January 25, 2017 -Springfield MA– Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni announced today the arrest of Jose Mendez, 18, of Springfield. He has been charged with Trafficking in Heroin, 18-36 grams, Possession of a Firearm without an FID Card, Possession of Ammunition without an FID Card and Improper Storage of a Firearm.

Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni stated, “I would like to thank the members of the Hampden County Narcotics Task Force for their hard work and professionalism. The resulting arrest removes a dangerous individual from our community along with an appreciable amount of narcotics off our streets. We continue to focus on investigating, arresting, and aggressively prosecuting drug dealers and traffickers. It is they who profit from the scourge of addiction, which destroys lives, families, and communities.”

After a two month investigation into drug trafficking in the City of Springfield the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni’s Office along with the Springfield Police Department developed specific information regarding Jose Mendez’s involvement in the trafficking of heroin in the Springfield area. As a result a Springfield District Court search warrant was applied for and granted.

Earlier this morning members of the taskforce executed the warrant at the home of Jose Mendez resulting in the seizure of over 3,000 packets of ready for sale heroin, a loaded handgun and approximately $2,000 in cash. Jose Mendez was then taken into custody.

The Hampden County Narcotics Taskforce is comprised of the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Hampden District Attorney’s Office, the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department, the Springfield Police Department, the Chicopee Police Department and the Holyoke Police Department.

The suspect will be arraigned in Springfield District Court.