TEWKSBURY – Chief Ryan Columbus reports that the Tewksbury Police Department arrested and charged three men with trafficking cocaine, fentanyl, and numerous firearms charges Friday with assistance from law enforcement partners.
RICHARD PENA, AGE 20, OF LAWRENCE, was arrested and charged with:
- Trafficking Cocaine Over 200 Grams
- Trafficking Class A Substance Over 36 Grams – Fentanyl
- Possession of a Large-Capacity Firearm without FID Card (2 Counts)
- Possession of a Firearm Without FID Card
- Possession of Ammunition Without FID (2 Counts)
- Possession of a Large-Capacity Feeding Device (5 counts)
- Improper Storage of a Large-Capacity Firearm (2 Counts)
- Improper Storage of a Firearm
- Possession of a Class B Substance – Cocaine
ERADY SANTOS, AGE 18, OF LAWRENCE, was arrested and charged with:
- Trafficking Cocaine Over 200 Grams
- Trafficking Class A Substance Over 36 Grams – Fentanyl
- Possession of a Large-Capacity Firearm Without FID Card (2 Counts)
- Possession of a Firearm Without FID Card
- Possession of Ammunition Without FID (2 Counts)
- Possession of a Large-Capacity Feeding Device (5 counts)
- Improper storage of a Large-Capacity Firearm (2 Counts)
- Improper Storage of a Firearm
CHRISTOPHER VILLAR-PERALTA, AGE 21, OF LAWRENCE, was arrested and charged with:
- Trafficking Cocaine Over 200 Grams
- Trafficking Class A Substance Over 36 grams – Fentanyl
- Possession of a Large-Capacity Firearm Without FID Card (2 Counts)
- Possession of a Firearm Without FID Card
- Possession of Ammunition without FID (2 Counts)
- Possession of a Large-Capacity Feeding Device (5 counts)
- Improper Storage of a Large-Capacity Firearm (2 Counts)
- Improper Storage of a Firearm
VILLAR-PERALTA also was arrested on a warrant out of Suffolk Superior Court on a charge of Trafficking Fentanyl, and on a warrant out of Roxbury District Court on charges of Trafficking Fentanyl and Trafficking Cocaine.
On Friday, April 1, at approximately 4:30 p.m., Tewksbury Police detectives, with assistance from the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council SWAT team, executed a search warrant at 437 Ames Hill Drive.
The search warrant was obtained from Lowell District Court as a result of a months-long investigation into narcotics distribution in the Ames Hill Drive apartments that was conducted in collaboration with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office.
During a search of the address, detectives allegedly located approximately 923 grams cocaine and approximately 96 grams fentanyl, as well as three handguns, five high-capacity magazines, ammunition, paraphernalia used in the packaging and cutting of cocaine and fentanyl, and approximately $5,000 cash.
PENA, SANTOS, and VILLAR-PERALTA were arrested at the scene.
All three defendants will be arraigned Monday in Lowell District Court.
“These individuals placed their neighbors in fear and operated a drug distribution organization as if this was their kingdom. They made a mistake thinking they could get away with this in Tewksbury,” said Chief Columbus. “I am extremely proud of the work of our Drug Unit, who dedicated themselves to ensure the residents could take back their neighborhood, and I also want to thank the DEA, the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office and the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council for their assistance and collaboration.”
“These arrests highlight the importance of effective collaboration across all levels of law enforcement and keep our cities and towns safe,” said Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian. “The Middlesex Sheriff’s Office will continue to support Tewksbury PD and all our partners in identifying and apprehending those distributing drugs, while ensuring those residents in our communities in need of treatment are able to receive it.”
These are allegations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty.
