Statement Regarding Decarceration Amid COVID-19 Crisis

In these uncertain times, where the landscape is changing minute by minute, District Attorney Rollins is working to make sure that individuals held in custody who are vulnerable because of their health, age, socio-economic status, or circumstances, but pose no meaningful risk to public safety are released from custody. There will be circumstances where the risk to public safety outweighs any justification for release. However, we are committed to working with the criminal defense bar in identifying those individuals whose release we deem urgent and necessary for public health reasons.

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Statement of District Attorney Rachael Rollins on Deployment of CBP Tactical Units in Neighborhoods

Deploying militarized units into neighborhoods creates even greater fear and disorder and significantly harms relationships that local law enforcement agencies and public officials have worked so hard to build and foster. Don’t be fooled. None of this makes us safer. This is being done to strike fear and terror throughout our immigrant communities. This is being done to be cruel and to silence and terrorize people.

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Man Found Guilty of Raping Woman Who Was Looking for Ride-Share Vehicle

Suffolk Superior Court Judge Rosalind Miller today sentenced IMER SOTO, 33, of Dorchester, to nine to 10 years in state prison for rape and three years of probation for kidnapping as well as completing sex offender treatment registering as a sex offender, District Attorney Rachael Rollins announced today. SOTO was found guilty Feb. 5 of rape and kidnapping when he pulled a woman who had ordered a ride-share vehicle into the car he was riding in and raped her.

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Man Sentenced to 15-18 Years for Bombing Near Police Station

A man found guilty of planting and detonating an improvised explosive device next to a Boston Police cruiser parked on a busy South Boston bridge was sentencing yesterday to 15 to 18 years in state prison and five years of probation to follow, Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins announced.

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Single Justice Issues Ruling Vacating Conviction

A single justice of the state’s highest court today issued a ruling supporting justice, equity, and rehabilitation.  Mr. Osman Bilal, a man who paid his debt to society on a misdemeanor offense nearly a decade ago, will now have that conviction vacated, helping pave the way for him to renew his legal residency in the United States.

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Statement of District Attorney Rachael Rollins on Reducing Collateral Consequences

Osman Bilal’s case exposes one of the biggest problems with our criminal justice system: it chooses finality over justice. I ran for office and was elected to change that.  And I have.  Since taking the oath as District Attorney, I have required that my staff investigate, review and resolve each case with justice in mind. I also asked that they remedy outcomes that are inconsistent with this mission, that they take positions that are not those of “least resistance” and do so with equity as their guidepost.

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Statement of District Attorney Rachael Rollins on Suicide Prevention in Garages

“The Boston Police Officers who responded Friday night in Brighton are heroes.  I am thankful for them and for the person who called police. We need to care more about each other.  

“Every suicide impacts far more people than just the individual that took their own life.  Family members, loved ones, first responders, witnesses, and sometimes even strangers that learn of the incident and somehow connect with the person or the pain.  Depression, emotional wounds, mental illness and trauma are all very real.

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Inmate Guilty in Attack on Nashua Street Jail Officer

A former Nashua Street Jail inmate was sentenced yesterday for his role in a brutal attack on a Corrections Officer just over a year ago, Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins’ office announced. GIOVANNI BUCHANAN, 25, was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Robert Tochka to six to seven years for attacking a Corrections Officer on Jan. 10, 2019 with another inmate, CARLOS CARRASQUILLO.

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Statement on the January 15, 2020, Conviction of David Sanchez

At the conclusion of a trial in the West Roxbury Division of the Boston Municipal Court, DAVID SANCHEZ, 39, was found guilty of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14 and assault and battery in connection with an assault that occurred January 14, 2018.  The defendant faces sentencing on January 24, 2020.

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Former Foster Dad Arraigned for Raping Children in his Care

Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office under District Attorney Rachael Rollins today announced the arraignment of MICHAEL DIAZ, 34, of Chelsea, in Suffolk Superior Court on 13 charges, including four counts of aggravated rape of a child, six counts of indecent assault and battery on a child, one count of dissemination of matter harmful to a minor, one count of posing a child in a state of nudity and one count of possession of child pornography.  All of the charges stem from his treatment of pre-teen foster daughters in his care between 2017 and 2019.

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District Attorney Rachael Rollins Statement on Christmas Day Tragedy

Today is an extremely sad day as we begin to put together the pieces of a tragedy that took place yesterday, on Christmas, at the Renaissance parking garage.  This horrible situation highlights the invisible struggles many members of our community confront and the devastation that can result.  Most importantly, I want to extend my sincere condolences to this family.  Yesterday, the unspeakable happened and now we are all struggling to make sense of the circumstances surrounding these deaths. 

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Driver Convicted in Child’s 2013 Death

The woman who killed 7-year-old Brianna Rosales while driving drunk six years ago was found guilty today of Manslaughter OUI, Motor Vehicle Homicide, OUI Serious Bodily Injury, and Assault and Battery Dangerous Weapon in the girl’s death, Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins said.

A Suffolk Superior Court jury today convicted OLIVIA MORA, 42, in the November 26, 2013, crash that killed young Brianna and seriously injured her mother.

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Statement of District Attorney Rachael Rollins on the Motion to Dismiss Filed in Civil Litigation Against ICE

“The way to resolve disagreements on matters of law is through the legal process. Our ICE lawsuit protects victims, witnesses, and community members, no matter their country of origin.  Courthouses, like schools, churches and hospitals, are places where everyone should feel safe entering and utilizing the services provided therein.  A federal judge’s decision earlier this year to grant our preliminary injunction barring ICE from making civil arrests in public areas of Massachusetts courts speaks to the strength of our case. I look forward to watching the case as it proceeds.

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