3 Charged In Murder Of Barnstable Woman After Federal Investigation Into Cape Cod Gang

BARNSTABLE (CBS) -- After a Barnstable woman's death spurred a sweeping wiretap investigation into drug gang activity on Cape Cod, three people have been charged in her murder.

In addition, several other alleged gang members are facing a variety of drug and gun charges.

Denzel Chisholm, 25, of West Yarmouth, Shannelle Chisholm, 26, of Mashpee, were arraigned Tuesday afternoon on first-degree murder charges in the death of Christine Santos Ferreira. Tyrone Gomes, 31, of Hyannis, who also faces a murder charge, is due in court at a later date.

A total of thirteen alleged members of the Nauti street gang were charged Tuesday. Investigators said Denzel Chisholm was the head of the gang, and labeled him as "a wholesale distributor of heroin and cocaine." They say the gang's heroin was distinct due to its blue tint.

"Whether it was murder, robbery, home invasions, shootings, stabbings, or intimidation, this gang was intent on terrifying or eliminating anyone who posed a threat to their criminal activities," said Daniel J. Kumor, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Investigators say they believe Denzel Chisholm orchestrated the murder of Ferreira in retaliation for her testimony in 2011 against a member of the Nauti gang.

The body of Ferreira, 28, of Hyannis, was found by a driver at a rest area between Exits 6 and 7 of Route 6 in Barnstable last September. She had been shot and stabbed numerous times.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives led the gang investigation, while State and Barnstable Police under Michael O'Keefe, District Attorney for the Cape and Islands, led the murder investigation. The investigation, which began last October, took nine months.

Aside from the murder charges, the alleged gang members are charged as follows:

• Denzel Chisholm and Gomes also face charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, along with Christopher Wilkins, 29, Eelyese Mateo, 20, Bethanne Hutchings, 50, Oliver Hamilton, 26, and Stephanie Davis, 21, all of Hyannis, and Anthony Hall, 31, of Sandwich.
• Brooke Cotell, 22, and Shaun Miller, 31, both of Hyannis, and Jason Mello, 27, of Barnstable, all face charges of posession of heroin with the intent to distribute.
• Wilkins and Benjamin Roderick, 26, of Hyannis, face charges of conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
• Matthew Monroe, 25, of Barnstable, is charged with possession of a firearm by a felon.

The 13 alleged gang members were arrested in a series of raids at 6 a.m. Tuesday morning.

Ortiz's office said Denzel Chisholm and Wilkins pooled money and bought heroin to sell to others for further distribution. Her office also said Chisholm had his girlfriend, Mateo, store and deliver heroin.

Hutchings is alleged to have run a stash house where Denzel Chisholm and Wilkins sold heroin. Ortiz's office said she received a life-saving dose of Narcan last month from police after getting a sample of heroin from Denzel Chisholm.

Investigators said Monroe sold a semi-automatic rifle to a cooperating witness. The weapon could be seen on display with the evidence gathered at the press conference Tuesday.

The Nauti gang is alleged by Ortiz's office to have been responsible for "a significant quantity of the heroin that has been distributed on Cape Cod."

"Barnstable and Bristol counties each have an overdose death rate of 16-20 per 100,000 people, which is the highest in Massachusetts and exceeds the national average," read a statement from Ortiz's office.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Karen Twomey reports

In:
• Murder
• Cape Cod