Boston Criminal Lawyers Blog

Boston Police Make Drug Arrests in Roslindale Pub

Published on: March 18, 2010 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

A drug investigation by the West Roxbury Boston Police Drug Control Unit, relying on information provided by a ‘confidential informant’ about drugs being sold at BK’s Pub at 4272 Washington Street in Boston’s Roslindale section resulted in the arrest of two people. Alexander Perez-Figueroa, of Dorchester, and Elsa M. Parrilla, also of Dorchester, were both arrested and each charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class B Substance.

The confidential informant told police that a woman would sell drugs from BK’s Pub in Roslindale by receiving orders in the bar and receiving money for the drugs. A ‘drug dealer’ would then be contacted, she would meet him on Poplar Street to obtain the drugs, and then allegedly distribute those drugs to the buyers.

The Boston Police Drug Control Unit allege they observed several people approach the woman and hand her money. She was then observed using her cell phone, thereafter leaving the bar in her car and conducting the transaction with occupants within another car. At the time of her arrest, the Boston Police report that she admitted to be in possession of cocaine, for which she reportedly paid $1,000.

Former Harvard Student Charged with Cambridge Murder

Published on: March 17, 2010 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

Brittney Smith, 22, was recently indicted by the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office in connection with the murder of 21 year old Justin Cosby, of Cambridge. Smith, a former Harvard University student, will soon be arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court on several criminal charges, including Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Accessory to Murder After the Fact, Willfully Misleading a Grand Jury Investigation, and Willfully Misleading a Police Officer.

According to reports, the Cambridge Police Department and Harvard University Police responded to a ‘shots fired’ call on May 18, 2009, at a Harvard College dorm. Upon their arrival, they found Justin Cosby had left the dorm and ran to the intersection of Dunster and Mount Auburn Street, where he collapsed from a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

Based on the criminal investigation by the Massachusetts State Police, Cambridge Police, Harvard University Police and the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office, it is alleged that three men from New York arranged to meet Cosby with the goal of robbing him. The meeting took place inside the Kirkland House dorm, at which point several shot were fired.

Massachusetts Criminal Conviction Rates in Suffolk, Middlesex, Norfolk & Worcester Counties Released

Published on: March 16, 2010 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

Many people not directly involved in the Massachusetts criminal justice system ordinarily do not hear much about what happens after certain cases are publicized. Media coverage of criminal cases, whether a murder, armed robbery, or drunk driving accident is highlighted almost daily. What the public only typically hears, however, is when someone is arrested, or when a ‘high-profile’ crime goes to trial. If someone is convicted of a high-profile crime, that’s front-page headlines all over the Massachusetts media.

Well, what about the thousands of other criminal cases that are prosecuted annually…the ones that don’t receive the extensive media attention? People might wonder, but don’t often realize, that criminal conviction rates for cases tried in the Superior Court Departments in Boston and throughout Massachusetts are not as high as you might expect.

In data recently released by the Massachusetts Office of the Jury Commissioner, it is reported that in 2009, the criminal conviction rate in Suffolk County and Middlesex County for criminal cases that went to trial was only 62%. By comparison, the criminal conviction rate in Norfolk County was 59%, and Worcester County was 34%.

Essex County D.A.’s Office Charges Two Men in 34 Year Old Gloucester Murder

Published on: March 13, 2010 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

Kevin Ireland, 54 of Gloucester, Massachusetts, was arrested yesterday for the murder of a woman in a Gloucester funeral home that occurred 34 years ago. Also charged with murder was Norman Pike of San Francisco, who was the grandson of the funeral home owner and who fled the Gloucester area shortly after the murder and began using the alias “Dan Franklin.”

Norman Pike was arrested this past Monday by officers from various agencies, including the Gloucester Police Department and Massachusetts State Police. At this time, he has contested rendition from California and it could take up to 3 months to have him brought to Massachusetts to be arraigned on Murder charges in Gloucester District Court.

The Essex County District Attorney’s Office alleges that Ireland, Pike, and a third man who is now deceased, went to rob the funeral home’s safe. During the robbery, it is believed the victim walked in on the two men and was then murdered.

Lynn Man Arrested for Trying to Steal Cash Register at Salem Family Dollar

Published on: March 12, 2010 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

This past Wednesday, Hosea Kendrick, 40 of Lynn, was arrested and charged with Attempt to Commit a Crime, Larceny from a Building, for allegedly trying to steal the cash register drawer from a Family Dollar Store in Salem, Massachusetts.

Salem Police allege that while the store clerk wasn’t looking, Kendrick jumped the counter and tried, unsuccessfully, to remove the drawer from the cash register. When the clerk finally noticed, she heard a woman signal to the man, and the two then left the store together. The store clerk was able to get a description of the criminal suspect’s car and, minutes later, Salem Police Officers saw that car and eventually arrested Hosea Kendrick and Christina Lupoli, also of Lynn, Massachusetts. Salem Police Officers brought Kendrick and Lupoli back to the Family Dollar Store and the clerk reportedly identified each of them as the would-be robbers.

This most recent attempted robbery follows two very recent similar robberies in the past few months. In January, a cash register was stolen from the Walgreens on Boston Street in Salem; and just last week, a masked robber also stole a cash register from another Walgreens in Beverly. At this time, Salem Police are continuing to investigating whether Hosea Kendrick and Christina Lupoli have any connection to these previous robberies.

Police Lose Man in Pursuit After Unarmed Robbery of Diamonds at Braintree Mall

Published on: March 10, 2010 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

The Braintree Police Department continue to investigate and search for a man who pulled off a robbery of two diamonds yesterday from Zales Jewelry Store at the South Shore Plaza in Braintree, Massachusetts. The stolen diamonds are said to be valued at $20,000 each.

According to police, the man walked into the jewelry store and asked to see a couple of diamonds. At the moment when the store employee was holding both diamonds in her hands, the man suddenly snatched the jewels and ran out of the store, where a getaway car was waiting for him.

The suspect’s car was chased by a nearby Braintree Police Officer, and was observed speeding onto Route 93 headed towards Boston. The criminals were followed all the way to East Milton Square, at which time the Braintree Police Officer was told to call off the pursuit. Braintree Mall Security were able to provide the officers with a partial plate number of the getaway car, but it is reported that the car had Michigan plates. I wouldn’t be surprised if these plates were attached to conceal the registered owner of the car, or if the car was stolen altogether.

Malden Man Charged with Murder of Infant Son

Published on: March 9, 2010 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

Geoffrey Wilson, 31 of Malden, Massachusetts, was arraigned yesterday in Malden District Court on murder charges for killing his 6 month old son, Nathan Wilson. A the time of this writing, the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office had not yet determined the cause and manner of death, citing that the matter is still under investigation.

The boy’s father, who works at Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Media Lab as an administrative assistance, allegedly told police that the baby became cranky and he picked him up over his head and shook him, trying to simulate the motion of a moving car to calm the child. The Middlesex County D.A.’s Office, however, have said that preliminary reports suggest the infant child suffered “non-accidental injuries and trauma.”

The prosecuting attorney further informed the judge at Wilson’s arraignment that the baby had signs of bruising on his forehead, chin and cheek, and that it appeared that the baby was subjected to extreme violent shaking causing a retinal hemorrhage. Although an autopsy has not yet been completed, it is believed that the child succumbed to his injuries as a result of “Shaken Baby Syndrome.”

Rockland Teen Charged with Armed Assault to Murder in Stabbing

Published on: March 8, 2010 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

Roberto Perez, 18, of Rockland, Massachusetts, will be arraigned today in Hingham District Court for stabbing another teenager at a party in Rockland this past Saturday. The District Attorney’s Office has charged Roberto Perez with Armed Assault with Intent to Murder and Assault & Battery with a Dangerous Weapon.

The victim, a 16 year old boy, was allegedly stabbed multiple times and ended up being airlifted to Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital where he was listed in stable condition. It is not clear at this time what the dispute was that led to the assault.

In Massachusetts, the crime of Armed Assault with Intent to Murder is governed by M.G.L. Chapter 265, Section 18(b), and provides for imprisonment to state prison for up to 20 years. Additionally, the crime of Assault & Battery with a Dangerous Weapon, Causing Serious Bodily Injury, M.G.L. Chapter 265, Section 15A(c), provides for imprisonment to state’s prison for up to 15 years.

Massachusetts Court Reverses Drug Conviction, Police ‘Expert Testimony’ Still Live Issue In Drug Cases

Published on: March 6, 2010 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court recently reversed the conviction of a man who had been convicted in 2004 for the crime of Trafficking Cocaine of over 28 grams. In the case of Commonwealth v. Mario M. Perez, the Supreme Judicial Court reversed the jury’s guilty finding on the grounds that the defendant’s Sixth Amendment Right to Confrontation was violated by the introduction of the Certificate of Drug Analysis without the chemist’s testimony.

The defendant’s reversal for the crime of Trafficking follows the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Crawford v. Washington, which essentially ruled that the Drug Certificates were testimonial evidence. At the time of this appeal, the United States Supreme Court had granted certiorari but not yet decided United States v. Melendez-Diaz, which now prevents the prosecutor from proving its case by way of ex-parte court affidavits and without the proponent being subject to cross-examination.

This case is particularly interesting because the District Attorney’s Office attempted to convince the Massachusetts Supreme Court to adopt a broader rule of law that would allow them to bypass having to call a drug chemist at trial. Massachusetts prosecutors are trying hard to convince the Court to allow them to prove what a particular substance is through the use of ‘police expert’ testimony only. In this way, the prosecutors could attempt to prove the controlled substance at trial through their usual police witnesses and without having to bring in the chemist who tested the drugs.

Roslindale Man Held Without Bail in Jamaica Plain Tedeschi’s Murder

Published on: March 5, 2010 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

On March 3, 2010, Edward Corliss, 64 of Roslindale, was arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court and held without bail, charged with Armed Robbery While Masked, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, and the murder of Surendra Dangol while he was working at Tedeschi’s in Jamaica Plain on December 26.

The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office alleges that Edward Corliss entered the Tedeschi’s at about 3:00 p.m., concealing his appearance with heavy clothing, a scarf and a wig. Store video surveillance captures Corliss allegedly pulling out a gun and pointing it at Dangol and ordering him to place the store’s cash into Corliss’ backpack. Dangol is then shown with his arms up, at which time Corliss pointed the gun at his chest and shot him.

Boston Police Investigators had also obtained video footage of the suspected vehicle Corliss got away in. After consulting with auto experts, a database search of the make and model of the vehicle was narrowed, leading police to Corliss’ home. The Plymouth Acclaim, registered to Corliss’ wife, was found in the back of the residence.