All defendants in drug investigation “Operation Ghost” convicted

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced Wednesday that all defendants have been convicted in the year-long, multi-agency investigation into fentanyl trafficking on the South Coast, dubbed “Operation Ghost.”

Operation Ghost began in June 2018 after a Dartmouth Police Detective and a patrol officer with Quinn’s State Police Narcotics Unit gathered credible information that Orlando Badillo of New Bedford was running a large fentanyl smuggling ring throughout southeastern New England.

Soon, other local agencies joined the ongoing investigation, including the New Bedford Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Department of Homeland Security and the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office.

In March 2019, investigators were allowed to listen to cell phone conversations and text messages between phones belonging to Badillo and other members of the organization. Between March 5 and April 30, 2019, investigators were able to collect information detailing how the organization functioned and the roles played by different members.

Over time, this led to the conviction of all defendants in this case:

– Badillo, the leader of the organization, is serving a sentence of eight to ten years in state prison.

– Robert Peguero, the drug trafficking ring’s drug supplier, will serve a five- to eight-year prison sentence followed by two years’ probation.

– David Luna, one of Badillo’s three top lieutenants, is serving a five-year sentence in state prison.

– Pedro Cruz, one of Badillo’s three top lieutenants, is serving a five- to six-year sentence in state prison.

– Kelly Rodrigues, one of Badillo’s three top lieutenants, is serving a four to six and a half year sentence in state prison.

– Heather Cabral, one of the organization’s leading drug traffickers, is serving a prison sentence of four and a half to seven years. She will then be released on probation for an additional two years.

– Maria Carrion, a drug trafficker and sometime drug courier for the organization, is serving a prison sentence of four to six and a half years. She will then be released on probation for an additional two years.

– Xiomara Rivera, who allowed her apartment to be used as a drug stash, was sentenced to two years probation.

– Elizabeth Andrews, the owner of a drug stash, was sentenced to two years probation.

– Lisa Telfair, the alleged owner of a drug stash, died while her case was pending.

“Operation Ghost, a long-term undercover investigation, led to the dismantling of a large fentanyl distribution ring that sold heroin and fentanyl in the greater New Bedford area. The investigation revealed that the organization was obtaining fentanyl from a supplier in Providence, Rhode Island,” said District Attorney Quinn. “Without the use of court-authorized wiretaps, these drug traffickers most likely would have escaped punishment.”

“I would like to thank all the investigators who invested many hours of investigative work that led to the arrest and conviction of several defendants,” Quinn said.