Harvey Rodriguez, known as "Big Opp," was taken into custody today in Lynn, accused of drug conspiracy and the armed robbery of a drug distributor, federal officials said. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the 29-year-old Rodriguez faces charges related to a multi-year drug operation and a violent January 2023 incident involving a firearm and the theft of $24,000.
Rodriguez's arrest followed an extensive federal investigation into his activities in the Lynn area and on Massachusetts' North Shore. He is alleged to have been part of a drug ring that dealt in the manufacture, and distribution of cocaine and fentanyl as well as counterfeit prescription pills. In documentation provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office, it is noted that Rodriguez supplied drugs to various individuals, including those previously indicted on federal drug charges, such as Vincent Caruso, Lawrence Michael Nagle, Jr., and Schuyler Oppenheimer.
The alleged armed robbery took place on January 30, where Rodriguez and one Claudio Melo supposedly brandished pistols to steal cash intended for a large cocaine purchase. The Department of Justice documents indicate Rodriguez and his accomplice entered a Woburn apartment under the guise of a drug trade. They forced the customer at gunpoint to relinquish the $24,000 and to open a safe, which was found to be empty before fleeing the scene.
Charges facing Rodriguez include one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, or Hobbs Act Robbery. If convicted, these charges carry the potential of significant prison time, supervised release following incarceration, and hefty fines. "The charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million," the U.S. Attorney's Office explained. The Hobbs Act Robbery charge could add another 20 years to his sentence along with additional financial penalties.
The case is currently being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit, with acknowledgments from U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley and Special Agent in Charge Ted E. Docks of the FBI's Boston office for the collaborative efforts of the FBI, DEA, Massachusetts State Police, and the Lynn Police Department in the apprehension and processing of the defendant. As the case progresses, it remains important to remember that the details contained within the charging documents are just allegations, and that the accused, including Harvey Rodriguez, are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
