Early Morning Sweep Targets Alleged Dealers

A three-month plainclothes interagency drug investigation netted eight alleged Winthrop drug dealers and two additional offenders in the early hours of Wednesday morning with open warrants, courtesy of Winthrop Police, State Police, and detectives assigned to the Suffolk DA’s office.

The sweep targeted offenders from whom plainclothes detectives had allegedly bought narcotics during controlled purchases that began in September to curb drug distribution and quality-of-life offenses in the peninsular town.

Officers and detectives from the Revere Police Department assisted in the arrests, as did troopers from the Suffolk County State Police Detective Unit and State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section, who arrested three defendants who were not part of the drug investigation but who had warrants for their arrests.

“This was more than just a drug sweep,” Winthrop Police Chief Terence Delehanty said. “It was a targeted investigation to increase the quality of life for all of Winthrop. Nearly every one of these offenders allegedly made statements to undercover investigators about violent crimes they’d previously committed or planned to commit in the future.”

Arrested Wednesday morning were the following Winthrop residents:

1.      DOUGLAS BITOPOULOS (D.O.B.12/16/83), charged with two counts each of distribution of Class A and Class B substances and three counts of conspiracy to violate the state’s drug laws;

2.      CHARLES BUTLER (D.O.B. 10/24/91), charged with distribution of a Class D substance and conspiracy to violate the state’s drug laws;

3.      APRIL COLVARIO (D.O.B. 5/22/75), charged with distribution of Class B, Class C, and Class D substance, as well as conspiracy to violate the state’s drug laws;

4.      BRIAN R. DONAHUE (D.O.B. 6/30/81), charged with four counts of distribution of a Class B substance;

5.      FRANCIS FORSYTH (D.O.B. 2/3/73), charged with distribution of a Class A substance, trespassing, assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and breaking and entering;

6.      ALEXANDER MADDEN (D.O.B. 11/18/87), charged with distribution of a Class B substance as a second or subsequent offense, possession with intent to distribute a Class B substance as a second or subsequent offense, and violating the state’s drug laws in a school or park zone;

7.      ERIC J. MONAHAN (D.O.B. 2/14/78), charged with distribution of a Class A substance, conspiracy to violate the state’s drug laws, larceny over $250, and possession of burglarious tools; and

8.      MICHAEL MURPHY (D.O.B. 7/5/81), charged with distribution of a Class B substance and conspiracy to violate the state’s drug laws.

Arrested on unrelated warrants were:

9.      THOMAS KELLEY (D.O.B. 5/22/62), arrested on a warrant for assault and battery out of Cambridge; and

10.  TATIANA YEAKLEY (D.O.B. 3/27/88), arrested on a warrant out of Burlington.

Based on intelligence provided by Winthrop Police and developed through their own efforts, plainclothes troopers from the State Police Gang Unit and Suffolk County Detective Unit repeatedly purchased cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and prescription pills from the defendants between September and December. Those purchases were documented and provided the basis for arrest warrants executed today. Additionally, State Police reviewed open warrants for defendants residing in Winthrop, sending units to support the narcotics sweep and apprehend the additional targets.

“One of the most important missions of the State Police to assist local police with in-depth investigations of drug dealing and violent crime within our cities our towns,” said Colonel Timothy P. Alben, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police. “Like similar operations we undertake regularly throughout the state, this morning’s sweep in Winthrop was an important effort toward enhancing public safety in the town. We were honored to partner with Chief Delehanty, District Attorney Conley, and their investigators.”

“There’s a perception that drugs are a big city problem,” Conley said. “But addiction and abuse are problems even in small towns. ” All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.