HAVERHILL MAN INDICTED IN MAJOR MAINE DRUG CASE POLICE SAY

HAVERHILL - A city man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in
what was called one of the biggest drug-conspiracy cases ever
prosecuted in Maine.

Ramon Dellosantos, 39, of 566 Washington St., pleaded not guilty to a
charge of conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine and marijuana
at an appearance this week in U.S. District Court in Portland.

Federal prosecutors said he is among a group of people involved with
the Iron Horsemen motorcycle gang, which funneled drugs from
Massachusetts to Maine, where they were distributed throughout the
state from at least 2004 until December 2007. There are 20 defendants
in the case.

Dellosantos was arrested at his Haverhill home at the corner of
Washington Street and Florence Avenue in late October by local police
and federal agents.

They said their investigation, which lasted more than a year, showed
he sold more than $100,000 worth of cocaine.

Police Sgt. John Arahovites said Dellosantos is well-known to them and
throughout the community, and is a "major cocaine supplier'' to the
Haverhill area. Arahovites said Delossantos describes himself as a
used car dealer.

He said Delossantos faces the possibility of 10 years in prison if
convicted.

Arahovites said Delossantos has several aliases, which include him
spelling his last name "Delassontos'' or "Dellossantos,'' or using the
last name "Santos.''

Arahovites said police had an arrest warrant for Delossantos and as
many as 10 officers from the Haverhill force and outside agencies were
involved in the arrest.

Trials for those charged in the drug ring are expected to begin in
March, at the earliest.