Federal prosecutors have charged 13 people in what they describe as a drug trafficking operation that moved cocaine and other narcotics into Worcester County from Puerto Rico, with investigators alleging the group relied in part on mailed shipments to supply the region.
The charges, announced this week in Boston, allege the network distributed cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine and marijuana across Central Massachusetts, including Worcester. Several of those charged are from the city and surrounding communities, underscoring the case’s local reach.
According to the documents, investigators allege the operation was led by Jack Saez Jr., 34, of Dayville, CT, and involved shipments of kilogram quantities of cocaine sent through the mail from Puerto Rico to addresses in Worcester County. Authorities say more than 10 kilograms of cocaine were seized during the investigation.
Prosecutors also say the group distributed additional narcotics, including fentanyl and methamphetamine, and that searches of residences in Massachusetts and Puerto Rico led to the recovery of eight firearms along with other drugs believed to be intended for distribution.
Among those charged are three Worcester residents — Sheldon Herring, 48; Duamel Ocasio, 55; and Anthony Hines, 57 — as well as individuals from Webster and East Brookfield. Others listed in the case are based in Puerto Rico, Connecticut and the Dominican Republic.
All 13 defendants are charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, a federal offense that carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison, along with supervised release and fines if convicted.
The investigation involved a range of federal, state and local agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from law enforcement departments across Worcester County.
