New Bedford fentanyl trafficker sentenced after year-long investigation

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WLNE) — The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office said a large-scale drug trafficker was sentenced to state prison after a year-long investigation.

Police said 46-year-old Maria Carrion of New Bedford pleaded guilty to charges of trafficking fentanyl and conspiracy. She was discovered to be one of the organization’s distributors and runners.

Court records said in June, 2018, Dartmouth police obtained credible information linking Carrion to a large-scale fentanyl trafficking operation run by one Orlando Badillo.

The information sparked “operation ghost,” a year long multi-agency effort to stop the trafficking ring.

In March, 2019, investigators were allowed to tap Carrion’s cell phone which provided further evidence of her involvement in the operation.

Authorities said they hear multiple phone calls between Carrion and Badillo discussing methods of distribution.

On April 27, of 2019, Badillo and Carrion discussed her taking on 350 grams of fentanyl with the understanding that she would return the drugs when he was ready to sell them, police said.

Three days later, a search warrant was executed at Carrion’s home where police found 367 grams of fentanyl mixed with heroin along with digital scales and packaging materials used in narcotic distribution.

Carrion was sentenced to serve four to six-and-a-half years in state prison, followed by two years of supervised probation.