United Front Gang Members Sentenced to Lengthy Prison Terms

May 7, 2010 - BOSTON—This week, three New Bedford men—all alleged by the government to be members of the United Front street gang—were sentenced to lengthy prison terms in federal court for drug and firearms offenses.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Warren T. Bamford, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Boston Field Division, John Gibbons, United States Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; Glenn N. Anderson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Boston Field Division; Massachusetts State Police Colonel Marian McGovern; Bristol County District Attorney C. Sam Sutter; and New Bedford Police Chief Ronald Teachman today announced the sentencings of TERRELL BAPTISTE, JOHN BURGOS and AARON LIVRAMENTO. According to an affidavit previously filed, BAPTISTE, BURGOS and LIVRAMENTO, all of New Bedford, are alleged to be a members of the United Front street gang, a violent New Bedford street gang.

On May 4, 2010, BAPTISTE, 24, was sentenced before U.S. District Judge Joseph L. Tauro to 15 years in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. BAPTISTE pled guilty on January 13, 2010, to conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base, possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base within 1000 feet of a school and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. As a special condition of his supervised release, BAPTISTE was ordered to stay out of the United Front Homes housing development and not to associate with United Front gang members.

At the sentencing hearing, the prosecutor told the court that had the case gone to trial, the government’s evidence would have proven that on March 18, 2008, investigators found BAPTISTE in an apartment located on Jean Street, in New Bedford. Pursuant to a search warrant, officers found over 300 grams of crack cocaine, a .40 caliber firearm loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition, 511 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition, two safes, over $5,600 in cash, a police scanner, a scale and packaging materials. The investigation revealed that BAPTISTE had been using the apartment to sell drugs for several months leading up to his arrest.

On May 6, 2010, BURGOS, 25, was sentenced before Chief U.S. District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf to 70 months in prison, to be served from and after a seven year prison sentence recently imposed on BURGOS as a result of a state drug conviction, and eight years of supervised release. BURGOS pled guilty on January 29, 2010 to conspiracy to distribute more than five grams of cocaine base and distribution of cocaine base within 1000 feet of a school. As a special condition of his supervised release, BURGOS was ordered to stay out of the United Front Homes housing development and not to associate with United Front gang members.

At the sentencing hearing, the prosecutor noted that, if the case went to trial, the government’s evidence would have proven that on May 7, 2008, BURGOS and two other men sold 13.5 grams of crack cocaine in exchange for $630 to a law enforcement source working with law enforcement. The exchange took place within 1000 feet of an elementary school. BURGOS was recently charged by the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office with first degree murder in connection with the killing of a rival gang member in 2005, and is awaiting trial.

Also on May 6, 2010, LIVRAMENTO, 24, was sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to 60 months in prison and four years of supervised release. LIVRAMENTO pled guilty on February 8, 2010, to distribution of more than five grams of cocaine base and distribution of cocaine. As a special condition of his supervised release, LIVRAMENTO was ordered to stay out of the United Front Homes housing development and not to associate with United Front gang members.

At the sentencing hearing, the prosecutor noted that, if the case went to trial, the government’s evidence would have proven that in March 2009, LIVRAMENTO sold crack and powder cocaine to a law enforcement source.

The cases were investigated by the New Bedford Police Department; the United States Marshals Service; Massachusetts State Police; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the FBI’s Southeastern Massachusetts Gang Task Force, which is comprised of investigators from the FBI, State Police, Massachusetts Parole Board, and the New Bedford Police. The cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Pohl of Ortiz’s Organized Crime Strike Force Unit.