Police and Fire News

New Bedford gang members busted on heroin distribution charges

K9 sniffs out coke and heroin in pair's undergarments

Both were on probation when arrested in Hyannis Wednesday

Left to right: Aaron Magnett and Shameka Clement. BPD booking photos.

HYANNIS -Two known New Bedford gang members were arrested Wednesday during an arranged drug buy in a Route 132 parking lot.  Aaron Magnett, 22, and Shameka Clement, 28, both of New Bedford, were the focus of a three-month illegal narcotics investigation conducted by Barnstable Narcotics detectives and members of the Bristol County Sheriff's Narcotics Unit.

According to a Barnstable police release, Magnett traveled from New Bedford to Cape Cod every day to distribute heroin and cocaine. During the investigation, undercover officers bought heroin from Magnett in Bourne, Hyannis and Orleans.

After learning of an arranged buy Wednesday, a team of Barnstable detectives, Bristol County sheriffs and members of Cape Cod SWAT descended upon a Route 132 parking lot arresting Magnett and Clement. Both are known members of the New Bedford street gang United Front and possess lengthy rap sheets filled with drugs and weapon charges.

A Mashpee K9 was brought in to sniff out drugs.  The dog located heroin and coke in Magnett's undergarments and cocaine in Clement's, police said.  Police estimate the value of the drugs seized Wednesday at $2,000.

The pair were placed under arrest and transported to the Barnstable Police Station where they were processed and held on $10,000 bail until their arraignment in Barnstable District Court Thursday.  Magnett and Clement were charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and conspiracy to violate the Controlled Substance act. Additionally, Aaron Magnett was charged with possession of heroin with intent to distribute.

According to police, Clement is currently on supervised release from Boston Federal Court stemming from a 2010 conviction for cocaine distribution and Magnett is on New Bedford District Court probation. Both were arrested in a federal gang investigation in 2009 in Bristol County.