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                                                            AFFIDAVIT

 

            Michael J. Kreizenbeck, Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), being duly sworn states:

1.                              I have been a Special Agent of the FBI for eighteen months and have been assigned to the Public Corruption Squad of the Boston office of the FBI since July 2005. Prior to that, I worked for a brief period in a consulting firm, and served for four years as an officer in the United States Marine Corps. I am currently a Captain in the United States Marine Corps inactive ready reserves. In my current assignment, I have been involved in the investigation of public corruption and other offenses which are violations of federal statutes within the jurisdiction of the FBI. Additionally, I have worked with, and under the direction of, other Special Agents and law enforcement personnel experienced in the investigation of public corruption offenses. I personally participated in the investigation of violations of federal law by ROBERTO E. PULIDO, CARLOS A. PIZARRO, NELSON CARRASQUILLO (“defendants”), and others in the course of the investigation.

2.                              This affidavit is submitted in support of a criminal complaint charging Boston Police Officers ROBERTO E. PULIDO, CARLOS A. PIZARRO, and NELSON CARRASQUILLO with knowingly and intentionally combining, conspiring, confederating and agreeing with each other and with other persons, known and unknown, to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, a quantity or mixture of a substance containing cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance, that quantity being in excess of 5 kilograms (to wit: 100 kilograms) in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841 (a)(1), all in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846.

3.                              This affidavit is the product of a larger investigation into the criminal activities of PULIDO, PIZARRO, CARRASQUILLO, and others which has spanned a period of two and one-half years. The investigation extended over this period of time in order to uncover the full extent of these officers’ criminal activities, and because PULIDO unwittingly provided extensive information about the illegal conduct of other Boston police officers, other public officials, and private citizens. Since this affidavit is being submitted for a limited purpose of establishing probable cause to believe that PULIDO, PIZARRO and CARRASQUILLO have committed a violation of 21 U.S.C. 846, I have not included each and every fact known to me concerning this investigation.  The foregoing facts are based on my personal participation in this investigation, as well as reports made to me by other agents of the FBI (including those working in an undercover capacity), reports provided to me by members of the Boston Police Department, and from a review of information provided to FBI agents and other law enforcement by individuals associated with this investigation. A substantial portion of the evidence in this affidavit is based on information from FBI undercover agents and employees (UCEs) who met directly with PULIDO, PIZARRO< and CARRASQUILLO in the course of this crime, consensually recorded conversations with one or more of the defendants by a cooperating witness, and information obtained from Court-authorized interceptions of PULIDO’s telephone over a five month period.

 

BACKGROUND OF DEFENDANTS

 

4.                              ROBERTO E. PULIDO, a.k.a. ROBERT PULIDO, “KIKO”, and ANTHONY WILLIAMS (“PULIDO”) (YOB 1965) has a residence at 57 Leighton Road in the Hyde Park section of Boston, Massachusetts.  PULIDO has been an officer with the Boston Police Department (“BPD”) since 1996. He is currently assigned to the Special Operations Division, Mobile Operations Patrol. Prior to this assignment, he was a patrol officer assigned to Area E-13 (Jamaica Plain). Prior to joining BPD, PULIDO served as an officer with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Police and the Boston Municipal Police Department.

5.                              CARLOS A. PIZARRO (“PIZARRO”) (YOB 1969) has a residence at 8 Lenoxdale Avenue in Boston, Massachusetts.  PIZARRO has been an officer with the BPD since 1996. PIZARRO and PULIDO attended the Boston Police Academy at the same time. PIZARRO is currently assigned to Area D-4 (South End), where he is assigned to patrol duties.

6.                              NELSON CARRASQUILLO a/k/a “NELLY”, and JOHN SCANDONE (“CARRASQUILLO”) (YOB 1971) has a residence at 101 Gallivan Blvd. In the Dorchester section of Boston, Massachusetts. CARRASQUILLO has been an officer with the BPD since 1999. CARRASQUILLO is currently assigned to the Special Operations Division, Mobile Operations Patrol; he transferred to that assignment on the same day as PULIDO, and the men often work together on assignments. Prior to this assignment, he was a patrol officer assigned to Area B-2 (Roxbury). Prior to becoming a police officer with the BPD, CARRASQUILLO worked as a police cadet at the BPD from 1996 to 1999. While a cadet, CARRASQUILLO served in Area E-13 at the same time as PULIDO.

ELECTRONIC INTERCEPTIONS

 

7.                              As noted above, a portion of the evidence cited in this affidavit is from conversations of PULIDO, PIZARRO, CARRASQUILLO, and others which were intercepted over PULIDO’s mobile telephone between December 2005 and June 2006. On December 1, 2005, Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation obtained authorization from the United States District Judge Reginald C. Lindsay to intercept wire communications over a mobile telephone used by PULIDO and assigned telephone number (617) 212-1969. The first order authorized the interception of calls between December 5, 2005, through January 3, 2006. Four subsequent orders were issued by Judge Lindsay upon the application of the United States. The second order was issued February 2, 2006, for calls intercepted between February 4, 2006 and March 3, 2006. The third order was issued on March 10, 2006, for calls intercepted between March 11, 2006, and April 8, 2006. The fourth order was issued on April 8, 2006, for calls intercepted between April 10, 2006, and May 7, 2006. The fifth order was issued on May 15, 2006, for calls intercepted between May 16, 2006 and June 16, 2006.

 

DEFENDANTS’ CRIMINAL CONDUCT LEADING UP TO THE DRUG PROTECTION OPERATIONS

 

8.                              PULIDO’s criminal conduct first came to the attention of the FBI in the course of an investigation into an identity theft ring operation along the eastern seaboard of the United States. A cooperating witness (CW) had been acting as a runner for the identity theft ring, selling fraudulently obtained retail store gift cards to regular buyers. Shortly after beginning this work, the CW met with PULIDO and PULIDO expressed an interest in purchasing the fraudulently obtained gift cards from him. The CW had known PULIDO a number of years before this contact and renewed his relationship with PULIDO when PULIDO sought to purchase these cards. As that relationship developed, PULIDO began to disclose, and to request the CW’s participation in, as wide range of criminal activities. PIZARRO and CARRASQUILLO were involved in a portion of these criminal activities. Set forth below is a brief outline of the nature and scope of the criminal activities in which the defendants engaged between November 2003 and the present date.

9.                              Identity Theft: At the outset of the investigation PULIDO was purchasing fraudulently obtained retail store gift cards from an identity theft ring operating along the eastern seaboard including Eastern Massachusetts. The members of the identity theft ring, using identifying information, such as name, address, date of birth and social security number (“identifiers”), of innocent victims obtained false identification documents in the names of the innocent victims, but containing the photographs of members of the identity theft ring. They then used these documents to open instant lines of credit at retail outlets such as Lowe’s, Home Depot, BestBuy and others. With these fraudulent credit lines, the members of the ring obtained gift cards (or store credit cards) and merchandise. Some of the gift cards were sold for half their face value to individuals who knew that the cards had been fraudulently obtained. PULIDO was one such purchaser. Early in their renewed relationship - during the fall of 2004 – the CW explained to PULIDO that the cards were obtained in a fraudulent manner; PULIDO acknowledged this but continued to order them. Between November 2003 and March 2006, the CW delivered over $148,000 in gift cards to PULIDO, of which PULIDO purchased approximately $108,000 worth of cards at fifty percent of their face value. Approximately $40,000 in cards were furnished to PULIDO by the CW in payment for related illegal activities. The first approximately $18,000 worth of cards sold by the CW to PULIDO were received by CW from the identity theft ring. Subsequently, unknown to PULIDO, the CW severed his ties with the identity theft ring, the FBI purchased the gift cards, and the CW continued to represent to PULIDO that they were obtained through fraudulent means. PULIDO would use these cards himself to purchase items such as a plasma television set, expensive gifts for his friends, family and a girlfriend. He also used the cards to purchase building supplies for his part-time construction business. In addition, from time to time, PULDIO would further distribute these fraudulently obtained cards, sometimes selling them at a profit.

10.                          PULIDO’s involvement in the identity theft operation was not limited to buying and selling fraudulently obtained gift cards. In December 2004, PULIDO agreed to provide “identifiers” to the CW to be used by the identity theft ring to obtain fraudulent lines of credit. Between December 2004 and March 2006, PULIDO provided the names, dates of birth, social security numbers and other information to the CW of over 160 separate individuals. The CW paid PULIDO over $35,000 for the identifiers. Some of the identifiers belonged to individuals PULIDO had arrested or stopped while working as a Boston Police officer. PULIDO obtained other identifiers by running the Registry of Motor Vehicles information for expensive vehicles PULIDO saw while working or that were provided by the CW to PULIDO. PULIDO used BPD computers to access and obtain this Registry information. For instance, in one recorded conversation on June 2, 2005, PULIDO boasted, “it’s easy for me, I just run people’s plates, you know. I go look for fucking fancy ass cars and fucking run ‘em in like Brookline and Cambridge…” In another recorded conversation on June 27, 2005, during which he provided identifiers for two persons, PULIDO said that he pulled one of them over for running a red light and that he was driving a “$165,00 car”; PULIDO boasted, “that mother fucker right there is gold.” In addition, on occasion PULIDO would have an associate who worked at a local bank check the credit histories of the individuals whose identifiers he provided to the CW, and would indicate to the CW which ones of the persons had high credit scores. From November 2003 until May 2006, PULIDO was recorded more than 80 times discussing or participating in this identity theft scheme.

11.                          Dealing Narcotics: During the course of the investigation PULIDO regularly imported from a foreign source, and distributed in the Boston area, steroids (such as stanozolol, also known as Winstrol, methandrostenolone, nandrolone decanoate, and testosterone), Schedule III controlled substances. In addition to importing and selling steroids, PULIDO used them himself. (For example, in one recorded conversation on October 14, 2005, PULIDO admitted to grabbing a man by the hair and smashing his face on the rear of his car, just after PULIDO had “done a shot of Winstral” and was “hyped.”) One of PULIDO’s regular customers for these illegal steroids was PIZARRO. PULIDO’s principal source of steroids was an individual residing in Greece, who, according to PULIDO, had fled from the United States to avoid prosecution for distributing ecstacy. PULIDO obtained steroids from this source by ordering them over the telephone, and then making a deposit into the source’s bank account in the United States. PULIDO subsequently received shipments of steroids via common carriers; PULIDO directed the packages to at least five separate locations – including private homes and businesses – to avoid detection. In one recorded conversation on May 5, 2005, PULIDO boasted, “the key to mailing shit (steroids) here in this country is you gotta mail it in photo paper. You know the paper, that fucking carbon paper…you buy that paper, you wrap it in that and that’s it. There’s nothing that can get an x-ray through that, and dogs can’t sniff through that.” PULIDO also sold steroids to the CW on six occasions for a total of approximately $4,500 in cash and gift cards. PULIDO’s primary partner in this steroid distribution operation, referred to herein as “Associate A,” is an individual who has been convicted of a crime of violence and incarcerated on a narcotics offense. In the one year period between May 2005 and May 2006, PULIDO was recorded on more than 20 occasions discussing his importation, use, and distribution of steroids and/or human growth hormone.

12.                          PULIDO also agreed to assist the CW obtain ecstacy and Oxycontin. As described below, in a recorded conversation on January 27, 2005, PULIDO discussed with the CW the possibility that the CW sponsor illegal parties at which ecstacy would be sold. PULIDO advised the CW that he should purchase “white dove” ecstacy from Greece at $50 a tab rather than lower quality ecstacy from California. In subsequent recorded conversations on March 1, September 6, and September 16, 2005, PULIDO agreed to put the CW in contact with a source of ecstacy and agreed to assist the CW in purchasing ecstacy. In a recorded conversation March 1, 2005, PULIDO said to the CW, “I could do time or go to jail” for this conduct. In a recorded conversation on October 24, 2005, PULIDO indicated that he was attempting to obtain Oxycontin for the CW.

13.                          The investigation has also revealed that Pizarro has been involved in possession with intent to distribute heroin, and that when questioned about his relationship with a well-known drug dealer by law enforcement agents, he withheld information and/or provided false information. An individual referred to herein as “Associate D” admitted to the CW on June 28, 2006 that he used to sell 500-1000 “bricks” of heroin a month for PIZARRO> In addition, PULIDO told the UCEs in a recorded conversation on May 24, 2006 that Pizarro had worked for a drug dealer in the past.

14.                          After-hours Parties/Prostitution Protection: During the course of the investigation, PULIDO was also regularly engaged in providing protection for illegal unlicensed after-hours parties at a building located at 24 Factory Street in the Hyde Park section of Boston, Massachusetts. The unlicensed parties involved the illegal sale of alcohol and narcotics, nude dancers/prostitutes and the sale of sexual favors by the dancers/prostitutes. PULIDO provided protection from police intrusion into the parties, and was paid $600 for each party by the party operators for his service. According to POLIDO, he said that he in turn made payments to one or more superior officers in the Boston Police Department. PULIDO’s primary partner in this after-hours party operation, referred to herein as “Associate B,” is an individual who has been convicted on narcotics distribution offenses, and has served a substantial period of incarceration for narcotics crimes. On several occasions between November 2003 and March 2006, at PULIDO’s invitation, the CW attended these illegal after-hours parties. The CW attended illegal after-hours parties on October 15, November 12 and December 18, 2004, and March 11, September 16, November 25, and December 17, 2005. An entrance fee of $20-40 was charged. The dancers/prostitutes would provide lap dances in a “boom-boom room” for which there was an additional charge of $20-40. On occasion, the dancers/prostitutes would provide oral sex for $35 and sexual intercourse for $100. On several occasions the CW observed narcotics being consumed and distributed in connection with these parties. According to recorded conversations with PULIDO, the parties have taken place approximately once a month for approximately five years. The parties were attended by as many as 100 persons on a given evening, and included a combination of well-known felons, including drug dealers, and law enforcement officers (some who attended in uniform) including officers from the BPD and other departments. PIZARRO was a regular attendee of these illegal after-hours parties. In addition, at an illegal after-hours party on December 17, 2005, PULIDO introduced CW to CARRASQUILLO. POLIDO told the CW that CARRASQUILLO is “a hustler, just like me.” In late 2004 and early 2005, the CW and PULIDO discussed the CW starting his own after-hours parties, including parties which would include gambling. PULIDO told him that he would assist him, and suggested that CARRASQUILLO would provide protection for such parties. During the course of their discussions, PULIDO suggested that CW hold the ecstacy parties (also known as “water parties” because bottles of water are sold with the ecstacy), and later agreed to introduce the CW to an individual who could sell him ecstacy. Between November 2003 and May 2006, PULIDO was recorded on approximately 20 occasions discussing his involvement in the protection of these illegal after-hours parties.

15.                          Obstruction of Justice/Robbery/Threats/Assault and Battery: On or about March 29, 2005, PULIDO retaliated against a former business partner, referred to herein as “AssociateC,” by having a firearm and a distribution quantity of heroin planted in his car. PULIDO then had an individual referred to herein as “Associate D” anonymously call the BPD and report the presence of a person with a gun and narcotics in a specific location. Associate C was subsequently arrested and charged with firearm and narcotics offenses. While Associate C was being held in custody, PULIDO had Associate D enter Associate C’s home and rob Associate C of $40,000. PULIDO admitted to these crimes in a recorded conversation on May 18, 2006. Associate C independently claimed during an interview with Boston Police Department officers that he had been framed with respect to this crime.

16.                          In a separate incident on May 7,2006, PULIDO threatened another business partner, referred to herein as “Associate E,” over a dispute regarding the lease of the building at 24 Factory Street where the illegal after-hours parties have been held. When Associate E told PULIDO that he was going to lock him out of the business PULIDO responded, “…if the dog is out and he tries to attack us, half of the dog is gonna be hung on the front door and the other half is gonna be hung on the rear door…Don’t let it go personal. If you want to make it personal, after the dog it will be your wife, then it’ll be your mother, then it’ll be your brother, and it’ll be your unborn child.”

17.                          In a separate incident, PULIDO reported to the CW in a recorded conversation on July 20, 2005, that an individual known to PULIDO had stolen a stereo out of PULIDO’s truck. First, PULIDO sought the CW’s assistance in harming the thief. Then PULIDO told the CW that, “he knows I’m a cop so he knows I can’t touch him. If I touch him I have to hit him from behind late at night , and I got to fuck his ass up…I want to fuck him up and let him know why he is getting fucked up.” PULIDO also admitted in a recorded conversation on October 14, 2005, that he had grabbed the man by the hair and beaten him against his automobile. “I grabbed him right by the fucking hair. BOOM! Right in front of my fucking tread.” PULIDO told the CW to look at the back wheel of his car: “See something missing, that was his face.” PULIDO went on to explain, “I had my military gear on too. I had just came from training…I had just done a shot of fucking Winstral (steroids). I was ready. Boy, I was hyped.”

18.                          Money Laundering: In a recorded conversation on January 27, 2005, PULIDO said that he was in the construction business with an illegal alien. PULIDO admitted that he laundered money for that illegal alien and charged ten percent for doing so. This conversation confirmed earlier conversations with the CW in which PULIDO admitted to “washing” the illegal alien’s checks for a fee.

19.                          Insurance Fraud: During the course of this investigation both PULIDO and Pizarro conspired to commit insurance fraud. On the first occasion in March 2006, PULIDO told the CW that he was going to sell a truck which PULIDO regularly drove bur which he had registered in his girlfriend’s name to a “chop-shop” and then report to an insurance company that it had been stolen. Rather than allow that to happen, the CW told PULIDO that he would find a “chop-shop” for the vehicle. Through this mechanism, unknown to PULIDO, the FBI provided funds to purchase the truck, and it was not sold to a “Chop-shop.” On April 4, 2006, PULIDO had his girlfriend file a false police report, claiming that the truck had been stolen. A subsequent recorded call on June 13, 2005 between PULIDO and his girlfriend revealed that they had also filed a false claim with an insurance company claiming that the truck had been stolen.

20.                          In May and June 2006, PIZARRO sought to undertake a similar insurance fraud scheme with PULIDO’s and the CW’s assistance. On several occasions, PIZARRO was recorded arranging for the CW to sell his truck so that he could subsequently report the vehicle stolen. On June 28, 2006 the CW took possession of the vehicle at PIZARRO’s direction.

21.                          Other Crimes: During the course of the investigation, in other recorded conversations PULIDO admitted to smuggling illegal aliens into the United States for $5,000 per person, providing sensitive Boston Police Department information to one or more persons other than law enforcement officers, fixing tickets, trafficking in stolen electronics, and aiding and abetting loan sharking.

FIRST DRUG PROTECTION OPERATION (40 KILOGRAMS)

 

22.                          In early December 2005, after the FBI had learned the breadth of PULIDO’s criminal activities, and after learning that PULIDO would engage in criminal activities with other Boston police officers, such as CARRASQUILLO and PIZARRO, the CW, at the FBI’s direction informed PULIDO that his “cousin” was seeking to bring contraband into Boston. The CW indicated that his cousin needed protection to insure that the contraband was not intercepted by the police, and was seeking a location at which the contraband could be loaded from one truck to another. PULIDO readily agreed. For instance, in one recorded conversation on December 28, 2005, the CW and the PULIDO met for the CW to deliver a fraudulent gift card, to obtain identifiers from PULIDO, and to pay for growth hormones he had ordered from PULIDO. In the course of that conversation the CW told PULIDO that he was soon to meet with his “cousin” and that he was counting on PULIDO for security when the truckload of contraband arrived. PULIDO agreed and said he would listen on the police radio for the CW. They discussed “safety” issues including the best location for the truck to be unloaded. In another recorded conversation the same day, PULIDO asked the CW if he has to worry about the “Feds.” PULIDO told the CW that he (PULIDO) can look out for the BPD.

23.                          On December 30, 2005, immediately after expressing interest in the protection operation to the CW, PULIDO called CARRASQUILLO (to a telephone subscribed in the name of John Scandone but which CARRASQUILLO routinely used) and told him that he wanted to talk to him about a business proposition that had just come up. PULIDO told CARRASQUILLO that they would need people “that I can trust” to watch what is going to happen. PULIDO told CARRASQUILLO that they might be able to make some change (money) out of it.

24.                          In a recorded meeting on January 16, 2006, scheduled so that the CW could give PULIDO $7,000 in gift cards as payment for PULIDO’s delivery of a list of twenty (20) identifiers, the two men talked again about the scheme to have PULIDO protect a truck containing contraband. They initially agreed that the best place to bring the truck was the building at 24 Factory Street where PULIDO provided protection for after-hours parties; PULIDO said that there were “no houses in the vicinity” and the area was “full of trucks.” PULIDO told CW he had already talked to “my man…my partner” (believed to be CARRASQUILLO) and said that he can run “(Boston Police) Area A and Area E” while PULIDO does “(Boston Police) Area B.” “We got [radio] channel 12 and 13, which is the detectives and ‘secret squirrels,’ so we can hear if they got something coming along.” (“Secret squirrels” refers to the BPD drug unit). PULIDO told the CW they “can put somebody upstairs up in the apartment (at 24 Factory Street)” to surveil the area. PULIDO told the CW he will bring “only two of us,…I’m not bringing anybody else.”

25.                          In or about late January 2006, in another discussion between the CW and PULIDO about the protection operation, the CW told PULIDO that the shipment might also contain cocaine. The CW explained that the cocaine would be concealed inside appliances to avoid detection. PULIDO indicated that he did not want to personally handle the cocaine but he would provide protection for its transfer from seller to buyer.

26.                          On February 16, 2006, in two recorded conversations, PULIDO told the CW that he thought that his garage at 3162 Washington Street would be a better location o store the contraband than at the garage at 24 Factory Street. They also discussed a trip to Atlantic City, New Jersey to meet the CW’s “Cousins” whose contraband PULIDO was to protect. Unbeknownst to PULIDO, the CW’s “cousins” were FBI undercover agents (UCEs). In subsequent recorded conversations, PULIDO and the CW finalized plans to meet with the “cousins” on February 27, 2006, at a casino In Atlantic City.

27.                          On February 27, 2006, PULIDO, accompanied by the CW, met with the UCEs posing as the CW’s “cousins” at the Borgata Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey. After a “meet and greet” the UCEs invited PULIDO to Miami, Florida to discuss future business deals.

28.                          On Marrch 15, 2006, PULIDO met with the UCEs in Miami, Florida. The meeting was video and audio recorded. PULIDO advised the UCEs that he (PULIDO) would be willing to provide security for the contraband but didn’t feel comfortable with transporting it. PULIDO offered a commercial garage he operated at 3162 Washington Street, in the Jamaica Plain section of Boston under the name of J and P Auto for the transaction. PULIDO described his garage and discussed how difficult it would be for law enforcement to conduct surveillance. PULIDO described how he could monitor radio frequencies to alert the UCEs if the operation was discovered. PULIDO offered to run criminal checks on individuals. During the meeting, PULIDO received a call from CARRASQUILLO. PULIDO told the UCEs that CARRASQUILLO was his boy and that CARRASQUILLO is “like me, a hustler.” The UCEs and PULIDO agreed on $500 per “unit” (kilogram) for protection. The UCEs told PULIDO that if the deal goes bad the only way they would be caught is if PULIDO identified them. PULIDO replied, “That won’t happen.”

29.                          On March 30, 2006, PULIDO met with the UCEs in Boston to show them the possible locations for the unloading of the truck. On the same day in a recorded telephone conversation, PULIDO told the UCE he was looking forward to establishing a long term business relationship with the UCEs.

30.                          On April 12, 2006, PULIDO received a call from one of the UCEs. They discussed the schedule for the drug protection detail and confirmed the plan for it to take place in the early morning on Sunday April 23. PULIDO said he already talked to his partner (CARRASQUILLO). In a second recorded telephone call on April 12, 2006, the CW and PULIDO spoke about the planned drug protection detail. In that call, PULIDO identified the officer he had recruited for the operation as “NELLY” (NELSON CARRASQUILLO). On April 21, 2006, PULIDO called CARRASQUILLO and told him that the plan was on for Sunday morning (April 23), and that he would be meeting with the UCEs on Saturday (April 22).

31.                          On April 22, 2006, PULIDO met with the UCEs at a restaurant in the North End section of Boston to further plan the operation scheduled for the next day, and for PULIDO to obtain a “throw-away” telephone for him to use during the operation. During the meeting a UCE told PULIDO that there were only going to be “40 pieces” (kilograms) and that they would be hidden in a white conversion van.

32.                          In the early morning hours of April 23, 2006, as planned, PULIDO and CARRASQUILLO provided protection for the transfer of 40 kilograms of cocaine from FBI UCEs posing as sellers to other FBI UCEs posing as buyers. At approximately 7:54 a.m., PULIDO met the UCE/sellers’ vehicle which contained 40 kilograms of cocaine at a Bickford’s Restaurant at 75 Boston Street in Boston, Massachusetts and guided the vehicle to his garage at 3162 Washington Street. PULIDO then met the UCE/buyers’ vehicle at a McDonald’s restaurant at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Southampton Street in Boston, and guided that vehicle to the same garage. The transfer took place inside PULIDO’s garage.

33.                          CARRASQUILLO, who was in regular contact with PULIDO during the operation, provided perimeter security during the transfer of cocaine. Intercepted calls between PULIDO and CARRASQUILLO that morning revealed that just before 7 a.m. that morning, PULIDO and CARRASQUILLO discussed meeting at the Washington Street garage in Jamaica Plain; just prior to and during the protection detail, PULIDO and CARRASQUILLO ran license plates of cars they saw in the area; at about 7:15 a.m. PULIDO called the police station and asked an officer to run some plates for him, claiming that his police radio was dying; CARRASQUILLO called and sought information about PULIDO’s location and PULIDO told CARRASQUILLO that he was having someone run plates; the UCE called PULIDO at about 7:30 a.m., before the trucks arrived at the garage, to check on how things were going and PULIDO told him that “we’re in front watching everything”; just before 8 a.m., CARRASQUILLO called PULIDO and told him that a black male was using a pay phone near the garage – PULIDO told him to take note of the car in case it came back; PULIDO received other calls from CARRASQUILLO reporting persons observed in the vicinity of the garage; just before 9 a.m., PULIDO spoke with CARRASQUILLO, while CARRASQUILLO was with the CW returning the throw-away telephone he had been provided by the UCEs; at about 9:30 a.m. PULIDO called CARRASQUILLO and the two agreed to meet at Dunkin’ Donuts on American Legion Highway.

34.                          PULIDO did not confine his activities to surveillance outside the garage on April 23, 2006. While the UCE/sellers were unpacking the cocaine from the van, PULIDO entered the garage and observed their operation. The UCE/sellers showed PULIDO the sophisticated concealment system in the van; PULIDO had to step over approximately 20 kilograms of cocaine on the floor of the van to make observations of the “hide” system. PULIDO was impressed with the system and noted that it was “nice.” The UCE/sellers told PULIDO that the vehicle needed to be aired out before and after each transfer to avoid detection by dogs.

35.                          At approximately 8:36 a.m., after the cocaine had been moved from one truck to the other by the UCEs, PULIDO guided the UCE/buyers to Interstate 93 north bound from the Washington Street garage. PULIDO then returned to the garage and got in the UCE/cousin car to discuss the transaction and receive an initial payment. The UCE/cousin said that there were “40 keys” (kilograms) in the load and that they owed PULIDO $500 for each one. They paid him a down-payment of $5,000 with the remaining $15,000 to come at a later date. During the course of this meeting, PULIDO was visibly excited and exclaimed, “I love that adrenaline.” PULIDO also asked the UCE/cousin whether the customers were happy.

36.                          On April 26, 2006, during a telephone call, one of the UCEs and PULIDO discussed arrangements for PULIDO to travel to Atlantic City on Monday, May 1, 2006, to meet with the main UCE to get the rest of his money and plan the next deal.

37.                          On May 1, 2006, PULIDO met in Atlantic City with two of the UCEs to obtain payment for the first operation and to discuss the next protection detail. The meeting was video and audio recorded. During the meeting the UCEs paid PULIDO $15,000 in cash owed from the April operation. The participants also discussed PULIDO’s ability and willingness to provide protection for substantially larger quantities that would be transported via New York to Boston. PULIDO stated that to do it properly he would need six officers, including himself. He was not sure he could get that many, but would think about it and discuss it with his partner (CARRASQUILLO). PULIDO acknowledged that his role was to protect the shipment from other drug dealers who may seek to steal the narcotics and from law enforcement officers. The participants discussed future deals involving 500 “pieces” (code for kilograms of cocaine) as part of an ongoing relationship. PULIDO assured the UCEs that he was up front with those he brought into the conspiracy about the possible consequences of what they were doing and that they would know going into the deal that they were dealing with millions of dollars worth of product. With respect to payment and the product to be protected, the UCEs told PULIDO, “you got 20 G’s ($20,000) for 40 keys (kilograms of cocaine). You do the math for 250 and think about 500,”

38.                          On May 2, 2006, PULIDO returned to Boston from Atlantic City after having been paid $15,000 in cash for the drug protection operation. PULIDO called CARRASQUILLO that day and told him the he would come by to see CARRASQUILLO in 30 minutes. (Based on this investigaton, this appeared to be a meeting for PULIDO to pay CARRASQUILLO his share of the $15,000 he received from the UCEs, and discuss with him the plans for the next deal.)

39.                          On May 3, 2006, PULIDO called PIZARRO and told him that PIZARRO needed to make time for PULIDO to talk to him about a business proposition. (Since PIZARRO was included in the second drug protection detail in June, it can be inferred that PULIDO sought to meet with PIZARRO to recruit him in this effort.)

SECOND DRUG PROTECTION OPERATION (100 KILOGRAMS)

40.                          On May 18, 2006, the CW and PULIDO met to discuss the next drug protection detail and other matters. In that recorded conversation, PULIDO told the CW that he had CARRASQUILLO, PIZARRO, and two other non-law enforcement associates (Associate A and Associate D) lined up to help on the next deal. The two men discussed whether it was appropriate to use the non-law enforcement associates. PULIDO told the CW that he and CARRASQUILLO had discussed the fact that they were more comfortable using “uniforms,” that is, police officers. PULIDO told the CW that hew and CARRASQUILLO had agreed with respect to Associate A, that, “if it (the operation) goes dirty, the only thing we can do is fucking take out his (Associate A’s) children.” PULIDO indicated that neither he nor CARRASQUILLO wanted to do that, but that “its gonna have to get done” if Associate A joined the conspiracy and something went wrong. During the conversation, PULIDO and the CW agreed that they should not use Associate A, but would discuss with the UCEs the use of Associate D. PULIDO told the CW that he would speak with CARRASQUILLO about other police officers CARRASQUILLO could trust and who could be brought in to help. If they couldn’t get enough officers, they agreed that they might have to protect a load smaller than 250 kilograms.

41.                          On or about May 17, 2006, the UCEs invited PULIDO, CARRASQUILLO, and PIZARRO to Atlantic City to discuss the next operation. In a series of telephone calls leading up to May 24, 2006, the UCEs and PULIDO decided on a date and location to meet.

42.                          On May 22, 2006, PULIDO spoke with NELSON CARRASQUILLO twice about their planned trip to Atlantic City to meet with the UCEs. CARRASQUILLO would not be able to leave until the last minute and said he would fly down. In a subsequent conversation, CARRASQUILLO told PULIDO he was having trouble finding a flight to Atlantic City, and might have to drive down. CARRASQUILLO told PULIDO he “definitely would like to go out, but I’d have to leave Thursday.”

43.                          On May 24, 2006, PULIDO met with the UCEs in a hotel in Atlantic City which was recorded. PULIDO told them that he had two other “uniforms” to help with the next deal; one he identified as his partner who helped with the first deal (CARRASQUILLO). The men discussed how the drugs would be transported. PULIDO suggested using a second empty truck as a decoy vehicle. Ultimately, they agreed that they would have to handle a smaller load because only three officers would be involved. One of the UCEs told PULIDO that they would ship the 250 kilos in two deals; the first shipment would be 100 kilos and a second shipment would be 150. The UCEs also told PULIDO that their New York protection crew would deliver the truck to the Massachusetts border so that PULIDO and his crew would not have to travel to New York. PULIDO was pleased with the new arrangement. They talked about what would happen if the truck was stopped by the police. PULIDO said that if it appeared to be a routine traffic stop, he would approach the officer and tell him that the truck was following him, and PULIDO would get the driver out of there so that there was no one who could be “bringing anything back” (cooperate against them); in that case they would have to abandon the product (cocaine). PULIDO further said that they had discussed the possibility of then abandoning the rental car and switching to another car to make their escape. PULIDO stated they would utilize fake identification documents to rent cars. Therefore, if they had to abandon the rental cars the cars would not be traced back to them. They also talked about using other PULIDO associates for protection who were not “uniforms.” PULIDO told them he had some people who have done things with him for years that have never talked. PULIDO said that they are loyal to him PULIDO said that anytime they want to talk, he’ll send them to “Rikers Island.” One UCE stated that he prefers people in PULIDO’s profession (law enforcement) because they have as much to lose as people in the UCEs’ profession (drug dealers). PULIDO responded that he doesn’t trust people in his profession and is concerned that once they get the money in their pockets, they might get “Christian on me.” PULIDO also told them that the second “uniform” (PIZARRO) is tied up with someone who just got indicted, and was interviewed, but would never say anything. They talked about possibly using Associate D. They ultimately agreed that they would not use him now, but might on a later deal.

44.                          During the meeting on May 24, 2006, the CW, who was also present, said that everyone involved in the transaction needed to know the details of the operation. PULIDO stated that his garage workers on Washington Street would be told that the trucks are carrying stereos or appliances, and the workers would not question him. They all agreed  that everyone recruited to participate in the protection operation needed to know the risks involved in the operation and the contents of the truck. PULIDO told the UCEs that he already explained to his associates involved in the protection operation (PIZARRO and CARRASQUILLO) what they had to lose. PULIDO said that in recruiting people he told them that if something goes bad, and they are at fault, that they would pay with their lives or their children’s lives. He said that those who stepped forward were the ones he could trust. PULIDO told the UCEs, “these two (PIZARRO and CARRASQUILLO) stepped forward. The other one (Associate A) was like, ‘oh, wait a minute, my children?’ That was all I needed to hear. If you don’t want to put up your children then you have to go.”

45.                          During the meeting on May 24, 2006, PULIDO and the UCEs also talked about using the same location as the last deal and whether the trucks they wanted to use would fit in the garage. PULIDO suggested that in future deals, the UCEs should think of buying a car transporter and using the gas tanks of the transporter to hide their product; PULIDO said the dogs can’t smell through the gas, which overpowers everything. Because of the location of the tanks on the transporters, it’s hard for the agents to check the tanks for product (drugs). He said they could also add extra tanks. PULIDO also told the UCEs that he has a relative who is doing over 30 years federal time for drug dealing; he noted some of the mistakes the relative made which resulted in his arrest.

46.                          The next day, May 25, PULIDO again met with some of the UCEs at the hotel in Atlantic City. The purpose of the meeting was for the UCEs to meet PIZARRO., who had driven down separately from Boston in a rental car.  Before PIZARRO came in, one of the UCEs told PULIDO that they did not want to come across like they were telling PIZARRO what to do; they wanted PULIDO to make certain that PIZARRO was comfortable with the criminal activity in which they are engaged. When PIZARRO came in, PULIDO told him that the UCEs wanted to make sure he understood the risk, that he has had time to reflect, and is not planning on backing out. PIZARRO told them he felt comfortable once he heard that the UCEs had been doing this (dealing drugs) for a long time. He also said he trusted PULIDO’s judgment and they had known each other for over ten years. PIZARRO stated PULIDO, “if you are willing to take a chance, I am here with you, bro.” The UCEs told PIZARRO that he needs to take it easy when the money comes in. PIZARRO told them that PULIDO had stressed that to him. They also discussed using real estate to hide PIZARRO’s earnings from the operation. When PIZARRO left the room, PULIDO told the UCEs that PIZARRO had greater experience in assisting drug dealers than he.

47.                          Late in the afternoon on May 25, 2006, CARRASQUILLO contacted PULIDO and told him that he was starting the drive down to Atlantic City to meet with the UCEs. The UCEs, realizing that CARRASQUILLO would not arrive until late at night, told PULIDO to cancel the meeting and turn CARRASQUILLO back to Boston.

48.                          On May 30, 2006, one of the UCEs called PULIDO and told him the drug shipment would be next week. The UCE would come up Tuesday (June 6) and would meet with PULIDO’s “boys” to tell them what was needed. The UCE would also be able to meet CARRASQUILLO.

49.                          Between May 30, 2006 and June 6, 2006, there were a series of recorded telephone calls between PULIDO and one of the UCEs to set up a meeting between the UCEs and CARRASQUILLO, and the subsequent shipment of what the UCEs represented would be 100 kilograms from New York to Boston. There were also a series of calls and meetings between PULIDO and CW confirming the arrival of the UCEs.

50.                          On the evening of June 6, 2006, the UCEs arranged a meeting with PULIDO and CARRASQUILLO at a hotel on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston. PIZARRO was invited to the meeting by PUDILO, but did not join them. As arranged by PULIDO and the UCEs, PULIDO arrived first. At that meeting, which commenced at approximately 9:15 p.m., the UCEs and PULIDO discussed the mechanics of the operation to take place the next day, and one UCE noted, “we can’t have any problems. There’s a lot of money riding on this.” They also discussed the mechanics of a future 500 unit load. CARRASQUILLO arrived at the meeting approximately 25 minutes after PULIDO. The UCEs discussed the operation with CARRASQUILLO, telling him that the shipment was of “dope,” and asking if he understood the risks involved, and if he was committed to the plan. The UCE told CARRASQUILLO, “if you’re in, you’re in, if you’re out, you’re out. And if you are out, we are still friends.” The men discussed that the next one will be about 500 (kilograms), and discussed finding additional officers to participate. PULIDO indicated that to test the officers he would want to do other illegal things with them, “get dirty with them…to see if they are real dirty” before bringing them in.

51.                          On June 21, 2006, PULIDO contacted PIZARRO and told him to be ready for the shipment the next day. PULIDO also had a series of telephone calls with Associate D, instructing him to obtain seven “Boost Mobile” telephones with a “group talk” feature. (“Boost Mobile” phones provide pay-as-you-go, long-range digital walkie-talkie service that allows instant communication among subscribers.) Once Associate D obtained the telephones, PULIDO instructed him to program the telephones to work together, and to label the telephones with numbers one through seven. He also instructed Associate D to keep one phone for himself.

52.                          On the evening of June 7, 2006, PULIDO spoke with a UCE. They agreed that PULIDO, CARRASQUILLO, and PIZARRO would meet the UCEs at their hotel on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston at 2 p.m. on the following day. Once at the hotel, PULIDO would hand out the telephones, and the group would travel in several cars out to the Lee rest stop on the Massachusetts Turnpike in western Massachusetts. They planned to meet the truck carrying the cocaine at approximately 4:30 p.m. at the Lee rest stop. In that call, PULIDO told the UCE that the phones were prepaid and not in anyone’s name; he also described how they worked. PULIDO and a UCE also discussed future business; the UCE invited PULIDO and the others down (to Florida) to celebrate “our big first one, a real big one.”

53.                          On the morning of June 8, 2006, PULIDO left messages for both CARRASQUILLO and PIZARRO providing them the meeting time and location. At approximately 2:15 p.m. PULIDO and PIZARRO met with the UCEs in front of their hotel on Commonwealth Avenue. PULIDO kept one of the Boost Mobile telephones and distributed one to the UCE, and advised that he provided one to PIZARRO. The group subsequently met CARRASQUILLO, who was running late, at the Natick rest area on the westbound side of the Massachusetts Turnpike. One of the Boost Mobile phones was provided to CARRASQUILLO. The cars then proceeded together approximately 2 hours to western Massachusetts to meet the truck they understood to be carrying 100 kilograms of cocaine. PULIDO, who was driving his own black Cadillac SLS, bearing Massachusetts registration US 70ZA, drove in the lead. He was followed by UCEs. Behind the UCEs PIZARRO was driving a gold/brown 2005 Nissan Altima, Massachusetts registration 64T Z41, which had been rented from Enterprise Rental Car and CARRASQUILLO, who was driving a blue 2006 Dodge Stratus, Massachusetts registration 34Z Z54, which also had been rented from Enterprise Rental Car,

54.                          After PULIDO took the wrong exit on the Massachusetts Turnpike, the rendezvous point with the truck carrying the cocaine was charged to the rest area in Blanford, Massachusetts on the eastbound side of the Massachusetts Turnpike. Once they met with the truck at approximately 5:30 p.m., PULIDO and one UCE met with the UCE/driver in the restroom, introduced PULIDO to him, and provided him with one of the Boost Mobile telephones. In addition, PIZARRO and CARRASQUILLO made eye contact with the UCE/driver in the parking lot to insure that they could recognize each other in the event that something went wrong and emergency action needed to be taken.

55.                          The cars and truck, in convoy fashion, then drove east towards Boston. PULIDO was in the lead, followed by the UCE, in turn followed by the truck. CARRASQUILLO and PIZARRO took turns following the truck, and speeding ahead to surveil activities on the Turnpike. Near Natick, Massachusetts, PULIDO, at the request of CARRASQUILLO, contacted the UCE/driver to have him pull over because his license plate was dirty. The driver did so and cleaned the plate. The convoy then proceeded into Boston to PULIDO’s garage at 3162 Washington Street.

56.                          Just prior to reaching the garage, CARRASQUILLO was instructed to meet the UCE/buyers’ truck which was scheduled to pick up the cocaine at PULIDO’s garage. CARRASQUILLO was observed meeting that truck in a McDonald’s parking lot at 870 Massachusetts Avenue in Boston, and guiding that truck back to the garage on Washington Street.

57.                          At the Washington Street garage both of the trucks backed up to the bay doors. The contents of the truck delivering the cocaine (which actually included 40 kilograms of cocaine even though it had been represented to be carrying 100 kilograms) were transferred to the UCE/buyers’ truck. While the UCE/sellers’ truck was unloading the cocaine, PULIDO entered the garage. PULIDO was monitoring the Boston Police Department radio traffic with his handheld BPD issue radio during this period. PULIDO mistakenly pushed the officer emergency button on his BPD radio. The BPD dispatcher broadcast his name and unit and asked if he was in trouble. PULIDO replied that he pushed the button in error. While the transfer was taking place CARRASQUILLO and PIZARRO were waiting in the area to escort the trucks from the garage, and conducting perimeter surveillance.

58.                          After the transfer of the cocaine was complete, CARRASQUILLO escorted the UCE/buyer truck with the cocaine out of Boston. PIZARRO escorted the UCE/seller truck to the Massachusetts Turnpike westbound. PULIDO met with a UCE in his car. The UCE paid PULIDO a down payment of $15,000 in cash, with the balance of $35,000 to be paid at a future date. He invited PULIDO, PIZARRO, and CARRASQUILLO to meet with him and others in Miami to celebrate the successful delivery of the cocaine and to discuss future transactions. The UCE also expressed concerns about problems with the protection provided by PULIDO, CARRASQUILLO, and PIZARRO. In particular, he criticized the fact that everyone as inside talking at the Blanford rest area when they met the truck (containing the cocaine). PULIDO defended his actions saying, “I had CARLOS (PIZARRO) take down the plate numbers – because he was the second one to come in – of the cars that were parked. Then I had NELSON (CARRASQUILLO) sit back and watch the cars taking off with us to see if I could match the numbers.” The UCE further criticized the fact that there were people inside PULIDO’s garage when the transfer took place. Later in the conversation, the UCE asked PULIDO if this deal was as good a rush as the other deal (40 kilogram deal in April). PULIDO responded, “no, the other one was a good rush. This one was a bad rush…an out-of-control rush.”

59.                          In one recorded call on the evening of June 8, 2006, PULIDO (speaking in Spanish) told his girlfriend that the operation had gone “completely horrible.” He explained that the garage had not been properly prepared before he arrives, and that there were people uninvolved in the operation present when the transfer of the cocaine took place, He also told her that he accidentally pushed his emergency call button on his police radio and that the BPD dispatcher broadcast his name and his division.

60.                          On June 10, 2006, PIZARRO called PULIDO to discuss the drug protection detail on June 8. The men agreed that it did not go well and that it was dangerous the way it played out. PULIDO told PIZARRO that he planned to go down to Miami in the near future (implying that he was going down to straighten things out with the UCEs). PIZARRO said that he had ideas about how it should be done in the future. The men agreed that they needed a new location to transfer the product from one truck to another. PIZARRO also expressed concern about how many times they got out of their cars during the operation: “There’s too much meeting and too much getting out of the car, man.” PIZARRO was concerned as well that the plates on the truck were from Florida (implying that it was too conspicuous).

61.                          Between June 10, 2006, and June 13, 2006, there were a series of recorded conversations between the CW and PULIDO discussing the problems with the operation on June 8, 2006, and ways to make it better.

62.                          On June 27, 2006, one of the UCEs called PULIDO to invite him, CARRASQUILLO, and PIZARRO to Miami, Florida to discuss the operation on June 8, 2006, to plan for future operations, to get paid the remainder of the money owed to them, and to celebrate their first big transaction.

63.                          On July 19, 2006, PULIDO and PIZARRO traveled to Miami, Florida to meet with the UCEs. PULIDO flew from Boston.. PIZARRO flew from Puerto Rico. CARRASQUILLO was scheduled to attend the meeting as well, but he reported to PULIDO that a family obligation required his presence in Boston. PULIDO told the UCEs that CARRASQUILLO agreed to take an early morning flight to Miami on July 20, 2006 to meet with the UCEs and receive payment for the June drug protection operation.

64.                          ON the evening of July 19, 2006, PULIDO and PIZARRO met with the UCEs in Miami. The meeting was audio taped and videotaped. At the meeting, one UCE said, “our first deal we did the 40 keys of coke. Then we did 100 keys of coke. We’re looking to do big numbers. How much can you handle?” PULIDO replied, “what could be brought down?” The UCE said, “we can do 500 keys of coke.” PULIDO replied, “that’s what I want to see.” PULIDO and PIZARRO then agreed with the UCEs that the first 500 kilogram shipment would take place next week; to be followed by a second shipment of 500 kilograms soon after. One UCE also asked if they would “move some heroin” at the same time. PULIDO and PIZARRO agreed to that as well. The men also discussed one to two shipments per month for the indefinite future. PULIDO suggested that they change the sale location in Boston to the garage at 24 Factory Street and suggested several other operational changes. PIZARRO indicated his agreement with PULIDO’s suggestions. A UCE also said that they had already been paid $15,000 for the last operation, and that the balance of $35,000 would be paid the next day. After the meeting concluded, PULIDO and PIZARRO went out to dinner with one of the UCEs.

65.                          Early on the morning of July 20, 2006, as agreed, CARRASQUILLO flew from Boston to Miami. PULIDO, PIZARRO, and CARRASQUILLO are scheduled to meet with the UCEs in the early afternoon on July 20, 2006, to receive the $35,000 payment owed from the June 8, 2006 transaction.

66.                          Based on the information set out above, I believe probable cause exists to conclude that from at least on or about May 1, 2006, through on or about July 20, 2006, ROBERTO E> PULIDO, CARLOS A> PIZARRO, and NELSON CARRASQUILLO knowingly and intentionally combined, conspired, confederated and agreed with each other and with other persons, known and unknown, to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, a quantity or mixture of a substance containing cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance, that quantity being in excess of 5 kilograms (to wit: 100 kilograms) in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841 (a)(1), all in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846.

 

 

SA Michael J. Kreizenbeck

Special Agent

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Boston, Massachusetts

 

            Subscribed and sworn to before me this 20 day of July, 2006


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