A drug raid in two communities involving federal, state and local police netted cocaine residue, cash, a weapon, drug paraphernalia and hundreds of chickens and roosters raised for illegal cockfighting.
On the morning of Feb 2 authorities raided 287 Wood St. and arrested Samuel C. Rodriquez, 46, on New York warrants for two counts of conspiracy to deliver or dispense cocaine.
Assisting in the arrest were police from New York City, Connecticut State Police and agents from the federal Drug Enforcement Agency.
Middleboro Detective Joseph M. Perkins said he had a tip Rodriquez was involved in cockfighting, but after finding hundreds of fowl, Perkins said, "We didn't know he was a major operator."
Authorities found a breeding facility and brooder house, with 200 to 300 chickens and roosters.
Middleboro Animal Control Officer William Wyatt and officer Laurie Miranda of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals were called to the Wood Street house.
Most of the birds were well cared for, Wyatt said, but some of the cages could not be reached because of the snow.
He said a few were found frozen to death.
Wyatt said the chests of the roosters were shaved, to hasten death in a cockfight.
Wyatt said evidence was found that indicated the birds were being trained to fight at the Wood Street house. Authorities said the roosters were supplied for cockfights throughout New England.
Wyatt and the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals are to return Feb 3 to the house after a warrant is secured to seize the birds.
Rodriquez was arraigned Feb 2 in Wareham District Court as a fugitive from justice and was held without bail for a court appearance on Friday, Feb 4.
In conjunction with Rodriquez' arrest, Taunton police detectives and agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration, armed with a search warrant, raided a second-floor apartment at 188 School St., where they arrested Joseph P. Gomes, 26.
Gomes was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, a loaded .38 caliber Derringer.
Taunton police also confiscated $12,000 in cash and drug scales. Vice Detective Sgt. Michael Grundy said police also found cocaine residue on the scales.
Grundy said Gomes works for Rodriquez, who owns the house as well as another one in Taunton.
According to assessors' online records, owner of the Wood Street house is listed as Rochelle M. Rodriguez, who bought the house in April 2004 for $414,000. The record also listed the name Rochelle Roderiguez as the owner of the Taunton house on School Street, which was bought in April 2003 for $515,000. Case Updates| Posted on May 13, 2005 - 6:59PM | Samuel C. Rodriguez was reportedly raising chickens on a secluded 14 acres, claiming himself to be a hard working auto body worker. New York prosecutors say he was quietly amassing a fortune, running a multi-million dollar drug ring on the East Coast.
Rodriguez was one of five people indicted Wednesday by a New York grand jury on multiple counts of money laundering and drug trafficking.
Rodriguez and the others named in the indictment � Jesus Anchondo, Elva Saldana, Rafael Gil, Antonio Perez and Felix Bruno � are also suspects in a Connecticut homicide investigation, authorities said. Bruno and Perez are both from Taunton, police said.
Bridget G. Brennan, special assistant district attorney in New York City, said Rodriguez's operation was uncovered during an investigation of a gang dubbed "Big Bags" that preyed on drug dealers, robbing them of drugs and money.
Anchondo and Saldana, posing as tourists, said their car was hijacked in New York. But Brennan said the couple was covering up a drug robbery.
"They were robbed of over $1 million," she said.
New York investigators were led to their partner, 46-year-old Rodriguez, whose home at 287 Wood St. in Middleboro had been under surveillance by local police since he moved there in 2003.
Brennan said Rodriguez's auto body shop was "part and parcel of a conspiracy to move drugs and money."
She said New York's investigation into Rodriguez linked incidents under scrutiny by different police organizations. Boston police were investigating Rodriguez for a gunshot wound that New York police linked to a Connecticut homicide.
Connecticut State Trooper Paul Vance said he is working with New York police in connection with the Nov. 10, 2003, killing of Gustavo Carillo.
According to a court affidavit, Rodriguez was treated in a Boston hospital for gunshot wounds the same day as the killing.
Middleboro Detective Joseph M. Perkins investigated Rodriquez when he first moved to town. The surveillance detailed a steady stream of vehicles to the auto body shop and uncovered hundreds of chickens and roosters believed to be raised for illegal cock fighting.
When Rodriguez was arrested in February on New York drug warrants, Perkins found a breeding facility and 200 to 300 chickens and roosters. The roosters had razors on their spurs, items authorities said are commonly used in cock fighting.
According to assessors' records Rodriguez's wife Rochelle, a homemaker, paid $515,000 in April 2003 for the Wood Street home, $414,000 in 2004 for a School Street house in Taunton and $220,000 for a Swan Drive house in Taunton in 2000.
Rodriguez' Middleboro neighbors noticed the volume of traffic, but thought it was customers getting work done on cars.
"I thought he was running a business," said Corrine A. Connon who lives across the street. "They seemed like a nice family."
When Connon heard Rodriguez was considered a major drug dealer, she said she was overwhelmed. "You think you've got a nice quiet place, you just never know. It's not something you want in your neighborhood."
"I wonder why he came to Middleboro?" asked neighbor Ann M. Ventura. "Middleboro's not the sleepy small town it once was, society is not the sleepy society it once was. It's a sign of the times."
Rodriguez, who is in a New York jail, awaits a May 20 court date. | | Source: South Of Boston - May 13, 2005 |
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