Pair sentenced to lengthy prison terms in connection with large-scale drug ring centered in Everett

Investigators found drug distribution operations in Revere, other surrounding communities; two kilos of uncut cocaine, several pounds of marijuana, loaded firearms and cash seized

Advocate Staff Report

Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan and Everett Chief of Police Steven Mazzie have announced that Jorge Delgado-Rivera, 45, of Melrose, and Jairo Salado-Ayala, 42, of Lynn, have been sentenced in Middlesex County Superior Court in connection with a large-scale cocaine distribution operation involving the shipment of drugs to Everett, Mass., from Texas.

After a nine-day trial, Jorge Delgado-Rivera was found guilty of two counts of trafficking cocaine over 200 grams, possession with intent to distribute, and eight counts of money laundering. Judge Cathleen Campbell sentenced Delgado-Rivera to 14 to 17 years in state prison on the two trafficking counts, to be followed by two years of probation on the money laundering counts. The conditions of the probation are to possess no firearms, dangerous weapons, or drugs.

Jairo Salado-Ayala was found guilty of one count of trafficking cocaine over 200 grams on a theory of possession with intent to distribute. Judge Campbell sentenced Salado-Ayala to not less than nor more than 12 years and one day in state prison.

In the fall of 2016, investigators assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Massachusetts State Police and the Everett Police Department initiated an investigation into a large-scale drug operation centered in Everett and surrounding Middlesex County communities. As part of the investigation, the District Attorney’s Office and State Police obtained court-authorized wiretaps on phones connected to shipments of cocaine coming into Middlesex County from out of state.

Defendant Delgado-Rivera was also convicted of importing a series of prior shipments of cocaine from Texas into Massachusetts.

Based on information intercepted during the wiretap investigation, investigators successfully intercepted a package of cocaine at a UPS facility that was scheduled to be delivered to an alias used by the defendants. That package contained two kilograms of uncut cocaine packaged inside automobile parts and masked in apparent transmission fluid in an effort to evade drug detection efforts.

On the morning of Tuesday, June 6, 2017, Massachusetts State Police, in cooperation with local law enforcement, simultaneously executed search warrants at five locations in the communities of Everett, Melrose, Chelsea, Lynn and Revere that were suspected to be involved in the alleged drug distribution operation. Police also seized approximately three pounds of marijuana and scales and packaging materials consistent with drug distribution, two firearms (a fully loaded .357 Magnum, a loaded 9mm semiautomatic handgun), approximately 200 grams of a suspected cutting agent and approximately $6,000 in cash.

As part of this investigation, a total of more than $40,000 in drug proceeds were seized. In addition to weapons, contraband and cash, as part of the operation, police also seized five automobiles that were allegedly used for drug distribution and transportation. Law enforcement officials estimate that the defendants imported more than a dozen packages of suspected narcotics from September of 2016 through June 2017.

The shipment of drugs that was seized on Friday, June 2, 2017, contained approximately two kilograms of uncut cocaine. Once cut for distribution, the total value of the seized cocaine would be well over $250,000.

In June of 2017, Delgado-Rivera and Salado-Ayala were arrested in connection with a large-scale cocaine distribution operation involving the shipment of drugs to Massachusetts from Texas. The investigation stemmed from a tip following a motor vehicle stop in South Texas. The interstate operation involved drugs imported from Mexico into Texas and then shipped to Massachusetts.

This case was investigated by the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Massachusetts State Police Gang Unit, the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit and the Everett Police Department. The assigned prosecutors were Assistant District Attorneys Graham Van Epps and Michael Klunder.