Crime

Holyoke’s ‘Operation Open Air’ leads to 42 drug, firearm arrests

Officials said the effort was focused on opioid distribution in public spaces.

By Caroline Anders

2 minutes to read

A Holyoke drug sweep dubbed “Operation Open Air” led to 42 arrests, according to the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney’s office.

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The effort, which officials said was focused on opioid distribution in public spaces, happened in October.

Federal drug charges were brought against 17 of those arrested. The remaining 25 face state firearm and drug charges.

Local, state, and federal agencies teamed up to surveil and investigate possible dealers, officials said.

“These defendants sold heroin and fentanyl so they could profit from a crisis that is killing about 2,000 Massachusetts residents a year,” United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling said in a statement. “During this operation, law enforcement targeted and dismantled illegal drug markets operating in plain sight.”

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These 17 were arrested on federal heroin and cocaine charges:

  1. Dennis Roman, 34, of Holyoke, conspiracy to distribute heroin and distribution of heroin
  2. Ronny Authier, 21, of Holyoke, distribution of and possession with intent to distribute heroin
  3. Christopher Lebron, 31, of Holyoke, distribution of heroin
  4. Alexis Santana, 18, of Holyoke, distribution of heroin
  5. Jayson Quinones, 35, of Holyoke, distribution of heroin
  6. Herman Gomez, 20, of Holyoke, distribution of heroin
  7. Joevani Pagan, 28, of Holyoke, distribution of heroin
  8. Alexis Tapia, 34, of Holyoke, distribution of heroin and cocaine
  9. Juan Rivera-Velez, distribution of heroin
  10. Milagros Gaetan, 50, distribution of heroin
  11. Jose Cruz, 42, distribution of cocaine
  12. Jeffrey Caride, 38, of  Holyoke, distribution of heroin
  13. Miquiana Laboy, 22, of Holyoke, distribution of heroin and cocaine
  14. Gilbert Ramos, 25, of Holyoke, distribution of heroin
  15. Manuel Sanchez, 26, of Holyoke, distribution of heroin
  16. Pedro Rivas-Morales, 21, of Holyoke, distribution of and possession with intent to distribute heroin
  17. Roberto Santiago; 44, of Holyoke, distribution of and possession with intent to distribute heroin.

Drug distribution charges carry a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a $1 million fine, according to Lelling’s office. The charge of conspiracy to distribute provides a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

“The catastrophic abuse of opioids is filling emergency rooms and graveyards,” Joseph R. Bonavolonta, special agent in charge of the FBI Boston Division, said in a statement. “‘Operation Open Air’ was carried out to temper future casualties of this crisis in the Pioneer Valley by shutting down the open peddling of deadly drugs in public spaces.”

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