By Seth Daniel and Paul Koolloian
Cocaine Trafficking
On July 31, the Chelsea Police Drug Unit, Chelsea Police Detectives and the Everett Drug unit executed a search warrant at 39 Crescent Ave. #1. The search warrant was the result of an investigation into a male subject residing at that address selling narcotics. As a result of the search warrant, police seized 89 grams of cocaine, US currency, and other related evidence. As a result, the subject was placed under arrest on the scene.
Argenis Felipe, 33, of 39 Crescent Ave., was charged with trafficking in cocaine of 36 grams or more but less than 100.
Threatened with Knife
Chelsea Police arrested Jose Barrera-Mendoza, 40, of Connecticut, Aug. 9 after he threatened another male with a knife at the Market Basket parking lot. The victim told officers he was operating his vehicle on Everett Avenue near the Market Basket when Mendoza, who was operating another vehicle, exchanged words at a stop sign. The suspect then followed the victim into the parking lot, exited his vehicle, and threatened the victim with a knife.
Chelsea officers spotted the suspect vehicle on Hawthorne Street and placed Mendoza into custody. At the time of arrest, Mendoza’s two children, age 8 and 11, were in the vehicle. The officers reunited the children with their mother a short time later.
Mendoza was charged with assault by means of a dangerous weapon, providing a false name to police and motor vehicle-related charges.
Pulled Knife at Home Depot
On Aug. 2, at 10:40 a.m., officers responded to 1100 Revere Beach Parkway (The Home Depot) for a report of shoplifting. While en route, officers were advised that one of the male parties involved in the shoplifting incident brandished a knife toward store security and the second suspect fled the scene in a motor vehicle. The male subject was observed by officers a short distance away and placed into custody. The second male subject in the vehicle will be summoned to court for shoplifting.
Alfred Rodrigues, 39, of Berkley, was charged with assault by a dangerous weapon.
Boston-Area Restaurant Owner Convicted of Tax Fraud
A former owner of restaurants in Boston and Chelsea was convicted this month by a federal jury in Boston of tax fraud.
Burhan Ud Din, 50, of Watertown, was convicted following a week-long jury trial of six counts of willful failure to collect and pay over tax, which requires employers to withhold and pay to the IRS certain payroll taxes. Din was acquitted of charges of procuring citizenship contrary to law. U.S. Senior District Court Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. scheduled sentencing for Nov. 7, 2019.
Din defrauded the government and avoided paying payroll taxes owed by a Crown Fried Chicken located in Chelsea and a Kennedy Fried Chicken in Boston in 2010. Federal law requires employers to withhold payroll taxes and pay the IRS. To avoid paying taxes, repeatedly, Din falsely reported the number of employees and wages paid to the IRS. Din provided the tax preparer for both stores with false information about the restaurants’ payroll, causing the tax preparer to file false tax returns.
The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, a maximum of three years of supervised release a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and payment of the costs of prosecution. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Indecent Assault on Child
On Aug. 1, at 6:10 a.m., Chelsea Detectives along with the State Police Fugitive Section placed a male subject under arrest at 88 Eutaw St. in East Boston. The subject was wanted out of Chelsea District Court for three counts of Indecent A&B on a Child Under 14.
Gelin Hernandez, 58, of East Boston, was arrested as a fugitive from justice.