Hector Torres Rosario of Lawrence Sentenced to Over Six Years in Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl and Cocaine

Hector Torres Rosario of Lawrence Sentenced to Over Six Years in Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl and Cocaine

8/10/23 BOSTON – A Lawrence man was sentenced on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023, in federal court in Worcester for conspiring to traffic fentanyl and cocaine in central and eastern Massachusetts. Hector Torres Rosario, 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to 78 months in prison and three years of supervised release. […]

Leonardo Lara, Leandro Martinez, of Lawrence Charged with Conspiring to Distribute 9 Kilos of Cocaine

Leonardo Lara, Leandro Martinez, of Lawrence Charged with Conspiring to Distribute 9 Kilos of Cocaine

8/10 BOSTON – Two Lawrence Men and a man from Lunenberg have been charged for their alleged roles in a cocaine distribution conspiracy. Leonardo Lara, 43, and Leandro Martinez, 41, both of Lawrence; and Merced Navarro-Morfin, 42, of Lunenberg, were indicted on one count each of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to […]

Methuen Captain Greg Gallant Wins Civil Service Case – City Ordered to Give Back Pay

Methuen Captain Greg Gallant Wins Civil Service Case – City Ordered to Give Back Pay

Aug. 4, 2023 [updated]  The Massachusetts Civil Service Commission has ruled that fired Methuen police Captain Greg Gallant must be returned to duty and given three years back pay after being illegally fired by Methuen Mayor Neil Perry. FULL RULING HERE Gallant v. Methuen, CS-22-388  Gallant was officially fired on June 9, 2022 after being put […]

Lawrence Domestic Violence Coordinator Lynette Perez Under Investigation for “Non-Profit” Sleight of Hand

Lawrence Domestic Violence Coordinator Lynette Perez Under Investigation for “Non-Profit”  Sleight of Hand

7/24/23 The Domestic Violence coordinator for The City of Lawrence Police Department is under investigation by the city for filing an application for a $50,000 federal grant (through the city) for a non-profit she created, called “My Lifeline, Inc.”. Belgica (Lynette) Perez represented false information on her application to the state, city, and federal government […]

MassHealth Spent Nearly $85M on Out-of-State Residents ~ IN YOUR CORNER with STATE AUDITOR DIZOGLIO

MassHealth Spent Nearly $85M on Out-of-State Residents ~ IN YOUR CORNER with STATE AUDITOR DIZOGLIO

Hello Valley Patriot Readers, Our office has been very busy releasing several audit reports before the end of the fiscal year, while also focusing on approximately 64 ongoing audits. Most recently, we released an audit of MassHealth, as part of our ongoing independent statutory oversight of the state’s Medicaid program. I want to highlight this […]

Addressing Inequities in College Admissions ~ MA State Senator Pavel Payano

Addressing Inequities in College Admissions ~ MA State Senator Pavel Payano

By: Senator Pavel Payano, 7-23 For nearly a century, legacy preferences have played a significant role in American college and university admissions, granting preferential treatment to the children of alumni. These policies were established in the 1920s, coinciding with an influx of Jewish applicants to top schools. However, legacy preferences have been widely criticized as […]

Promoting Personal Financial Literacy for Our Students

Promoting Personal Financial Literacy for Our Students

By: State Rep. Ryan Hamilton – 7/23 Massachusetts is the pinnacle of education in the United States (if not the world) … yet, mounting evidence continues to remind us that we still have much work to do when it comes to preparing our students for successful and secure financial futures. The Commonwealth – especially the […]

16 lbs of Fentanyl & Meth Pills, 2 Guns, Recovered During Lawrence Drug Raid

16 lbs of Fentanyl & Meth Pills, 2 Guns, Recovered During Lawrence Drug Raid

Multiple law enforcement agencies were involved in a raid in Lawrence that resulted in the arrest of two people in  early Wednesday. Law enforcement recovered over 16 pounds of suspected fentanyl and methamphetamine pills, plus two guns, Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker and Lawrence Police Capt. Michael McCarthy announced today. Vincent Cahalane, 36, […]

State Ethics Commission’s Alleges Former Methuen Police Chief Violated Conflict of Interest Law

State Ethics Commission’s Alleges Former Methuen Police Chief Violated Conflict of Interest Law

Solomon allegedly caused changes to CBA that would increase his salary and provided unwarranted benefits to five intermittent police officers, including one who was a City Councilor 7-6-23 The State Ethics Commission’s Enforcement Division has issued an Order to Show Cause alleging former City of Methuen Police Chief Joseph Solomon violated the conflict of interest […]

Lawrence Police Chief Agrees to Retire, Gets Approx. $780K Contract Buyout

Lawrence Police Chief Agrees to Retire, Gets Approx. $780K Contract Buyout

6-30-23 Lawrence Police Chief Roy Vasque has signed an agreement with the City of Lawrence to not return to duty and retire from the City of Lawrence after being put on leave by Mayor Brian DePena. According to sources, Vasque will be paid approximately $780,000 which includes about $300,000 in accrued sick and vacation time […]

State Senator Bruce Tarr Recognized for Protecting Animals

State Senator Bruce Tarr Recognized for Protecting Animals

6-23 BOSTON – Last month, Massachusetts State Senator Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) was presented with a special award for his work to protect animals at a State House event. The award was presented by a coalition of Massachusetts animal welfare organizations that work together to advocate for the humane treatment of animals. The award acknowledges his […]

Former Andover Youth  Director William Fahey Pays $20K Fine for Violating Conflict of Interest Law

Former Andover Youth  Director William Fahey Pays $20K Fine for Violating Conflict of Interest Law

Fahey received private compensation relating to his public employment, allocated payments to himself and other town employees 6-27-23 Former Andover Youth Services Director William Fahey has paid a $20,000 civil penalty for violating the conflict of interest law by receiving payments from a private nonprofit in connection with his employment with the Town of Andover, […]

Celebrating Our Amazing Graduates of the Class of 2023 ~ IN YOUR CORNER with AUDITOR DIZOGLIO

Celebrating Our Amazing Graduates of the Class of 2023 ~ IN YOUR CORNER with AUDITOR DIZOGLIO

EXCLUSIVE TO THE VALLEY PATRIOT 6-23 Hello Valley Patriot Readers, Recently, I had the honor of delivering the commencement address to the Class of 2023 at my alma mater, Middlesex Community College. It was a beautiful day celebrating all of the hard work, tireless efforts and sacrifices made by the graduates, their families, and friends. […]