THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 2025 Page 21 Salvadoran National Arrested for Allegedly Selling Firearms Without a License Defendant is an alleged gang associate who sold four pistols — two with defaced serial numbers — and more than one hundred rounds of ammunition to gang members over the course of a month B OSTON — A Salvadoran national unlawfully residing in Chelsea was charged with allegedly making multiple illegal fi rearms sales. Melbi Ovidio Ortez, 40, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of engaging in the business of dealing in fi rearms without a license. Ortez was arrested this morning. Following an initial appearance on June 10th, he was ordered detained pending probable cause and detention hearings scheduled for July 18, 2025. According to charging documents, Ortez was identifi ed as an 18th Street Gang associate who supplied fi rearms and controlled substances to gang members. On four diff erent occasions between April 3, 2025, and May 2, 2025, Ortez allegedly sold fi rearms and ammunition behind his Chelsea residence. It is alleged that Ortez sold a Glock 9mm caliber pistol; a Sturm and Ruger.22 caliber revolver; a Glock.40 caliber pistol; a Colt.380 caliber pistol; magazines; and over one hundred rounds of ammunition. It is further alleged that the serial numbers on both the Glock 9mm pistol and the Colt.380 MYSTIC RIVER | FROM Page 4 nity builders. Whether they are digging in the dirt alongside residents to plant trees, or offering time pro bono at meetings where neighbors are fi nding their voices, staff at Rosetta Languages are there for this watershed and our residents. The team at Rosetta Languages, led by Danyal Najmi, embodies the spirit of equity, access and environmental justice, and helped ensure that language is not a barrier to engagement, but a bridge toward deeper connection. “Through their partnership, more residents — especially those from communities who pistol had been defaced, and that the Glock 9mm pistol had been purchased only 20 days earlier from a licensed fi rearms dealer in New Hampshire. Ortez also allegedly sold suspected cocaine on two times during that same period. The charge of engaging in the business of dealing fi rearms without a license provides for a sentence of up to fi ve years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fi ne of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Kimberly Milka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI, Boston Division; and Scott Riordan, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston, Chelsea, Everett, Falmouth, Lynn, have historically been excluded from environmental decision-making — have been able to fully participate in shaping the future of the watershed,” said MyRWA’s Senior Engagement Manager, Daria Santollani. “Rosetta hasn’t just translated words; they’ve helped translate power.” MyRWA’s work would not be possible without the commitment and hard work of its partners — from state and federal agencies to elected offi - cials and municipal staff to local residents and community leaders — who all strive to create change and make the Mystic River watershed a safe, clean and resilient place to live, work and play. Medford, Nantucket and Revere Police Departments; Massachusetts State Police; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations; U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Fraud Detection and National Security Unit; Massachusetts Department of Correction; and the Suff olk County and Middlesex County District Attorney’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred M. Wyshak, III of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case. This case is also part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifi es, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https:// www.justice.gov/OCDETF. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The Mystic River Watershed Association works to improve the lives of the more than 600,000 residents of Mystic River communities through its eff orts to protect and restore water quality, natural habitat and open space throughout the 76-square-mile watershed. The Mystic River watershed is comprised of 21 communities: Arlington, Belmont, Boston (Charlestown & East Boston), Burlington, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Lexington, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Reading, Revere, Somerville, Stoneham, Wakefield, Watertown, Wilmington, Winchester, Winthrop and Woburn. For more information see www.MysticRiver.org. Licensed & Insured Free Estimates Carpentry * Kitchen & Bath * Roofs * Painting Decks * Siding * Carrijohomeimprovement.com Call 781-710-8918 * Saugus, MA General Contractor * Interior & Exterior Like us on Facebook advocate newspaper Facebook.com/Advocate.news.ma
22 Publizr Home