charged with possession of firearm in furtherance of violent or drug trafficking crime;
• Gelson Rodrigues, 33, of Randolph, is charged with possession of firearm in furtherance of violent or drug trafficking crime;
• Riccara McKinney, 28, of Roxbury, is charged with conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act conspiracy) and wire fraud;
• Rachel McKinney, 32, of Arlington, is charged with conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act conspiracy) and wire fraud;
• Teshawnda Knight, 41, of Hyde Park, is charged with wire fraud;
• Antawn Davis, 39, of Boston, is charged with wire fraud;
• Taisha Garcia, 27, of Lynn, is charged with wire fraud;
• Dawan Searcy, 32, of Somerville, is charged with wire fraud;
• Nathan Bootman, 26, of Randolph, is charged with wire fraud;
• Jameela Gross, 27, of Jamaica Plain, is charged with wire fraud;
• Robert Platt, 44, of Brockton, is charged with wire fraud;
• Donovan Scarlett, 25, of West Roxbury, is charged with wire fraud;
• David Avalo, 28, of Hyde Park, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances;
• Victor Pimentel, 27, of Brockton, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances;
• Amanda LaPointe, 39, of Ripley, Maine, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances;
• Krystin Mathewson, 38, of Enfield, Conn., is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances;
• Jacob Lyford, 32, of Milo, Maine, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances;
• Michael St. Pierre, 54, of Dedham, Maine, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; and
• Kayla Tasker, 31, of Dexter, Maine, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.