Twenty-Two Springfield Men Indicted On Federal And State Drug And Firearm Offenses

BOSTON – Twenty-two Springfield men were charged today in federal and state court with either distributing a controlled substance or unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition. 

Separate federal indictments alleging the distribution of crack cocaine were returned against Alberto Correa-Martinez, 27, and Stephen Tavernier, 28; Sherad Therrien, 24; David Faust, 26; Richard Freedman, 29; Jayson Green, 35; Aaron Smith, 30; Theo Waldron, 39; Dimitri Major, 36; and one other individual known to law-enforcement.  Therrien was also charged for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Luis Oppenheimer, 25, and Jose Vargas, 27, were charged with distributing and possessing with intent to distribute heroin.

If convicted on these charges, all of the above-listed individuals face a maximum of 20 years in prison, six years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. 

Nagee Jones, 22 and Jason Patterson, 30, were charged in separate indictments for being felons in possession of firearms and ammunition.   If convicted on these charges, Jones and Patterson face a maximum of a lifetime in prison, a lifetime of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. 

Separate Hampden County Superior Court indictments were returned against Christian Paret, 20, and Ricarte Burgos, 35, who were indicted on drug trafficking charges; Paret was also indicted for unlawful possession and sale of firearms and ammunition.  Christopher McCollough, 33, and one other individual known to law-enforcement who is a fugitive, were indicted for distributing narcotics.  The fugitive is additionally charged with being a subsequent offender and habitual offender, which, if convicted, carries a potential penalty of 15 years in state prison.

Luis Reyes, Steve Hollowman, Jermain Davis, and Tarryl Green were all charged in Springfield District Court with distributing illegal narcotics, which, if convicted, carries a potential penalty of 10 years in state prison.

“Today’s arrests are the result of our close collaborations with the Springfield Police, the Massachusetts State Police, and the Hampden County Sheriff’s Office,” said United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz.  “We stand united with our local and state partners in this and future public-safety initiatives to ensure Springfield is the safe and vibrant community its citizens deserve.”

United States Attorney Ortiz; Hampden County District Attorney James Orenstein; Vincent B. Lisi, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Daniel J. Kumor, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Boston Field Division;  Michael Ferguson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Springfield Police Commissioner John Barbieri; Massachusetts State Police Superintendent Colonel Timothy P. Alben; Hampden County Sheriff Michael Ashe; and United States Marshal John Gibbons; made the announcement today.

The cases were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Western Massachusetts Gang Task Force; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Task Force; Drug Enforcement Administration; Massachusetts State Police; Springfield Police Department; and Hampden County Sheriff’s Office; in a concerted effort to combat the illegal drug trafficking and violence in Springfield.

The details contained in the indictments are allegations.  The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.