HUB OFFICER ALLEGEDLY PREYED ON DRUG DEALERS

[BOSTON --] Using information gleaned from street sources he called
''rats,'' Boston Police Officer Adalberto Bonilla organized a gang of
gun-wielding thugs to prey on cocaine dealers, officials say. At times, he
even drove his accomplices around Boston to show them known drug dens and
offered his handcuffs and police radio to help the band of thieves appear
to be Boston narcotics officers or FBI agents during a string of home
invasions, according to a federal grand jury indictment.

Yesterday, Bonilla, 35, an eight-year veteran of the department, was
arrested by fellow officers and federal agents at his Roslindale home. ''He
is facing some very serious charges, as he should be, and detectives should
be commended for taking a very dangerous group of people off the street,''
said police spokeswoman Margot Hill.

Bonilla faces charges of conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce
by robbery, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, using
a firearm in a crime of violence and drug trafficking and witness
tampering. Four alleged accomplices also were indicted on similar charges
in connection with three armed home invasions in Roxbury and Mattapan in
March. They are Angelo Perkins, 26, of Roxbury, Shundale A. Wilson, 22, of
Mattapan, and Raymond L. Barton, 20, of Columbus, Ohio. The indictment
also includes two unnamed co-conspirators and police said more suspects are
being sought.

Boston Police Commissioner Paul Evans commended detectives who first
discovered a link between the home invasions and Bonilla. Soon after the
robberies began, the department's anti-corruption unit joined FBI agents in
their own investigation, he said, apprehending a ''dangerous gang and a
corrupt cop.''

The gang first struck on March 13 in Roxbury, the indictment says. At 4:15
p.m., using information from Bonilla, Barton and Perkins allegedly forced
their way into an Elm Hill Avenue apartment, yelling ''FBI.'' Barton waved
a .380 caliber semi-automatic handgun and Perkins wore a fake police badge
around his neck and carried handcuffs, the indictment charges. They
sprayed Mace on one victim and handcuffed another.

They pulled out telephone cords, locked the front door and demanded money,
drugs and jewelry.

They escaped with up to $3,000 cash and other valuables to be split with
Bonilla, police said. Three days later, Bonilla provided directions to a
drug house on Sonoma Street in Roxbury, police said, and demanded ''a
cut.'' On March 16, Barton and Perkins waited until a victim began entering
the apartment and rushed in shouting ''Boston police'' and ''FBI.'' At
least one victim was handcuffed and about $600 in cash stolen. Two days
later they struck in Mattapan, police say. In the early morning of March
18, the three men allegedly broke down the front door of a Monson Street
apartment, waved guns, handcuffed a victim and searched bedrooms.

It was unclear what they found, but police believe they planned to sell
whatever cocaine they might have found.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski