Crack down on gun-toting thugs in Brockton

The Enterprise of Brockton, Mass.
www.enterprisenews.com
BROCKTON — It took months and several investigations to seize the guns that were laid out on the table of the prosecutor's office and to charge nine people on drug and weapons charges.

It will take months more to catch other gun-toting criminals in the city, authorities said.

"Changes don't come overnight," Police Chief William Conlon said. "But you can see these weapons that are displayed before you today are certainly not toys."

Law enforcement officials pledged Friday to turn up the heat this summer on gun violence, with federal agencies joining local and state efforts in the crackdown.

Authorities, at a press conference in Brockton, announced nine people now face federal and state charges as part of the push to curb gun crimes in the city and prevent a violent summer.

Four of the suspects were arrested Friday, three were already in custody and two remained at large.

Authorities seized 14 guns, including some reported stolen, as part of the investigations into drug and gun sales in the city.

"Law enforcement is seriously interested in stopping the violence in this community," said U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan, who is also the acting director of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Sullivan said several arrested in the latest investigations are in their 30s and 40s.

"These aren't kids ... The message is it doesn't make any difference how old you are, law enforcement is seriously interested in stopping the violence in this community," Sullivan said.

Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz said it won't be easy, but authorities are determined to keep moving forward and every gun, every arrest, makes a difference.

"Brockton is safer today than we were the other day," Cruz said.

Glenn N. Anderson, special agent in charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives field office in Boston, said local, state and federal officials are working together and no one is giving up.

"I want to make it clear, we will be coming back," Anderson said.

The suspects and charges include:

Kevin Mallette, 22, of Dover St., Room 204, Brockton: possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of a stolen firearm.

Gerardo Rosario, 42, of 17 Reynolds St., New Bedford: possession of an unregistered firearm, transfer of a firearm and possession of a firearm without a serial number.

Ralph Sydney, 24, of 6 Eaton St., Brockton: being a felon in possession of ammunition and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

Wayne Thompson, 40, of 416 North Montello St., Brockton: being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Daniel Goncalves DePina, 37, of 1008 Warren Ave., Brockton: being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Anthony Oliveira, 42, of 47 Wallwind Drive, Plymouth: being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Wanda DeCabral, 36, of 103 Highland St., Brockton: being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Authorities were searching for two suspects on Friday: Marcus Robinson, 28, of 34 Bradford St., Brockton and Jaime S. Teixeira, 29, of 30 Highland St., Brockton.

Robinson is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, one count of possession of an unregistered firearm and one count of transfer of an unregistered firearm.

Teixeira was charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

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News & Politics

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• guns
• arrests
• ATF
• drugs
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[TheBuilder65]

Huh..criminals not paying any attention to guns laws, what a shock. Yet again this should be an example of why the lawful public should own firearms. Criminals don't carry guns just for protection, they carry them so that they can hurt and rob you. They will never care about what the law says, no ban will ever change that...

[jsh78mang]

Good to see them getting Illegal guns out of the hands of criminals.