BOSTON – Ten individuals were indicted today by a federal grand jury in Boston for their alleged involvement in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed fentanyl throughout Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The defendants were initially arrested and charged on July 19, 2022. Approximately 14.9 kilograms of suspected fentanyl and substantial amounts of cash were seized at the time of the arrests.

According to the charging documents, in March 2021, law enforcement began investigating a DTO led by Estarlin Ortiz-Alcantara operating in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Intercepted communications on numerous cellphones allegedly identified Mario Rafael Dominguez-Ortiz, Yeury Francisco Garcia-Rodriguez, Rafael Cesar Cabreja Jimenez and Alfredo Valdez as members of the DTO who conspired with Ortiz-Alcantara to regularly distribute multi-kilograms of fentanyl from a base of operations at a stash house in Fall River.

The investigation also identified Rebecca Bartholomew, Edwin Collazo, Jason Cruz, Michael Pacheco and Jose Santiago as alleged regular DTO customers who re-distributed fentanyl to their own local customer bases in areas including Cape Cod, Taunton and New Bedford. As part of the conspiracy, it is alleged that members of the DTO, under Ortiz-Alcantara’s management and control, conducted drug transactions with these regular customers in public areas – including in the diaper aisle of a store and in supermarket parking lots. It is also alleged that on at least one occasion, members of the DTO transported drugs concealed in cereal boxes while accompanied by a child. Over 500 grams of suspected fentanyl was seized during the investigation through controlled purchases and drug seizures.

The following defendants were charged with conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl:

Estarlin Ortiz-Alcantara, 36, of Providence, R.I.;
Mario Rafael Dominguez-Ortiz, 24, of Cranston, R.I.;
Yeury Francisco Garcia-Rodriguez, a/k/a “Benjamin Osorio Pizarro,” 32, of Providence, R.I.;
Rebecca Bartholomew, 36, of Yarmouth;
Jose Santiago, 45, of New Bedford;
Edwin Collazo, 26, of New Bedford;
Jason Cruz, 41, of New Bedford;
Michael Pacheco, 43, of Taunton;
Rafael Cesar Cabreja Jimenez, 27, of Providence; and
Alfredo Valdez, 44, of Providence.
The following defendants were charged with possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl:

Estarlin Ortiz-Alcantara,
Rafael Cesar Cabreja Jimenez, and
Alfredo Valdez, 44, of Providence.
The following defendants were charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl:

Edwin Collazo, and
Michael Pacheco.