Lynn and state police gang up on heroin bust

LYNN – A man and a woman were arraigned Thursday after being arrested as the result of an Ocean Street drug bust.After an investigation, the State Police Gang Unit, along with the Lynn Police Gang Task Force, seized more than 800 grams of brown powder they believe to be heroin and more than three grams of white powder they believe was cocaine.Jenny E. Lugo, 38, of 135 Ocean St., #32, was charged with trafficking heroin/morphine/opium, possession to distribute a Class B drug (cocaine), and conspiracy to violate drug law.Otilio M. Rodriguez, 62, of 145 Essex St., Apt. 1, was arraigned on several charges. They included trafficking heroin/morphine/opium, distributing Class A drug (heroin), possession to distribute Class A drug (heroin), possession to distribute Class B drug (cocaine), and conspiracy to violate drug law.Rodriguez, who needed a translator during the hearing, was released on $50,000 bail. He also faces immigration charges. The judge ruled a minimum sentence of 12 years in state prison, if convicted of the trafficking charge. Judge Ellen Flatley released Lugo on $25,000 bail.Trooper Shawn McIntyre from the State Police Gang Unit said that while he was in a restaurant, Rodriguez sold an undercover trooper a small package of brown powder, which had the appearance and texture of heroin, in exchange for cash.?The deal between the trooper and Rodriguez occurred in the restaurant bathroom and was prearranged by telephone,” McIntyre said. “After this deal was conducted, Rodriguez was taken into custody by other officers and subsequently booked and processed at both Lynn Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police Revere barracks.”Forty-five minutes later, the gang units executed a search warrant at Lugo?s apartment and seized a number of items beside the heroin and cocaine, including numerous digital scales, a kilo press, a ledger, and other signs of narcotics distribution, such as packaging items and cutting agents, police said.?All of the evidence was seized to be processed and analyzed,” McIntyre said. “The heroin was secured in an evidence bag and booked into the evidence locker at the State Police Gang Unit in Devens, Mass. Both of Lugo and Rodriguez?s vehicles have been seized.”Shailagh C. Kennedy, assistant Essex County district attorney, asked for $1 million cash bail for Rodriguez and $500,000 for Lugo due to the street value of the narcotics, she said.?That?s an extraordinarily large amount of heroin located in the residence,” Kennedy argued, “Both the defendants were seen coming and going together from the residence. In light of that, I would ask for 12 to 20 years and ask that amount be set at $1 million and $500,000 cash bail.”Attorney Stephen Judge, who represented both defendants, disagreed.?Lugo had several dismissals some 13 years ago,” Judge told the court. “It was for a motor vehicle matter regarding operation with a suspended license. There?s been no issue in respects to her status in this country.”Kennedy said Lugo had several aliases, three different Social Security numbers, fake identifications from Massachusetts, New York and Georgia, where she was also convicted of forgery and motor vehicle offenses out-of-state. Rodriguez was convicted of trafficking marijuana in 2009, Kennedy said.Both defendants are unemployed and divorced, according to court records. They are scheduled to appear in court again May 29.