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Pembroke Man Sent to State Prison on Drug Trafficking Charges



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Contact:  Beth Stone- (508) 584-8120

BROCKTON – A Pembroke man convicted of trafficking in heroin has been sentenced to serve 3 ½ to five years in State Prison, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz has announced.

On March 2, 2016, a Plymouth County jury found Paul Castanha (DOB: 06/02/89) of Pembroke, guilty of Trafficking in Heroin. At sentencing today, Plymouth County Judge Brian Davis sentenced Castanha to serve 3 ½ to five years in State Prison.

The Old Colony Police Anti-Crime Task Force (OcPac) consists of Police Departments from 14 towns: Marshfield, Scituate, Norwell, Hingham, Hull, Hanover, Hanson, Pembroke, Duxbury, Rockland, Kingston, Plympton, Carver and Whitman. In Spring of 2014, the task force and Pembroke Police began a several months-long investigation after receiving information related to the distribution of heroin in the Pembroke area. On May 28, 2014, the task force applied for and executed search warrants for Castanha’s residence at 21 Johnson Street in Pembroke and two cars. As a result of the search, police seized in excess of 30 grams of heroin, more than 40 pills believed to be Oxycodone and Cyclobenzparine, multiple cell phones, drug ledgers, a digital scale and a BB gun. Castanha was placed under arrest and charged with Trafficking in Heroin.

“I want to commend the work of the Old Colony Police Anti-Crime Task Force,” DA Cruz said. “Pembroke and the surrounding communities are safer thanks to the Task Force’s cooperative efforts and excellent police work on this case.”

Assistant District Attorney Alexander Zane prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Old Colony Police Anti-Crime Task Force and Pembroke Police.

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March 28, 2016