Nine convicted in ‘Operation Ghost’ drug bust in Greater New Bedford

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WLNE) — Officials announced Wednesday that a year-long investigation into a major drug trafficking organization in the Greater New Bedford area resulted in the convictions of nine defendants connected with the case.

The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office said the investigation, coined “Operation Ghost,” busted a major fentanyl trafficking ring led by Orlando Badillo in southeastern Massachusetts supplied from Providence.

The first details of the case arose in June 2018, when a Dartmouth Police Department detective and a Massachusetts State Police Trooper developed information revealing Badillo’s ring.

Officials said other local and federal law enforcement agencies joined the probe as the investigation progressed, including the New Bedford Police Department, DEA, Homeland Security, and the Bristol County Sherriff’s Office.

A judge authorized investigators in March 2019 to lawfully intercept cell phone conversations and text messages to and from cell phones used by Badillo and other members of his organization.

Detectives were able to gather more evidence from the wiretap through April 2019, explaining the intricate workings of the Badillo ring and confirming the roles played by the various members.

“Without the use of court-approved wiretaps, these drug dealers most likely would have escaped punishment,” District Attorney Thomas Quinn said in a statement. “I would like to thank all the investigators who put in many hours of investigative work that led to the arrest and conviction of multiple defendants.”

The details revealed resulted in the following convictions, according to the attorney’s office:

• Orlando Badillo, the leader of the organization, serving an eight-to-10-year prison sentence
• Robert Peguero, the trafficking ring’s drug supplier, serving a five-to-eight-year prison sentence, plus probation
• David Luna, one of Badillo’s three top lieutenants, serving a five-year prison sentence
• Pedro Cruz, one of Badillo’s three top lieutenants, serving a five-to-six-year prison sentence
• Kelly Rodrigues, one of Badillo’s three top lieutenants, serving a four-to-six-and-a-half-year prison sentence
• Heather Cabral, a chief drug runner in the organization, serving a four-and-a-half-to-seven-year prison sentence, plus probation
• Maria Carrion, a drug distributor and temporary drug runner, serving a four-to-six-and-a-half year prison sentence, plus probation
• Xiomara Rivera, who allowed her residence to be used as a stash house, was placed on probation for two years
• Elizabeth Andrews, a keeper of a stash house, was placed on probation for two years

Officials said Lisa Telfair, an alleged keeper of a stash house, died during the pendency of her case.