BOSTON — A Fall River man was sentenced Tuesday in federal court in Boston in connection with a wide-ranging conspiracy that distributed cocaine and heroin throughout Bristol County and Providence, Rhode Island.

Nuno Fonseca, also known as “Farigno,” 38, of Fall River, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel to 130 months in prison and five years of supervised release. In November 2016, Fonseca pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute heroin.

Fonseca was one of 10 individuals involved in a drug trafficking operation headed by Luis Lopez that imported hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Puerto Rico to New Bedford and Fall River, as well as distributed heroin, fentanyl, and acetylfentanyl in Bristol County. Co-defendants Jorge Sanchez-Lopez allegedly coordinated shipments of cocaine through the U.S. Mail with the assistance of Chindy Diaz, who received cocaine-filled packages on Lopez’s behalf and delivered it to Lopez at his Fall River residence. Israel Santiago also helped coordinate the receipt of cocaine on behalf of Lopez. Lopez then sold the cocaine to other drug dealers, including Nuno Fonseca and Tyson Britto.

Fonseca trafficked large quantities of narcotics that he received from Lopez. On three occasions in February, March, and April 2016, federal agents witnessed the transfer of five kilograms of cocaine from Lopez to Fonseca, and in June 2016, agents intercepted telephone calls indicating that Lopez supplied Fonseca with 100 grams of heroin. In addition, Fonseca evaded arrest in June 2016, and fled. He was arrested six weeks later at his home in Fall River.

In June 2016, the 10 defendants were charged for their individual roles in the operation. Nine of the conspirators have pleaded guilty and five, including Fonseca, have been sentenced.

In January 2017, Luis Lopez was sentenced to 15 years in prison and five years of supervised release, and Sharik Mendes was sentenced to 30 months in prison.

In April 2017, Tyson Britto and Israel Santiago were sentenced to 78 months in prison and two years in prison, respectively. Chindy Diaz pleaded guilty in October 2016 and is awaiting sentencing; Tyson Depina and Eric Desousa pleaded guilty in April 2017 and will be sentenced July 13, 2017. Jorge Sanchez-Lopez has a court date scheduled for Aug. 8, 2017.

--U.S. Attorney's Office

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