Springfield man arrested for alleged drug trafficking; 'Al Bruno' heroin confiscated, gun found in baby crib during raid
on January 25, 2017 at 12:52 PM, updated January 25, 2017 at 2:41 PM
SPRINGFIELD -- A narcotics raid Wednesday morning on Marion Street resulted in one arrest and the seizure of more than 3,000 packets of heroin, many of which were stamped with the likeness and name of the deceased Springfield crime boss Al Bruno, police said.
Police spokesman Sgt. John Delaney said the raid at 8:10 a.m. at 138 Marion St. also recovered $2,100 in cash and a loaded Smith & Wesson revolver.
Arrested was 18-year-old resident Jose Mendez. He was charged with trafficking heroin, possession of a firearm without a license, possession of ammunition without a firearms identification card and improper storage of a firearm.
Delaney said the raid was conducted by Springfield police, the Hampden County Narcotics Task Force and the Massachusetts State Police. Police obtained a search warrant for the address based on a lengthy investigation into drug activity there by Springfield Narcotics Detective Thomas Kakley, Delaney said.
Many of the packets of heroin were stamped with Bruno's name and likeness, while others bore the name Louis Vuitton, which is the brand name of a line of designer handbags and luggage.
This is the first of a four-part series detailing new information uncovered by long-standing litigation in the 2003 Adolfo Bruno murder case.
Police found the gun hidden in a baby crib, Delaney said.
The baby that was found in the house has been placed in the custody of the Department of Children and Families, Delaney said.
There was also various drug paraphernalia throughout the residence.
Delaney said it was a very good arrest for police and that it "got an armed drug dealer off the street."
Hamden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni issued a statement thanking the various units for their work.
"The resulting arrest removes a dangerous individual from our community along with an appreciable amount of narcotics off our streets," he said. "We continue to focus on investigating, arresting and aggressively prosecuting drug dealers and traffickers. It is they who profit from the scourge of addiction, which destroys lives, families and communities."
Roche would have faced a life sentence if not for striking a deal with the government.
Mendez was due to be arraigned Wednesday afternoon in Springfield District Court.
Bruno, a leader of the Springfield mob, was shot to death in the city's South End on Nov. 23, 2003.
