MANCHESTER, NH – Six people, including a father and his two sons, were arrested April 21 after an eight-month investigation that included the confiscation of 850 oxycontin pills, $8,000 in cash, a gun and some cocaine.
Police made the arrests from two separate addresses beginning at 5 a.m. on April 21 on search warrants executed at 121 Wellington Terrace and 105 Garden Drive. The addresses were alleged to have been the main source of distribution of both cocaine and oxycontin over the course of the investigation.
Jose Luis Rosario Mariano Sr., 42, was arrested at the Wellington Terrace address. Items seized included 28 grams of cocaine (street value $2,800); $3,750 in cash and a Sig Sauer .40 caliber handgun. He is charged with five counts of sale of a controlled drug and 1 count of possession with intent to distribute. He appeared in the 9th Circuit Court-Manchester on April 22.
Police say Rosario’s older son, Jose Rosario Jr., 24, of Manchester, is the suspected ringleader of the large scale drug operation. He was not home at the time detectives executed the search warrant, but he was picked up later in the day at a West River Drive apartment. He was taken into custody without incident and charged with 1 count drug enterprise leader (if convicted the charge carries a 25-year mandatory minimum sentence); 1 count criminal liability to commit sale of a controlled drug; and 2 counts sale of a controlled drug during the investigation. He appeared in the 9th Circuit Court-Manchester on April 22.
Another of Rosario’s sons, Victor Rosario, 22, of Manchester, was also arrested for his alleged involvement in the alleged drug operation. He was arrested without incident in the area of Webster Street and Union Street and charged with 2 counts sale of a controlled drug.
Albert Fortuna, 19, of Manchester, was booked in absentia as he is incarcerated at the Hillsborough County House of Correction. He is charged with 1 count conspiracy to distribute.
Jonathan Morillo DeJesus, 23, of Manchester, arrested at his Garden Street apartment during the execution of the search warrant. He is charged with 1 count sale of a controlled drug, 1 count criminal liability to commit sale of a controlled drug and 1 count possession of a controlled drug with intent to distribute. He appeared in the 9th Circuit Court-Manchester on April 22.
Llias Kostopoulos, 21, of Manchester, was arrested at his Belmont Street apartment and charged with 3 counts sale of a controlled drug. He was released on $15,000 cash/surety bail.
Manchester Police Detectives John Cunningham, who led the investigation, were assisted in the executive of the arrest warrants by Manchester Police SWAT team, Special Investigations Unit, Street Crime Unit, as well as the United States Drug Enforcement Agency.
You’re one click away! Sign up for our free eNewsletter and never miss another thing