New England DEA surge nets drugs and cash

BOSTON – Drug overdoses are the leading cause of injury-related deaths in the U.S. This crisis is destroying communities throughout New England and the nation. I

In an effort to address this epidemic, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New England Field Division’s during a two-week surge operation made 645 arrests and seized 17.9 kilograms of fentanyl, 7,800 illicit fentanyl pills, 13.9 kilograms of cocaine, 3.1 kilograms of heroin, 2.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, 38.1 kilograms of marijuana, 51 firearms and $1.2 million in cash, announced Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle.

“DEA’s top priority is to aggressively pursue anyone who distributes these deadly drugs,” Boyle said. “Those arrested need to be held accountable for their actions because they have chosen to distribute this poison and profit from the misery they spread.”

“Illegal drug distribution ravages the very foundations of our families and communities,” Boyle added. “Every time we take fentanyl off the streets we save lives. These enforcement actions demonstrate the strength of collaborative local, state and federal law enforcement efforts in New England.”

Wreaths to be delivered in honor of veterans

RAYMOND (AP) — More than 1,600 veteran cemeteries and memorials across the country will be decked with thousands of wreaths.

WMUR reports that a caravan of tractor-trailers loaded with 15,000 wreaths left Raymond, New Hampshire, on Monday morning as part of the Wreaths Across America program.

Raymond Town Manager Joseph Isley says it is a way for communities across the states “to pay tribute to fallen veterans and their families.”

The effort includes a ceremony featuring a marching band and several speakers. The partnership is between local and nationwide communities and Walmart distribution centers.

The initiative began in 1992 when a Maine wreath company had an idea of what to do with its surplus.

Since then, the mission has laid 1.8 million veteran wreaths across the country with Walmart donating the trailers and drivers to transport 100,000 of them.

Moorish group sues N.H. police over traffic stop

MARLBOROUGH (AP) — Members of a religious group sued multiple law enforcement agencies in New Hampshire for allegedly violating their rights during a traffic stop.

Members who identify as Moorish American Indigenous people of Moroccan descent alleged in a lawsuit filed in federal court in Concord on Dec. 5 that they have been targeted for their national origin and belief system, NHPR reported.

The Southern Poverty Law Center has labeled the Moorish Americans an extremist group, citing acts of violence allegedly carried out by its members.

The traffic stop happened on Nov. 12 in Marlborough when a sergeant pulled over three cars occupied by Moorish Americans who were traveling in a caravan.

Woman gets license taken for a year due to deadly crash

BRENTWOOD (AP) — A Massachusetts woman was been sentenced to a year without a driver’s license and a $500 fine for driving while intoxicated in an accident in which she struck and killed a man in New Hampshire.

Prosecutors said a lack of evidence prevented them from making a case for negligent homicide charges against Dawn Marie Barcellona, 58, of Salisbury.

Barcellona has been barred from driving and her vehicle has been impounded since the October 2018 crash in Seabrook. She apologized in court Monday to the family of Andrew Dobson.

Judge sets March trial date in mall kidnapping

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — A Vermont man charged with kidnapping a woman and her child from a mall in New Hampshire and then bringing her to Vermont is scheduled to go on trial in federal court in March, a judge ruled Tuesday.

Court records indicate that jury selection in the trial of Everett Simpson is scheduled to begin March 23. The trial is scheduled to run through April 3.

Simpson, 42, is facing federal kidnapping charges. After he left a Bradford drug abuse treatment center Jan. 4, he traveled to Manchester, New Hampshire, where he allegedly kidnapped the woman and her child and then brought them to Vermont. He is facing separate state charges that he sexually assaulted the woman in Vermont.

Simpson has pleaded not guilty to the federal charges.

Recount: Boston City Council candidate won by a single vote

BOSTON (AP) — A City Council race in Boston has been decided by a single vote.

The city Election Commission said newcomer Julia Mejia has claimed the council’s fourth and final at-large seat following a three-day recount that ended Monday.

She defeated fellow newcomer Alejandra St. Guillen, 22,492 votes to 22,491 votes.

St. Guillen had sought the recount after the initial results showed her losing the November election to Mejia by just eight votes.

She said she is weighing her options, including challenging the recount in state court.

Whoever ultimately takes office in January will become the city’s first Latina councilor. The new councilor would also join a governing body boasting its first ever majorities of women and minorities.

Women will hold eight of the 13 council seats and there will be seven councilors of color.

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