Member of New Bedford Street Gang Sentenced for Narcotics Offenses

BOSTON—A member of the Montes Park street gang in New Bedford was sentenced today in federal court on drug charges.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; James C. Burrell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Boston Field Division; C. Samuel Sutter, Bristol County District Attorney; Massachusetts State Police Colonel Marian McGovern; New Bedford Police Chief Ronald Teachman; and Bristol County Sheriff Thomas M. Hodgson, announced that AARON VAUGHAN, 34, of New Bedford, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph L. Tauro to 40 months' incarceration, to be followed by six years of supervised release.

On May 3, 2010, VAUGHAN pleaded guilty to a one count indictment charging him with distribution of cocaine base and abetting and abetting. On the date of the plea, the prosecutor informed the court that, had the case proceeded to trial, the evidence would have proven that on March 26, 2008, VAUGHAN and a co-defendant sold 1.6 grams of crack cocaine to a undercover cooperating witness in exchange for money.

The indictments, as well as a detention affidavit filed with the court in connection with the investigation into the Montes Park gang, alleged that VAUGHAN was a member of the New Bedford Montes Park street gang. Throughout the more than nine-month investigation, it is alleged that law enforcement made purchases of crack cocaine or firearms from various Montes Park street gang defendants. It is alleged that the Montes Park street gang has a long history of involvement in a variety of illegal activities, including violence against rival gang members, and drug and firearm trafficking. It is further alleged that the Montes Park street gang has been involved in a gang war in New Bedford with a rival area gang over a period of time resulting in numerous shootings, murders, and other acts of violence.

VAUGHN is the second Montes Park gang member to be sentenced in federal court in the past week. On July 15, RAYMOND GREEN, 40, of New Bedford, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge George A. O’Toole, Jr., to 78 months' incarceration, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In May, GREEN pleaded guilty to a two-count indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute cocaine base, distribution of cocaine base, and abetting and abetting.

Both cases were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Southeastern Massachusetts Gang Task Force and were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan in Ortiz’s Strike Force Unit.