Massachusetts Heroin Ring Leader: 15 Years In Prison

BOSTON, MA — The leader of a Taunton drug ring whose reach extended to Boston and up into Maine was sentenced to 15 years in prison this week. Fernando Hernandez, 43, admitted to distributing heroin and fentanyl.

"Hernandez’s organization was based in Taunton and sold heroin and fentanyl to customers who re-distributed a portion of the drugs they obtained," U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling said in a statement. "Hernandez was responsible for distributing more than a kilogram of heroin over a two-month period in the summer of 2016, and that he was the leader of the organization that involved more than five other participants."

Hernandez, who last resided in Providence, Rhode Island, was sentenced to 15 years 8 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.

Hernandez obtained drugs from Jose Antonio Lugo-Guerrero, who an operation based in Boston, according to Lelling. The duo were among 23 arrested in a series of raids in Boston, Brighton, Fall River, New Bedford, Bridgewater and Providence. Police said the ring's reach extended to Maine.

Police said Fernando Rivera-Rodriguez, 31, of Boston, was another ringleader. The investigation involved federal drug agents and wiretaps. Police said Rivera-Rodriguez knew the fentanyl he was distributing was deadly, according to an affidavit. He was caught on a wiretap telling another drug distributor, "When you see those people being knocked over . . . you are going to call me back."

Police said the arrests were a major blow to the Bristol County-Boston heroin distribution network.

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Photo credit: Jacquelyn Martin/Associated Press