Police: Tip leads to fentanyl distribution bust

Cops say suspect was using a stolen identity

TEWKSBURY >> A tip to police about an alleged drug dealer set to deliver fentanyl to Tewksbury led to the arrest of a man who police say has a history of drug distribution and other criminal charges.

A Tewksbury Police report states Fidia Arias, 37, was arrested on Tuesday after he allegedly sold fentanyl to a confidential informant in a business parking lot on Andover Street as part of a sting set up by the Tewksbury Police Narcotics

Unit.

According to police, an investigation into the case also revealed Arias was hiding behind a stolen identity.

After Arias made the sale of what turned out to be 0.8 grams of fentanyl to the informant, police said they initiated a traffic stop of his vehicle nearby. When he was removed from the vehicle, police said “a bundle of cash fell to the ground.” Among the pile of money was the two $20 bills used earlier by the informant to purchase the fentanyl.

Police seized a total of $904 from Arias.

Two cellphones were also allegedly discovered inside the vehicle, which police described as “significant” because drug dealers will often possess multiple phones, “one for personal use and the other for narcotics business.”

According to police, no additional narcotics were uncovered inside the suspect’s vehicle.

The case became more complicated during Arias’ booking process.

The police report states Arias’ fingerprints came back as belonging to a 36-year-old Wilfredo Gonzalez. A further investigation determined all the booking photographs associated with Gonzalez “clearly depicted Arias.” Arias had allegedly told police he was from the Dominican Republic, but police noted the Social Security number he provided began with a number of Puerto Rican origin.

Police said they additionally learned that “Gonzalez” had a suspended Massachusetts driver’s license, and a criminal history including multiple narcotics related offenses, as well as two warrants for his arrest.

Police said in the report that members of Dominican narcotic distribution organizations have been known to fraudulently obtain RMV documents in order to mask their true identity.

“More specifically, stolen personal and biographical data that has been compromised from the Puerto Rico (PR) Department of Motor Vehicles and Puerto Rico Department of Corrections,” police said. “This results in the theft of personal data, particularly social security numbers, from legitimate citizens of PR.”

The data is then sold on the black market to provide a foundation for individuals to create fraudulent identifications, police said. The scheme is popular among individuals entering the U.S. illegally and members of the Dominican narcotics distribution organizations who use the stolen data to establish fraudulent identifications for narcotics distributors. Once the individual establishes a valid license in Massachusetts, police said they are able to go “relatively undetected, travel by air, register cars, register to vote and seek other governmental services” available to U.S. citizens.

Immigration Customs and Enforcement was contacted with the two names discovered by police. The police report states ICE is in the process of investigating the information.

Police also contacted the Puerto Rico Police Department, with a request for a photograph of Gonzalez. Police said the photograph provided did not match Arias.

Police concluded that Arias was allegedly using a fake Puerto Rican identity, and thus the suspended driver’s license and two warrants listed for Gonzalez were in fact for Arias.

According to court documents, one default warrant from March 2015 was out of Dorchester District Court for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon,

resisting arrest, possession to distribute a Class B drug, and conspiracy to violate drug law.

The other default warrant in Somerville District Court was from December 2014, and included charges of resisting arrest, distribution of a Class A drug, distribution of a Class B drug, possession to distribute a Class B drug,

and conspiracy to violate drug law.

On Wednesday, Arias was arraigned by Judge William Travaun Bailey in Lowell District Court for his charges out of Tewksbury, which included distribution of a Class A drug, and operating

a motor vehicle with a suspended license. He was held on $10,000 cash bail, with a return date scheduled Feb. 28.

Follow Aaron Curtis on X, formerly known as Twitter, @aselahcurtis.