Massachusetts
ICE arrests alleged gun-running, fentanyl trafficking, indecent assault suspects across Massachusetts
An illegal immigrant arrested in Boston for allegedly peddling “poison” fentanyl while armed is also wanted in his home country for gun running, and appears to be part of the “second surge” of ICE arrests the agency vowed to roll out in the city.
Julio Soto-Heredia, 44, of the Dominican Republic, was arrested Sunday by ICE agents, the agency announced Tuesday. He’s also wanted in his home country for alleged firearms trafficking.
“After Dominican authorities charged Julio Soto-Heredia with firearms trafficking, he later illegally entered the United States and attempted to hide out in Boston,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde.
“If that weren’t bad enough, Soto-Heredia apparently illegally armed himself and attempted to peddle poison in our Massachusetts neighborhoods,” Hyde added. “ICE Boston will not stand idly by while illegal alien offenders victimize the residents of our New England communities. We will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing criminal alien offenders.”
Soto-Heredia remains in ICE custody.
The bust hits as Immigration and Customs Enforcement leadership has committed to a second “surge” of arrests in Greater Boston.
The agency also announced the arrest of Kleber Lasso, an “illegal alien from Ecuador convicted for soliciting to commit murder and sentenced to only 1 year in jail. Brockton District Court failed to honor ICE’s detainer and released this criminal back onto Massachusetts’ streets.” He was arrested May 5.
On May 7, Senat Dufren, here illegally from Haiti, was arrested in Waltham and was charged with assault and battery and malicious destruction of property in Roxbury.
“Local authorities did not honor the detainer and released Dufren. He then went on to victimize more innocent Americans — including a pregnant woman. He was then arrested again on February 19, 2025, for assault and battery on a pregnant victim, assault and battery family/household, and assault and battery,” ICE added.
On May 12, Elismar Alves Ferreira, here illegally from Brazil, was charged with assault and battery on a police officer, resisting arrest, operating negligently, and disorderly conduct. ICE did not state the Massachusetts city or town where he was arrested.
Also on May 12, ICE arrested Carlos Araujo, an illegal alien from Uruguay. He was convicted of indecent assault and battery of a 7-year-old female.
On May 11, 2025, ICE arrested Fernando Pereira De Oliveria, here illegally from Brazil. He is charged with indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over. ICE did not state the Massachusetts city or town where he was arrested.
On May 7, ICE Boston arrested Irwin Alexander Martinez, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador, “near Chelsea.” He is an MS-13 gang member, ICE added. On the same day, ICE stated the agency caught up to Noe Pena Garcia, a 24-year-old illegal from El Salvador and suspected MS-13 gang member.
Also on May 7, ICE Boston grabbed Sergey Ivashkevich, who had an active Interpol Red Notice out of Kazakhstan for extortion with threat of violence.
Other arrests included suspected 18th Street gang members and cocaine dealers. The 18th Street clique, also known as Barrio 18, is a multi-ethnic street gang that started in Los Angeles and has become one of the nation’s largest gangs.
ICE and other federal agencies also arrested 11 roofers in Lowell on May 16. They were all Ecuadorian citizens. The feds targeted “a business with alleged unauthorized hiring practices” at a worksite in Lowell.
The Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) coalition could not be immediately reached for comment.
Originally Published:
Massachusetts
How will the Iran war impact gas prices in Massachusetts?
With a widening conflict in the Middle East after the American and Israeli attack on Iran Saturday, global markets are bracing for a shakeup in the energy supply chain.
So, here at home, what can consumers expect at the gas pump?
An increase in oil prices is almost always followed by an increase in gas prices. And the oil market has already reacted to the war. NBC News reported on Sunday that U.S. crude oil initially spiked more than 10%, while Brent, the international oil benchmark, rose as much as 13%.
Early Monday morning, reports were coming in of black smoke rising from the U.S. embassy in Kuwait City.
While Iran’s oil reserves supply less than an estimated 5% of global production, the main concern is the Strait of Hormuz. This maritime passageway borders Iran at the bottleneck of the Persian Gulf, and more than 20% of the world’s oil passes through. If Iran closes or restricts Hormuz, the oil market could face severe disruptions.
Gas prices rise about 2.5 cents for every dollar increase in crude oil prices. As of Sunday, U.S. crude oil prices had already increased by nearly $5 a barrel.
“I fully expect that by Monday night, you could credibly say that gas prices are being impacted by oil prices having gone up,” GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan told NBC News.
GasBuddy characterizes their expectations for price increases as “incremental” rather than “explosive”. The group said to anticipate a potential 10-15 cent increase over the next couple of weeks.
Massachusetts
Body camera video shows Massachusetts police officer save 78-year-old man from burning truck – East Idaho News
EASTON, Mass. (WBZ) — Police body camera video shows an Easton, Massachusetts, officer rescuing a 78-year-old Raynham man from a burning car on Friday morning.
A Mack dump truck was experiencing problems on the side of Turnpike Street just after 2 a.m. when a Ford pickup truck struck the back of it, according to police.
The pickup truck then became stuck under the dump truck, trapping the driver, Francis Leverone, inside. A Toyota Camry then hit the back of the pickup truck and caught fire, police said.
Easton police officer Dean Soucie arrived at the crash and saw that the two vehicles were on fire. Video shows Soucie rushing over before breaking the driver’s side window and then, with the help of the two witnesses, freeing Leverone from the pickup truck. Soucie said he was confused but conscious.
“As I reached inside the vehicle, one of the passersby — he actually jumped into the cab of the truck, and he helped me free the individual,” Soucie said.
They then carried the driver to safety.
Leverone was taken to a nearby hospital before being transferred to a Boston hospital. He received serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
No one else was injured in the crash.
Dee Leverone told WBZ her husband is doing OK. “I’m just thankful for the people that got him out,” she said. “Very thankful.”
After watching the police body-cam video on the news she said, “I was shocked, I was like ‘Oh my God!’ I just couldn’t believe it. His truck is like melted.”
She says she realized that something was wrong last night when her husband never made it home from work.
“I kept trying to call him and call him, and I finally got a hold of him at like 4:30 a.m., and he was at (Good Samaritan Hospital) and he told me he’s gotten in an accident,” Dee said.
She says he’s recovering at the Boston Medical Center and being treated for a dislocated hip.
“He’s a trooper,” Dee said. “He’s a strong man — and you know he’s 78, but you know he’s a toughie. He definitely is a toughie.”
Soucie commended the help of the two witnesses and said that before he arrived at the crash, they had attempted to put out the flames with a fire extinguisher and removed a gasoline tank from the pickup truck before it could ignite.
“They jumped into action like it was nothing,” Soucie said. “Those two individuals were absolutely awesome.”
Easton Police Chief Keith Boone said that he is “extremely proud” of Soucie and the witnesses.
“He saved a life last night,” Chief Boone said. “He is an exemplary police officer and this is just one example. I think he’s a hero.”
Turnpike Street was closed for several hours following the crash. Easton Police are investigating.
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Massachusetts
Crews battle fire at Townsend home
A fire broke out Sunday morning in Townsend, Massachusetts.
The Townsend Fire department said shortly before 7 a.m. that firefighters were on scene for a structure fire on Dudley Road.
People have been asked to avoid the area.
The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services said state police fire investigators assigned to the state fire marshal’s office are responding to assist the Townsend Fire Department.
There was no immediate word on any injuries, or any information on what caused the fire. It’s also unclear if the large snow piles in the area impeded access to fire hydrants, as was the case at the house explosion in Taunton last week.
This developing story will be updated when we learn more
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