BOSTON – A Rhode Island man pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to his role in a fentanyl trafficking organization involved in the manufacturing and distribution of fentanyl pills that spanned across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Texas and North and South Carolina.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Justice, 35-year-old Erik Ventura pleaded guilty to a superseding indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for Aug. 1, 2024. Ventura was arrested and charged in February 2022 and has remained in custody since.

In September 2019, an investigation began into a drug trafficking organization based in Providence, Rhode Island and known to manufacture large quantities of fentanyl pills designed to appear like pharmaceutical grade oxycodone/Percocet pills and distribute them and other controlled substances throughout the United States. The investigation revealed that Ventura was a trusted member of the DTO and maintained one of the drug stash locations. Ventura transported cash and kilogram quantities of drugs to and from New York on behalf of the DTO, distributed thousands of fentanyl pills to wholesale customers in Massachusetts and was paid by the DTO for his work as a drug distributor. In February 2022, two industrial grade pill presses, approximately 20 kilograms of powdered fentanyl, pressed fentanyl pills and other items, including kilograms of pill binder used in the large-scale manufacturing of clandestinely pressed fentanyl pills, were seized.

The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston made the announcement. Special assistance in the investigation was provided by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Providence Field Office; the Drug Enforcement Administration, Providence Field Office; Rhode Island State Police; and the Cranston, Warwick and West Warwick Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsey E. Weinstein and Kunal Pasricha of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.

This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations.

Massachusetts shoppers and diners aren’t strangers to businesses closing locations throughout the state. It seems like regularly another company is shutting down another store or restaurant location. Enter Bed Bath & Beyond, Christmas Tree Shops, Friendly’s, etc.

For whatever reason, whether it’s price sensitivity, online shopping, at-home cooking,  struggling to pay bills, fallout from the pandemic, etc.  Massachusetts among the rest of the country is in an era where companies are closing up shop either by trimming the fat or completely going under.

A Popular Restaurant Chain Plans to Close 25-35 Locations This Year 

It was recently announced by several online sources and by Dine Brands Global which owns restaurant chains IHOP and Applebee’s that the company will be closing 25-35 Applebee’s locations across the country this year. Since 2017 over 100 hundred Applebees locations have shut down. While the company is eliminating Applebee’s in struggling areas, it recently opened over 40 new IHOP locations. So it doesn’t appear that Dine Brands Global is going under they’re just cutting locations where performance isn’t up to par.

Will Some Massachusetts Locations Be on the Chopping Block? 

At this point, the folks at Dial Brands Global haven’t announced exactly which locations of Applebees will be shutting down this year. Applebees operates over 20 locations in Massachusetts including some of the Bay State’s bigger areas like Worcester, Springfield, and Chicopee.

Massachusetts Diners Should Enjoy Themselves and Not Worry at This Point

When Applebees does release its list of upcoming closures we will let you know if any Massachusetts locations are on the list. Until then, go eat good in the hood for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Mom and Dad deserve a great meal.

FREETOWN, Mass. (WLNE) — Massachusetts State Police said that troopers are investigating an assault on a motorist that occurred on Route 140 on May 9.

State police said the victim stopped on the side of the road around 10 p.m. to check a mechanical issue on their vehicle when another car pulled up behind him and two individuals exited.

The suspects then pointed a gun at the man, robbed him of his wallet and a lockbox from the vehicle, and struck him before leaving.

Troopers are actively investigating the incident.