Police break-up Methadone ring after raiding Main Street home
Published on July 2nd, 2008
STONEHAM, MA - Local and regional authorities this Tuesday busted up an alleged prescription drug distribution ring being operated by a wheelchair bound man, his purported girlfriend, and a level 3 sex offender.
According to Stoneham Det. Paul Norton, head of Stoneham's narcotics unit, authorities from the Southern Middlesex Regional Drug Task Force (SMRDTF) raided the residence at 590 Main Street after conducting an extensive investigation into the purported drug activity at the home.
An estimated 424 Methadone pills, as well as an undisclosed amount of cash, were seized by authorities as they executed a search warrant on Tuesday morning.
SMRDTF detectives, who made another drug arrest in Stoneham last week, had conducted surveillance operations outside the home after being tipped-off about the distribution of methadone from the dwelling.
"A search warrant was executed yesterday at 11:30 a.m. at 590 Main Street. There was an investigation into the distribution of prescription drugs, particularly methadone," said Norton.
"They were allegedly selling out of the house and there was two months of surveillance and investigation [by the SMRDTF into the illicit activity]," the local detective added.
As a result of the raid, 47-year-old Mark Botelho, his reported girlfriend Paula Pascale, 32, and 44-year-old Eugene O'Connor will be issued a court summons for possession of a Class B substance (Methadone) with intent to distribute, conspiracy to violate drug laws, and violation of a drug free school zone.
The three suspects, all of whom live at the Main Street home, allegedly sold the medication to clients on a regular basis from the dwelling, which is located 870-feet from the Edgewood School.
Norton filed the paperwork charging the three suspects with the drug activity today in Woburn District Court. It will likely be some weeks before the trio is arraigned on the distribution charges.
According to police, Botelho used his legitimate access to prescription drugs in order to obtain the narcotics. His girlfriend then allegedly counted out the pills for sale and kept track of all the incoming money.
O'Connor, who lived in a basement apartment at the Main Street home, was reportedly brought into the operation in order to provide protection for Botelho, who is disabled.
The 44-year-old O'Connor is a registered level 3 sex offender in Stoneham, being convicted of rape and abuse of a child in June of 1982.
"He got all kinds of scripts for everything. You name it, he's got it," said Norton of Botelho. "Eugene was the muscle for him. He would make sure he wasn't ripped-off, because he was in a wheelchair."
Local authorities, who described the interior and exterior of the Main Street residence as deplorable, have also contacted officials from the Stoneham Board of Health.
The Board of Health has reportedly opened up an investigation into the condition of the dwelling, but the disposition of that case couldn't be determined as of presstime on Wednesday.
STONEHAM, MA - Local and regional authorities this Tuesday busted up an alleged prescription drug distribution ring being operated by a wheelchair bound man, his purported girlfriend, and a level 3 sex offender.
According to Stoneham Det. Paul Norton, head of Stoneham's narcotics unit, authorities from the Southern Middlesex Regional Drug Task Force (SMRDTF) raided the residence at 590 Main Street after conducting an extensive investigation into the purported drug activity at the home.
An estimated 424 Methadone pills, as well as an undisclosed amount of cash, were seized by authorities as they executed a search warrant on Tuesday morning.
SMRDTF detectives, who made another drug arrest in Stoneham last week, had conducted surveillance operations outside the home after being tipped-off about the distribution of methadone from the dwelling.
"A search warrant was executed yesterday at 11:30 a.m. at 590 Main Street. There was an investigation into the distribution of prescription drugs, particularly methadone," said Norton.
"They were allegedly selling out of the house and there was two months of surveillance and investigation [by the SMRDTF into the illicit activity]," the local detective added.
As a result of the raid, 47-year-old Mark Botelho, his reported girlfriend Paula Pascale, 32, and 44-year-old Eugene O'Connor will be issued a court summons for possession of a Class B substance (Methadone) with intent to distribute, conspiracy to violate drug laws, and violation of a drug free school zone.
The three suspects, all of whom live at the Main Street home, allegedly sold the medication to clients on a regular basis from the dwelling, which is located 870-feet from the Edgewood School.
Norton filed the paperwork charging the three suspects with the drug activity today in Woburn District Court. It will likely be some weeks before the trio is arraigned on the distribution charges.
According to police, Botelho used his legitimate access to prescription drugs in order to obtain the narcotics. His girlfriend then allegedly counted out the pills for sale and kept track of all the incoming money.
O'Connor, who lived in a basement apartment at the Main Street home, was reportedly brought into the operation in order to provide protection for Botelho, who is disabled.
The 44-year-old O'Connor is a registered level 3 sex offender in Stoneham, being convicted of rape and abuse of a child in June of 1982.
"He got all kinds of scripts for everything. You name it, he's got it," said Norton of Botelho. "Eugene was the muscle for him. He would make sure he wasn't ripped-off, because he was in a wheelchair."
Local authorities, who described the interior and exterior of the Main Street residence as deplorable, have also contacted officials from the Stoneham Board of Health.
The Board of Health has reportedly opened up an investigation into the condition of the dwelling, but the disposition of that case couldn't be determined as of presstime on Wednesday.
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